Someone You Should Know: Christopher "Toph" Parkin

In our Someone You Should Know series, we interview Faith members to help us get to know them, see how God is working in their lives, and make new connections within our community. In this episode we get to know Christopher "Toph" Parkin.

• Automated Transcription

• Seth Weber 0:00
  Today on faith matters. Christopher Parkin joins us for someone you should know.
  
  Seth Weber 0:11
  I'm Seth Weber, and you're listening to faith matters, a podcast designed to help you think biblically in matters of the Christian faith and keep you updated on matters of faith, Bible, church.
  
  Toph Parkin 0:38
  Well, it's a pleasure to have you here. Toph, thanks. Seth,
  
  Seth Weber 0:50
  okay, so I just called you Toph in the intro. Yes, where did that name come from? I actually don't know. I just, I just know we've always called you
  
  Toph Parkin 0:56
  Toph, yeah, it's funny. I've, I've kind of gone through my whole life. People call me Chris. People call me Christopher. People call me Toph. But specifically, when I was just a few days old, my mom came up with it. I think a friend of hers actually just said it, and I don't know, it just stuck, and that's what my family has called me from day one. That's funny. Here we are, 41 years later, still go by tell some people call me Chris, and like I said, a Christopher, but yeah, that that is the backstory on that.
  
  Seth Weber 1:30
  That's funny. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I
  
  Toph Parkin 1:33
  was born in Vancouver, Washington. Spent most of my childhood there. Lived there till I was about 10. I'm an only child. We had a pretty active childhood, I guess, pretty normal. My parents were faithful to take me to a Lutheran church there. Did a lot of sports, some camping, and then, yeah, we moved away to Montana, spent a few years there, both my mom and dad had lived in Montana at separate points in their lives, before they ever met. And my dad was a pharmacist, and he took a job at a little drugstore, soda fountain shot he always had his own little dream to own a small business. And so we lived there for a few years. And then, yeah, in 1996 we moved to Spokane, and I've more or less been there ever since, spent my teenage years. Went to high school, Mount Spokane, high school, okay? Go Wildcats first first class. It was brand new school. No freshman year, yeah. So we were the first class to be there all four years. Wow. And then, yeah, went to Whitworth. That's about the first half of my life, I suppose,
  
  Seth Weber 2:44
  nice. So what? What brought you guys to Spokane?
  
  Toph Parkin 2:48
  My dad took a job with yolks, okay, grocery stores and pharmacies and so, yeah, we lived out in Mead specifically. And I was really getting into music after most of my childhood was focused on basketball. Oh, nice sports. Did a lot of running and track cross country a couple years in high school and but mostly basketball. And then, yeah, music started finding its way into my life. My mom was pianist and, okay, singer. She would do a lot of music at our church growing up, and so I was always around music. Started getting into it more seriously in junior high, started taking saxophone lessons. It became obvious that I was never going to be Michael Jordan. So I thought, well, I enjoy music. I think I'm pretty good at it, and so let's pursue that. You know, when concerts and games started conflicting. That's how I knew when you chose the concert. Yeah, yep. So,
  
  Seth Weber 3:45
  so tell us a little bit about, yeah, how you kind of came into I mean, it's pretty cool that you get to have a career in music. Tell us about how that came about. So
  
  Toph Parkin 3:54
  got really serious again, just taking lessons, being very active in band. Did a lot of music stuff. My parents were really supportive and did a lot of music again at the church I was growing up in. Had a lot of opportunities to play and serve. Went to a lot of camps, music camps, and even was doing some professional playing, even as like I was 17 or 18, got to sit in with some groups. Ultimately, I settled in on Whitworth, attended and graduated in 2005
  
  Seth Weber 4:27
  was it mostly jazz all the way through? Or did you do a lot of classical as well? I
  
  Toph Parkin 4:32
  did. In fact, my teacher, Sylvia Baker, was very great to instill really solid, kind of foundational, quote, unquote, classical techniques and habits in ways in me. So I already had a pretty good background, and then as I came to jazz a little later in high school and had a little more interest in it, it was easier to kind of just pick up the style and absorb
  
  Seth Weber 4:56
  it. And so for those who don't know what, what instruments do you play? So.
  
