Improving Ministry

    Last semester I was part of a ministry at a church for boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 16, give or take a year or so. I didn’t think that much was possible there, as the kids who came didn’t seem to have any idea what a church is, what it means to be a Christian, etc. It felt like I showed up to staff an event, and that was it. However, this past semester things at that ministry have changed for the better. We decided to introduce a prayer box. We provide paper and a pencil for the participants to write prayers, and then drop them in the box. We told the participants that after the club ended, we would pray for the requests written on the papers. The prayers thus far have been derogatory  statements towards us leaders and other participants, but that’s to be expected. The idea behind the box is introducing the concept of prayer to the kids that come, which will hopefully provide an opportunity for questions. Also at this site, we leaders have come together as a team, it seems to me. Last semester I feel that we “showed up” at the same time at the same place, but this semester we’ve taken some steps to grow from a staff to a group of Christians working towards a specific purpose with a set group of participants, or perhaps better put, “seekers.” Here’s what I’ve been thinking about over the last week or so: we leaders come together and grow as a team of Christians. Subsequently, we enjoy being with the participants. I think the participants feel that, and in response, they seem to have a better time. Two weeks ago we had a makeshift ping-pong table, and everyone played “round robbin.” What I remember most clearly is  the laughs I heard from everyone–including the participants, which is a rare sound. Usually I hear superficial laughs that come at the expense of someone else; one person makes a joke about someone else and laughs about it. But the laughs I heard that evening were different. They were the laughs of true enjoyment, that don’t come at the expense of hurting someone else. After that evening, we leaders prayed, and thanked God for a very positive sign, and what I consider an accomplishment. We made a huge gain in presenting the body and building of the church as a positive community. Needless to say, this is one ministry I truly look forward to attending and assisting.
    I was reading a book by John Stott, The Preacher’s Portrait. There is one phrase at the end of a chapter that is succinct, yet full of depth. It is about the study of God’s Word: “Indeed we must do the thinking, but it is God who gives us the understanding.” I’d tell you my thoughts about that statement, but I think that would defeat the idea (understanding) behind the quote.
    There is just one more quote I heard this past week which I’ve been thinking about, from the movie Amazing Grace. I hadn’t seen the film until this past week. I was prompted to finally see it because I recently saw the statue of William Wilberforce. Regardless, there is a scene when Wilberforce is talking with John Newton, and the latter says: “At the end of my life I am convinced of two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour.” Amen!
    I would appreciate your prayers for my health. Our house is currently sick, or as they say here in Britain, “poorly.”