Never before in my life have I been more aware of the concept of “making time for that which is important” as when I became a parent. Before children, or “BC” as it were, I had greater flexibility to use my schedule as I wished; I imagine almost all other parents, both mothers and fathers, can relate. But now, between school schedules, swimming lessons, a child who’s not quite 100% potty-trained, and our gym membership that I don’t use as much as I should, the goal of squeezing everything—and let’s not forget eight hours of sleep—into a 24 hour day means that ultimately, something has to give.

A quick Google search of “make time for what’s important” returns a myriad of inspirational quotes that can justify one’s disposing of fruitless activities, and some quotes are more cutting than others. Among those more sharply worded, “If it’s important, you’ll find a way; if not, you’ll find an excuse.” Parents who are reading this can understand not only the need of having to say “no” to something, but also the challenge of choosing which obligations to divest.

So is it ironic that I am about to require fifteen of our Xperience youth to attend daily rehearsals in the afternoons as we prepare for our summer tour? On the surface, yes. But deeper, the dividends that this ministry involvement pays are foundational to a life of praising God. To prove it, in just the three years of post-Covid renewal of the Xperience, we have already seen the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of young people who are staying involved in church, singing with the choirs, leading Bible studies, and being faith mentors to other young people. We are even seeing these individuals forego the assumed, predictable pastimes of high schoolers for spending time in the house of the Lord: as an aside, I am humbled that some of these students commute from towns as far as Waxhaw and Mount Holly to attend Xperience each week, and I want to express my appreciation for the time it takes them to commute to Christ Lutheran in order to attend Xperience.

As this school year wraps up and we already begin to think about activities for our children in the fall, I want to extend a special invitation to parents of all rising 9-12 graders who are needing a strong faith community. For years and years, the Xperience was known as a ministry that involved singing, but even I recognize that singing in a group is not an activity about which young people—especially boys—are comfortable or enthusiastic. Parents, you and I promised in our child’s baptismal vows to faithfully bring our children to the house of the Lord, and teach them about Jesus. I want to remind parents that you don’t have to do this alone—the church stands with you and is eager to help you fulfill these promises!

Next Wednesday, June 18, from 12:00-2:00 PM in the Pit, rising 9-12 graders are invited to attend the Xperience to meet the current students, get a feel for the vibe, and even meet some Xperience alumni who can attest to the impact this ministry has had on them. We’re going to have lunch together, an informal Q&A, and then allow them to get a glimpse of this year’s tour program.

Is joining the Xperience “one more thing”? Maybe. But when you consider how unique and transformative this program is for the lives of those who have been through it, and speak with parents of the students who have participated in it, I think you’ll agree it’s far more than “one more thing”.

Thank you for your support in this ministry as we serve Christ and His Kingdom.

-Mark Johanson