  Toph Parkin 4:59
  I play the saxophone. Play all the saxophones, actually, but primarily alto and tenor. I do the most. You play other instruments. What
  
  Seth Weber 5:06
  other instruments do you play? I
  
  Toph Parkin 5:08
  do? Yeah, it's kind of the nature of the beast. As a musician and educator, you kind of have to know a little bit of everything. But I play all the woodwinds, flute, clarinet. You can play a little bit of double reeds and getting around on oboe. It's a little summer project. And, yeah, I play piano, drums. If you really twist my arm, I'll play some brass, maybe some strings, but that's a little dicey.
  
  Seth Weber 5:31
  I remember you a few summers ago. I think it was during covid. You recorded like, a bunch of different instruments. Yes, when everyone was doing the like,
  
  Toph Parkin 5:38
  the multi track, yeah, those ones, yep. Good times.
  
  Seth Weber 5:42
  So let's jump back a little bit. Tell us. How did you personally come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
  
  Toph Parkin 5:47
  Yeah, so again, talking about music and all the wonderful things about it, it admittedly just became an idol. And, you know, kind of just in the arts and in the music world, it's a tough lifestyle. You know, it's easy to just get caught up and wrapped in into all that. So as I was really just all about gung ho on music, my faith and my walk just kind of slipped. And I wasn't really I stopped going to church. By the time I was in graduate school I was at University of Southern Mississippi and just wasn't really attending, wasn't taking things seriously. And it was around that time I got plugged into this place called Camp of the woods, which is a Christian family conference and little resort center that John Gardner has actually worked at we I missed him by a couple years, but that's funny. But anyway, those summers on staff there, I probably did six or seven summers back east, in upstate New York, and being able to play music, but also just be under the care of our music director, John Winkler, who was a Christian, just wonderful, wonderful man to be able to hear and be around just amazing chapel speakers that would come in on a daily basis. We would, we would play music for the chapel services in the morning. And then there was always some sort of secular music performance, whether it was the orchestra or the jazz band or whatnot, every night. And it was really, yeah, I can remember in that summer, really being saved, like just coming to terms with my sin and who I am and identity and all those kinds of things. So wasn't just one particular, pinpointed moment, but I look back on those times as Yeah, God doing a lot in my life and convicting me of my sin and yeah, really just leading me even to this point now.
  
  Seth Weber 7:43
  So camps aren't just impactful for the students, even the leaders sometimes, right? Yeah, and
  
  Toph Parkin 7:47
  just boy, yeah, everything about it, I just am so thankful for for that time. And obviously God's bringing that to my life at the at the perfect time
  
  Seth Weber 7:59
  you went down to Mississippi for graduate school. I did. You ended up coming back to Spokane. Tell us a little bit about that. Yeah.
  
  Toph Parkin 8:07
  So after I graduated and received my master's degree, and again, kind of in this interim period, I worked for Carnival Cruise Lines for a year. And it was that interim year between, or sorry, coming out of school. And then, before I started teaching at Whitworth, my predecessor, who I mentioned, Sylvia, had retired, and they were sort of forming this new position in the department. And so I heard about that while I was overseas on the sea. Yeah. And yeah, applied and did an interview, went through the whole process, and then that summer, I was actually at camp of the woods in New York, and they finally got the call that I had gotten the job, and so I'd be coming back to my alma mater is now a teacher and instead of a student. So that was 2008 Okay, I have been teaching there ever since. When
  
  Seth Weber 9:03
  you got to Spokane, how did you end up at Faith Bible Church?
  
  Toph Parkin 9:06
  Great question. So again, in that time of God doing a lot of sanctifying work in me and just convicting me of a lot of things, one of the big moments and kind of understanding that, that I that I had, was understanding that I could not do things on my own strength. I cannot be the Lone Ranger Christian. We are not made to be outside of community and fellowship. And I remember just going on the internet and finding a church like I think I'm pretty sure I searched faith, Bible, church or maybe small group. I really don't even remember how it happened, but I was on the computer, looking and searching, and somehow, some way, God led me here. I remember it came up. I saw, Oh, here's a was it was back then it was called the. House, college group. Yeah, okay, it was meeting here at the church, and Earl Dannon was overseeing part of that group that Logan and Lisa Peabody were doing. And so I came, I just showed up randomly, started coming to small group. And it was a little while after that that I actually started coming to services regularly and attended a church that was shortly after I'd started teaching at Whitworth, probably 2010, or so. Okay, then, yeah, about a year after, that's where I ultimately met my wife, Karina. She had started coming to that group as well. So thankful for getting to know Earl and he ended up, he and Nancy ended up doing our premarital counseling, and so I I'm just so thankful for his work and role in my life and and you ended up getting baptized here too, right? I did. What year was that? So that was five years ago, okay? 2019, and, yeah, another. Just convicting moment in my life, understanding and realizing that, in the same way that I have my own children now, and I'm trying to teach them obedience, what's it? What does it say about me if I'm not obeying what God is telling me to do and what He commands in His Word? And so I had heard Dan just on a random Sunday, just during communion, it just really pricked me, and I was became very convicted and wanted to do it. And so after a couple meetings with him, decided to do it. And yeah, I was baptized here in 2019,
  
