MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Northside Community Church youth pastor Chad Renfrow, 43, acquired a skateboard last Tuesday, which he described as part of an ongoing effort to remain accessible to the students in his ministry.
"Relevance is a pastoral value," Renfrow said. "You meet people where they are."
Renfrow purchased the board at Zumiez in the Cool Springs Galleria after spending approximately forty-five minutes speaking with a salesperson about deck width. He selected a complete setup in a colorway he described as "not too loud, but also not too safe."
The board has been displayed in his office at Northside since Tuesday. Renfrow said he plans to begin using it when he has sufficient time to practice.
"I'm not going to get out there before I know what I'm doing," he said. "That wouldn't send the right message."
Renfrow's youth group, which meets Wednesday evenings and averages fourteen attendees, was informed of the purchase during announcements. Student responses ranged from polite to supportive, according to Renfrow.
"One of the kids said, 'That's cool,'" he recalled. "And he meant it. I could tell."
Northside's senior pastor, James Whitfield, said he supports Renfrow's initiative and believes the investment will pay off over time.
"Chad connects with students in ways that are hard to quantify," Whitfield said.
Renfrow said he is also considering purchasing a beanie.