It is May 2017. I am days away from graduating with my Masters in Social Work. My only plans are to stay home for the summer and spend time with my only child Henry, as having a baby in graduate school is difficult enough without the added bonus of having a husband in his third year of medical school. I was weary and ready for an easy, slow, and comfortable summer with my baby. Turns out, I don’t do easy, slow, or comfortable very well. I genuinely cannot remember how I found myself sitting in Dolores’ office interviewing for a position on the Family Ministry Team. I did not even apply for this specific job; yet seven years later, here I am, and I haven’t had a simple summer since that day.
The image of Dolores holding my six-month old as he lay on her shoulder, rocking back and forth as she stands near the windows in her office telling me about the really big plans she has for the Family Ministry will forever be carved into my memory. Dolores called me that day on my way home from the church to tell me I had gotten the job. Going straight to work days after graduating and working at church wasn’t really in my plans. First, I wanted to rest, and then I wanted to do something that was going to change the world. But, with an exciting opportunity to build something new and the promise of amazing childcare, I took the job as Associate Minister to the 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.
Only a few days later I was walking through the Tribe space, which back then was merely a stinky gym and a few rooms that desperately needed a makeover, brainstorming of what the Tribe would be. Remember, there was no 527 Tribe or Tribe space yet; it had not been created, only dreamed about. The culture had not been cultivated; the 527 chant had not been practiced; the want for hot chocolate every single Sunday even in 100 degree heat had not yet been desired. We had a long way to go to say the least, so many questions to answer. What are we going to call it? How are they going to be split up into small groups? What snacks are we going to buy? Where are we going to go on trips? How is this space going to be different from the younger and the older spaces?
It was Dolores who finally came up with 527 Tribe. 527 because it is 5th, 6th, and 7th grades and Tribe because that's what we are! The so-called Activities Building/gym/any other name you may have called it in the past 60 years, subsequently became the Tribe space, and the kiddos that inhabited it were eventually termed the Tribers. We put so much thought into the space, thinking through where the girls might want to sit and chat or where the boys might want to eat their donuts and play chess. We were intentional about everything, from what we were going to put on the walls to what balls and games we were going to load in the ball closet (formerly known as the skate closet). We did, and still do, plan everything for the 527 Tribe from the perspective of what is the “in-between” of the MainKids ministry and the Youth Ministry. We thought, let’s get real scooters because that's a step up from the colorful, four-wheeled plastic ones the Main Kids play with. We also thought, let’s put lots of drinks and snacks they can access on their own so they can practice self-control and independence.
Much of what we planned during the beginning was so good, and also some of the things we planned needed to be tweaked. We decided to group the Tribers by grade and gender for small groups, but after sending the first set of 7th grade Tribers off to the youth group, we quickly realized 7th grade should all be together during small group so they can better transition. I also really like games, so I initially planned many games to be played during Tribe programming. I am very competitive, but nothing compares to the competitive nature of a 13-year-old boy. It wasn’t long before we realized the Tribe cannot play games that have a winner and loser, which holds true to this day.
We’ve planned retreats, airplane trips to Colorado and Orlando, bus trips to Kalahari, countless lock-ins and swim parties, hundreds of handbell and choir rehearsals, and tons of train rides to the movies, parks, bowling, and rollerskating. I’ve spent Valentines with the Tribe at Buffalo Wild Wings, and so many Friday nights eating pizza and ice cream, playing dodgeball and knockout, having ping pong tournaments in the Tribe space, and so, so much more. I have endless memories of my time in the Tribe, and I think the ones that stand out the most are our five summer trips to Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Texas, and Louisiana. For me, it’s an opportunity to set a foundation for the Tribers to build upon as they grow. I wanted to create a trip that gives the Tribe safe space to process the challenges different types of communities face. I aimed to give them an asset-based lens through which to see these communities’ strengths as well as words to put to their thoughts. I wanted to create a meaningful experience in their three years in the Tribe that will forever shape the Tribers and who they become. That’s the bottom line, really, of everything we do in the 527 Tribe.
This job and church family has made me a better mom, has had an abundance of grace for me as I have grown into a better leader and team member, and ultimately provided a space for me and my family to worship and be loved by so many. Just as the image of Dolores holding Henry in her office has marked me and has continued to reflect our family’s experience at South Main through the years, I hope the Tribe, collectively, has left a mark on all of the Tribers who have passed through. As much as I wanted to change the world, what I could not see all those years ago was that God was not calling me to change the world but instead to raise up world changers. That is how I was going to make a difference, by growing and sending out youth who will someday be adults with a healthy faith and a strong conviction to use their talents and gifts to be the hands and feet of God.
In the very beginning, with the very first group of Tribers, we instilled in them we were going to both respect the Tribe space a certain way and work to grow the culture of the Tribe for the generations that come after us. One Triber said, “so that it can be awesome for when Henry gets to the Tribe.” For the remainder of that year we always shouted, “Do it for Henry!,” as a reminder of our purpose. Henry is not going to make it to the Tribe, because God is calling us to a new community and church home, but seven years later I am so proud of what we have built. There are so many small group leaders who spend their evenings reading through their lessons, trip volunteers sleeping on cots and handing out countless medications, various JV’s walking the halls and locking the doors, and the quiet servant leaders who ensure the kitchen is cleaned, snacks are stocked, and attendance is checked off. This doesn’t include the parents, grandparents, neighbors, and family friends who open their homes to the Tribe and ensure Tribers are at all the things. I am forever grateful for all of you and your unending support. Hopefully you know that you all will always hold such a special place in my heart and in my family.
Remember, if you’re here you’re awesome!
Hannah Lancaster Rollins
Family Ministry Associate to The 527 Tribe