  Seth Weber 11:30
  nice. Tell us what ministries you're involved with here at Faith, Bible Church,
  
  Toph Parkin 11:34
  I've been involved in a couple different things, most obviously music ministry. I've done a lot of playing on Sundays, and maybe once a month or so, give or take, both in the orchestra setting that Pastor John Gardner directs, and also in the band, just kind of playing more solo stuff. And it's been really wonderful to do that. I've really enjoyed that over the years. Well,
  
  Seth Weber 12:00
  we're definitely all blessed by it's fun to hear, yeah,
  
  Toph Parkin 12:03
  just To God be the glory. You know, I know he's given me gifts and skills, and I want to use that to glorify Him. Amen, my wife and I also have done a little bit of children's ministry again. As we started growing our family and had more kids, we wanted to try that out a little bit, and so we taught the fours and fives class here for a little over a year, okay, maybe a year or two. And then kind of moved away from that during covid and after Charlie was born, we just decided to step away from that for now. And so primarily, music ministry is what I'm doing nice regularly. So
  
  Seth Weber 12:41
  what has God been teaching you lately? Well,
  
  Toph Parkin 12:44
  it has been a very transformative six months or so for me again, as I had been going through a pretty stressful fall semester with work and just just family dynamics and health of our youngest and just all the factors. You know, it wasn't anything super intentional, but I think just the laziness and neglect of my walk and my relationship with the Lord just kind of was fading. I was having to, you know, prioritize all these other things going on and getting wrapped up in that. And so I started having some pretty significant health challenges, physically and spiritually and emotionally. I actually had started some counseling back in February, working through some things and getting some better habits and disciplines instilled in my life. And I'm happy to say, Praise the Lord that I'm on a much better trajectory now, reading the Bible, keeping in the word daily, and understanding that suffering is ultimately for my good and God's glory. We know that trials are inevitable. That's what it says in James, but not only to just endure them, but to be joyful, like actually Consider it joy when you face those because God disciplines his legitimate sons and daughters, right? Sometimes it's instructional, sometimes it's corrective, but, but just knowing that we are we can stand before him righteous because of what Jesus has done. And that's that's been a huge comfort. And so as I was going through this and really kind of retooling and revamping, God has continued to put trials and tests in my life. So I've recently been downsized at Whitworth. I lost my full time position there back in April, informed about that it's due to some budget concerns and enrollment issues and whatnot. So I will strictly be an adjunct part time employee. I've enjoyed the last 16 years of teaching saxophone lessons, and I will still continue to do that part of my former position, but I'm very excited for the new opportunities that God is putting in my. I'm going to be doing some part time teaching in the mead School District. Oh, cool. Yeah. I'm very excited to work with the mead learning options homeschool Co Op, which our children do, James and Penny, nice, so one day a week, I'll be teaching a music club class for K through five. It's pretty exciting. And also some various coaching and directing hours at mountainside Middle School, Mount Spokane High School,
  
  Seth Weber 15:27
  wow. So you're gonna be running all over the place, all the different educational institutions in in town.
  
  Toph Parkin 15:32
  I am, I am literally staring down teaching every level from kindergarten through college. Wow. Yeah. So that's pretty crazy, but it's exciting. I mean, I think God, you know, as far as the idea of casting a bigger net, and, you know, fishers of men like that whole idea, I think I've got a really unique opportunity to work with young people. I love teaching, and so obvious challenges with coming up with curriculum and plans for all those age levels. But I'm excited for the opportunity. I know it's a God given thing, and so I want to just do my best with it and hopefully honor him.
  
