Parkside’s Volunteers Welcome the Visiting Pastors at this year’s Basics Conference
"They're just amazing. They really, truly are amazing."
"Oh, yes. They are unbelievable."
These comments are just a sampling of the praise heaped upon the more than 150 volunteers of this year’s Basic Conference, held on May 11 to 13. “You all have raised the bar as to what a congregation can be. Everyone was so welcoming and polite,” said first-time conference attendee, Pastor Roy Gray, from Cedar Hill Baptist Church in Tarboro, North Carolina. “I’ve been to other churches and conferences and it’s different here.” Seven-time returning attendee, Pastor Ray Harper from Covenant Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, made a point to say, “I want to draw attention to the amazing, amazing service of the volunteers at this place.”
“Every one of them with a smile. I’ve never seen one of them frown. Ever. Ever,” notes fifth-year attendee, Glenn Kirchens, a lay leader from Fowler Community Church in Fowler, Ohio.
Over 150 volunteers, as well as Parkside’s staff members, offered their time, service, and hospitality skills to ensure that this year’s conference ran so smoothly for the 1,000-plus attendees. “It was God’s grace that allowed to us gain useful experience from previous smaller conferences,” says Jacque Platek, administrative assistant for the Basics Conference. “I’m sure we’ll do some things differently next year, especially if we see the same number of attendees,” which was almost double the number from last year’s event.
Leading the Way
Leading this year’s team of volunteers was Cheryl Thompson. Cheryl has been the Hospitality Coordinator for the past five conferences, but has been involved with the conference since it’s early days. At this year’s event, Cheryl appeared to be everywhere at once and was always ready with guidance or a helpful suggestion. Cheryl was amazed and grateful for her team of volunteers, all whom showed up to serve without a single cancellation or no-show. Also lending a hand was John Harabedian. Serving as Conference Concierge since 2001, John offered his service directly to the conference’s visitors by m anning the information desk. There were very few questions for which John didn't have a ready answer, and for those rare questions he couldn't answer immediately, he’d find the answer for you quickly.
Out of the Ordinary
The volunteers are not limited to the local members of Parkside. Ann Buckley and her husband, Steve, come from California to volunteer at both the Basics Conference in May and the Truth For Life Weekend in October. When visiting Parkside, the Buckleys are hosted by their good friends and Parkside members, Jim and Virginia Dunn, who moved here from California. Some local volunteers, like Dan Krieger and Brian Casselberry, take time off from their jobs to serve at the conference. Brian, Dan, and Dan’s sister, Laura King, are all fixtures at both the Basics Conference and Truth For Life Weekend and ar e reliable, humble servants. Even more volunteers offered their homes to visiting pastors as an alternative to the cost of hotel stays.
The Heart of This Church
“Carl Anderson, for example,” notes Pastor Harper. “Carl picks me up at the airport. And for years, he picks me up. I never knew he was an elder at this church. I thought he was just some guy that attended the church. He doesn’t give you the impression that he’s like, ‘Hey, I shouldn’t be driving this van. I’m actually an elder.’ And so I think that deserves noting. These are things you don’t want to change. The heart of this church’s people that serve us is just amazing. It makes all the difference in the world because by not having to worry about all the silly little things, it allows us to focus on what we need to focus on.”
Don’t Blink. You’ll Miss Them
Because the general congregation and community are invited to attend the conference’s evening sessions, the auditorium’s overflow seating areas were tapped. Among their other numerous responsibilities for the three-day event, the Parkside maintenance crew and volunteers must open up the ostensibly solid, immovable walls of the auditorium to allow for extra rows of seating. Maneuvering hand-trucks stacked high with chairs, the crew whisks in, arranges chairs, and then quickly disappears. Voilà, a larger auditorium. At the end of the evening, and just as quickly, the chairs are collected, walls are nestled back into their usual spots, and the crew moves on to their next seemingly impossible project – all done with a smile and a friendly wave.
There is more behind-the-scenes action that is handled expertly by the Parkside media team and volunteers. From lighting to sound, the media team ensures that the attendees can see and hear, not only in the main auditorium, but also in the classrooms throughout the church. The teams’ efforts serve to enhance the overall conference experience. Thanks to the media team, all of the keynote speakers’ talks are recorded and made available for download on Parkside’s Web site.
Being Looked After
Jack McCullough, an elder from a church in Newry, County Down in Northern Ireland, notes, “The quality of the teaching and the ministry that’s given out and they way that you’re looked after, it’s really second to none.” Pastor Harper agrees, saying "[t]hat’s a huge part of the conference for me. I’m not in charge. I don’t have to think about, ‘Where’s the coffee? Do I have to get the coffee? Or, what are we going to do now?’” Just as Pastor Gray gets ready to go, he shares, “And you all think of everything. A luggage storage area? Who thought of that?! It’s perfect. I filled out the survey so I can get the discount on next year’s conference. I’ll be back.”
And you’ll be welcome.
(Text and photos by Julie Hahn)
