Page 20 February 2017 By Elaina Verhoff D id you hear the one about the pastor in a chicken suit? No joke. More than a decade ago, Pastor Jeff Schrank of the Christ Church Lutheran congregation picked up the book “Be Our Guest” by Walt Disney. And Christ Lutheran School has never been the same. Schrank explains that the book, which focuses on customer service and social psychology, really made him think about how he could influence the culture and character of the K-8 school, located at 39th St. and Indian School. And what was the message Schrank hoped to convey in his role as pastor of the Christ Church Lutheran congregation? He wanted to bring joy. Since that time, Schrank has been delighting the school’s 500 plus students with an assortment of costumes and puppets that fill an entire closet. Each morning at drop-off, and again at pick-up, Schrank serves as the school’s unofficial ambassador, greeting the kids in character. One day he might be a gorilla, the next, an astronaut, Dalmatian or cheese head. “I am the morale officer,” Schrank explains. “I’m responsible for a culture and how people feel when they come on campus. Sometimes kids just don’t wake up and say ‘Hey, I’d really like to go to school!’” Schrank didn’t look forward to school as a child. In fact, his favorite subjects were recess, lunch and the occa sional Wisconsi n snowball fight. Through his costumes, the pastor hopes to create more posit ive experiences and memories for the students at Christ Lutheran School. “What’s important to me is the way children feel about themselves, their school and their church,” said Schrank. “Will they have happy memories of the environment? Was it a happy place? A place of joy? There’s no better way to do this than to greet them in the morning with something out of the ordinary,” he says. Our Guest” by Walt Disney. And Christ Lutheran School has never Schrank explains that the book, which focuses on 39th St. and Indian School. And what was the message Schrank hoped to convey in his role as pastor of the Christ Church He wanted to bring joy. Since that time, Schrank has been delighting the school’s 500 campus. Sometimes kids just favorite subjects were recess, lunch and the occa sional Wisconsi n snowball fight. Through his costumes, the pastor hopes to create more posit ive experiences and memories for the students at Christ Lutheran School. “What’s important to me is the way children feel about themselves, their school and their church,” said Schrank. “Will they Pastor Jeff brings costumed joy to Christ Lutheran School

Page 21 February 2017 A LI FE IS WA ITI NG TO BE TR A NSFO R M ED. A R E YOU G OI NG TO A N SW ER TH E CA LL? 1001 East Pierce Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006 Attend a Mentor Introduction to learn more! P H : 6 0 2 . 2 5 8 . 1 0 1 2 | w w w. n p f y. o r g New Pathways for Youth provides at-risk youth with a path to education, employment and relationships. We need 35 mentors by February 28th to commit to helping youth change the direction of their lives. Christ Lutheran Principal Jon Doyle says Schrank, through his costumes and kid-like attitude, has created a culture at their church and school that has made waves in the community. “We are known as a place that has fun… and more importantly, truly cares about our kids,” says Doyle. Schrank says his costumes are most popular with the six, seven and eight-year-olds, who sometimes need a little coaxing in the morning and are still young enough to think he’s cool. One Christ Lutheran dad says his son has a hard time saying goodbye at the start of the day. “My eight-year-old might not admit that he appreciates the strawberry, chicken or astronaut that greets him each morning in the drop-off line,” he said. “But it’s clear that the distraction takes his mind off being anxious and makes the transition just a little easier.” During the holidays, Schrank became a life-size Elf on the Shelf, hiding in a different spot each day. One morning, students spotted him up on the roof, with a swimming towel and goggles – seeming to confirm the rumors of a secret swimming pool on the gymnasium roof. It’s not only the students who benefit from Schrank’s unique approach. During Thanksgiving, Pastor Jeff dressed as the Thankful Turkey to present the teachers with posters of gratitude for their hard work. Christ Lutheran office manager Kim Walton says the teachers were touched by the posters with notes from their students and the kids loved the visit from the Thankful Turkey. “It’s really hard not to smile when you see or hear him coming!” Walton says. Schrank says a four-year-old once came up to him when he wasn’t in costume to say he looked familiar. “He said he was pretty sure I was ‘the turkey man with the tambourine.” Crazy costumes have spilled over into other parts of Schrank’s life too. He can no longer go pick up his kids at the airport in regular clothes, or they would be disappointed. Often, he’ll stay in costume while dining or picking up food from neighborhood restaurants. “KFC, Chick-fil-A… if I have my costume on and I’m going to get food, I’ll just leave it on,” said Schrank. Ultimately Schrank says he fundamentally believes people remember how they feel more than what they learn. “If you ask a child ‘What did you learn today?’ they will say ‘I’m not sure,’” said Schrank. “If you ask a child how they feel, they will know. We function at the level of how we feel.” Wanting to help children feel loved and cared for is what Schrank says God wants him to do. “As the leader of this institution, I have the ability to set a tone,” Schrank says. “If my tone was serious, I think it would be a different kind of place. Giving people permission to have fun is part of my leadership responsibility.” ool “As the leader of this institution, I have the ability to set a tone. Giving people permission to have fun is part of my leadership responsibility.”