An Inside Look at Gerrard Fess (aka: Gman)
and Carey Christian Church Student Ministries:

1) What is Your Name? 
           Gerrard R. Fess

2) How old are you? 
           In my 30s

3) Tell us a little about your family? 
           Gerrard R. Fess was born in Hamilton, Ontario. At the age of 4 he moved to Selkirk, Ontario. He graduated from Roanoke Bible College with a BS. Pursued a MRE from Anderson University's School of Theology. Has a wife, Named Valerie. Two daughters, Kendra Marie (2) and Nicole Anne (9mths) and a cat. Gerrard currently resides in Cary, NC. He is the Youth and Family Pastor at Cary Christian Church. He has written several articles for the Christian Standard, Herald Press, National Poetry; as well as being a messy disciple. He dreams of one day being a professional NHL zamboni driver. You can reach him @ fess2@juno.com. or visit him as a moderator of YS Forums @ http://www.youthspecialties.com

4) What is the Name of Your Church? 
           Cary Christian Church

5) Does your Youth Ministry have a name?  If so, what is it?
          C3SM – Cary Christian Church Student Ministries 6) What is your role in the ministry? 
          Pastor Full-time

7) How long have you been at your present church? 
           Less than 2 years

8) How long have you been in Youth Ministry all together? 
           Over 10 years

9) What is your greatest passion in Youth Ministry? 
           To love God; love others.

10) What would you say is your "life verse"? 
           Hebrews 12:2a - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

11) What is your passion in life? 
           To be the man of God; that God wishes me to be.

12) Share one ministry highlight for you? 
           I would say it was when I had learned that I don’t know it all. The fact that God uses me is incredible. He used me to help a High school grad that couldn’t read and write who now is reading and writing and teaching in a former ministry I had.

13) Share one ministry lowlight for you? 
           Being asked to resign from my “learning” church in Indiana.

14) What have you done in your ministry that has had the greatest impact on students? 
           Showed them I was real and cared. Not really an impact but they see I’m authentic.

15) What is something in ministry that you would warn others to NEVER do?  
          Forget to keep your attitude in check.
          Don’t do it alone, there is no room for Mavericks.
          Don't forget to communicate
          Don’t include parents
          Failure to focus on the future.
          Don’t affirm.

16) In a sentence or two, what is your definition of a "successful youth ministry"? 
           One where God is loved and others are loved and accepted.

17) In your opinion what are some of the biggest needs of teens today? 
           Family, Respect and overcoming the misconceptions that teenagers are just the church of tomorrow.

18) What advice would you give the teens of today? 
           Love God, Love Others. The Greatest commandment.

19) If you could tell parents ONE thing, what would it be? 
           Love your children, be supportive, and be involved.

20) What book(s) are you presently reading? 
          "Student Ministry that Leaves a Mark" by Gary Zustiak, John Mouton, Kevin Greer, Josh Finklea.
          "The Core Realities of Youth Ministry" by Mike Yaconelli

21) What would be the top 3 books you would recommend? 
          This list is compiled by Gerrard Fess, Youth & Family Pastor @ Cary Christian Church in Cary, NC 10+yr veteran
and bookmeister with 500+ books in his library.

Top 10 Youth Ministry Philosophy Books
1. "The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry And Its Radical Impact on the Church". Mark Senter III. SP Publications. Inc., (Victor Books) Wheaton, Ill.1992.
2. "Family Based Youth Ministry". Mark DeVries. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., 1994.
3. "The Godbearing Life. The Art of SoulTending For Youth Ministry". Kendra Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. Upper Room Books, Nashville, 1998.
4. "Starting Right Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry". Edited by Kendra Creasy Dean, Chap Clark, and Dave Rahn. Zondervan, Grand Rapids. 2001.
5. "Student Ministry for the 21st Century". Bo Boshers with Kim Anderson. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1997.
6. "Nurturing the Soul of the Youth Worker". Tim Smith. Group, Loveland, CO. 1999.
7. "New Directions for Youth Ministry" by Wayne Rice, Chap Clark and others. Group, Loveland, Co. 1998.
8. "The Youth Worker's Handbook to Family Ministry". Chap Clark Zondervan, Grand Rapids. 1997.
9. "A Comprehensive Guide to Youth Ministry. Reaching A Generation For Christ". Richard R. Dunn and Mark H. Senter III. General Editors. Moody Press, Chicago. 1997.
10. "Postmodern Youth Ministry". Tony Jones. Youth Specialities, (Zondervan) Grand Rapids. 2001.