  Seth Weber 16:09
  Wow. So on that note, how, how can we be praying for you? Yeah,
  
  Toph Parkin 16:13
  I think just practically physical endurance to be getting through various scheduling hours. It will affect life at home. Obviously, we're trying to work that out, and it's not quite clear yet what it's all going to look like, but yeah, just prayer that Karina and I would be unified and really making the most of whatever opportunities are in front of us, whether it's me, if my job and teaching students, if there's any kind of ministry we can be doing hospitality, things together, just working at home, whatever that may be, I would also say just continue prayer for our family. So we have three kids, two boys and a girl, James Penny and Charlie and I think we've been on various podcasts or things in the past talking about our youngest, but just continued prayer for him, physically. Praise the Lord. He's doing really well right now, not seeing any physical therapists or speech therapists, feeding therapists, we've kind of graduated out for the time being. And so very thankful that he's doing well, but obviously pray for their salvation. And, yeah, just our family unit working together and pleasing Lord.
  
  Seth Weber 17:34
  Great, great. We can definitely be praying for that. All right. Are you ready for the speed round?
  
  Toph Parkin 17:39
  Yes. And if I could actually, though, Seth say one quick thing Sure. I was thinking about, you know, thanks again for the invite here and talking on this podcast. I was thinking, this is the people you should know. And why should people know me? I'm kind of a messed up person. I'm a sinner, right? Well, yeah, yeah. But I think that, you know, as I think Spurgeon or Luther says, like we're just beggars looking for bread. And that bread of life is Jesus Christ. And as I've been reading through John lately and working through, Jesus refers to himself as several things, the bread of life, the living water, the light of the world. And you think of all those things, like, think of any organism that's going to try to grow, need all those things, it's going to die. It's certainly not going to grow if it doesn't happen, right? And so just really seeing the importance of that, just want to implore people to know God, hear his word, stick with it. Be in it every day. Be praying, and I need that too. We all do some That's
  
  Seth Weber 18:44
  good. Good word. All right, now it's time for the speed round. Speed Round. Are you ready?
  
  Toph Parkin 18:50
  I'm ready.
  
  Seth Weber 18:58
  Cats are dogs.
  
  Toph Parkin 18:59
  Dogs.
  
  Seth Weber 19:00
  Pineapple on pizza.
  
  Toph Parkin 19:01
  I can have pineapple on pizza. Do you have any pets? No favorite book besides the Bible, I had really been working through quieting a noisy soul with Jim Berg and that that's been very helpful and very transformative of renewing my mind and taking thoughts captive. Favorite band,
  
  Seth Weber 19:19
  I'll say the Count Basie orchestra. Nice, yeah, something, something fresh on the podcast. Favorite movie or TV show,
  
  Toph Parkin 19:28
  the Back to the Future trilogy is all time. Favorite trumps any TV show or movie. That's number one. That's why you and Karine are a perfect fit when we actually met. I don't even remember this, but she said that I she had quoted Back to the Future, and then I called her out on it as I was walking her back to the car. That was our first moment together. But I don't even remember
  
  Seth Weber 19:55
  best surprise gift you've ever gotten when
  
  Toph Parkin 19:57
  I was in graduate school, one of. Best friends from high school, unbeknownst to me, flew down to Mississippi, knocked on my apartment door and was standing right there. This was right before graduation. I was so baffled that he just he was ready with the camera as soon as I opened the door. I don't think I've ever been more surprised or perplexed in my life. What
  
  Seth Weber 20:19
  would you do with all the extra time if you didn't have to sleep? I'd
  
  Toph Parkin 20:24
  probably practice my saxophone, read my Bible, play with the kids, take my wife to Disneyland.
  
  Seth Weber 20:32
  Favorite place to eat out in Spokane,
  
  Toph Parkin 20:36
  well, Karina and I really love cochinito. Their tacos are amazing. I don't know it's like a symphony of flavor, symphony of tacos, these instruments here and this sound here that you know. So there's some equivalents.
  
  Seth Weber 20:50
  Okay, Toph as as he's known. Toph is one of these people at Faith battle church that you need to know. So thanks for joining us. Thank
  
  Toph Parkin 20:56
  you. So appreciate you.

Seth Weber

Seth is the Communications Director at Faith Bible Church and loves anything to do with design, video, audio and tech. He and his wife Kaitlyn have four children.

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