Top 10 Youth Ministry Resource Books
1. "Youth Ministry Management Tools". Ginny Olson, Diane Elliot And Mike Work. Youth Specialties. 2001. Includes CD-Rom and everything you need to manage your ministry.
2. "Better Safe Than Sued". Jack Crabtree Group, Loveland, CO
3. "Josh McDowell's Youth Ministry Handbook". Compiled by Sean McDowell and Ray Willey. Word. Nashville, 2000.
4. "Organizing Your Youth Ministry". Paul Borthwick. Youth Specialties, 1988.
5. "Parent's Guide to The Spiritual Mentoring of Teens". Joe White, Jim Weidmann General Editors. Focus on the Family Tyndale House Wheaton, Ill. 2001.
6. "Josh McDowell's Handbook on Counseling Youth". Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler. Word, Dallas. 1996.
7. "Things They Never Taught You About Youth Ministry That You Really Need to Know". Todd Clark, College Press, Joplin, Mo. 1996.
8. "The Youth Minister's Survival Guide". Len Kageler Youth Specialities, 1992.
9. "No More Us & Them. 100 Ways to Bring Your Youth & Church Together". Group, Loveland, CO 1999.
10. "Youth Ministry Nuts And Bolts". Duffy Robbins. Youth Specialties, 1990.

Honorable Mention
"What's The Big Deal about Sex. Loving God's Way" by Jim Burgen
"The Magnet Effect. Designing Out Reach Events That Draw Kids to Christ" by Barry St. Clair with Jim Burns, Paul Fleischmann & Bo Boshers
"130 Ways to Involve Parents in Youth Ministry". Group Publishing, Loveland CO
"The Ministry of Nurture" by Duffy Robbins
"Managing Youth Ministry Chaos" by Mike Woodruff
"Dangerous Wonder The Adventure of Childlike Faith" by Mike Yaconelli
"8 Habits of an Effective Youth Worker" by Tim Smith
"So That's Why I keep Doing This" by Glenn Propcopio
"Back to the Heart of Youth Work" by Dewey M. Bertolini.
"Youth Ministry Its Renewal in the Local Church" by Lawrence O. Richards

22) What two movies would you most recommend to other youth workers? 
          1) Hoosiers
          2) Extreme Days

23) Who is your favorite musician/music group? 
           I like Tait, John Reuben

24) Who has been the biggest influence on you in youth ministry? 
           Terry Tanner – my pastor growing up.

25) What direction would you like to see your ministry move toward? 
           Family - based

26) What is the most significant thing God has taught you since being in Youth Ministry? 
           I do not know it all.

27) Youth ministry involves a lot of doing and giving to others.  What do you do in order to get fed and encouraged? 
           Get involved; networked and do stuff like YS’ convention.

28) If you could have done three things differently when you were a teenager yourself, what would they have been? 
          1. Respect. 2. Died in someone else’s place. 3. Learned to forgive myself and open up.

29) What would you say are three to five MUST-HAVE resources for every youth worker? 
          No Answer.

30) Have you contributed anything to the YM Exchange on Pastor2youth.com? 
           No.

31) How could we pray for you and your ministry? 
           For balance and that I be who and where God wants me to be.

32) Would you be willing to share a picture of you and/or your group with us?

          Has me; my wife Valerie; Kendra (The oldest), Nicole (Youngest). Click Here to view the full-sized picture.