Friday, March 04, 2005
THE MISSING PIECE IN OUR CHURCH
Actually there are probably a lot of “missing pieces”. But there is one that continues to disturb me.
I have previously written in this Journal about how God is leading us to build more space on our present building. Also, He is broadening our horizons regarding missions with several opportunities for mission trips and opportunities to support those going on the trips. And the big-time challenge to provide major support for one of our young adults to go permanently to the Ukraine. And God is leading us to a greater understanding of the Biblical principles of Christian stewardship.
All this is good. But in my estimation at least, the “missing piece” is someone to minister among our youth of all ages. We have some great youth, though not a lot of them. And we have some adults who love them and are willing to work with them. But we are in need of guidance from someone dedicated and trained in this type of ministry. There is a dimension of our youth ministry missing which seems to keep a lot of our youth from bringing their friends. The youth we have are faithful and that is good. We just need to be doing a better job of getting them into the Word, and getting the Word into them. Also, we need to be directing them and their friends in the paths of righteousness so they will follow Christ.
The leaders and I have prayed for quite awhile about this perceived need. We know that God understands this need even more than do we. And our faith is that He cares about our youth and this whole situation. I am sure that what He wants for and from our youth is a lot greater and bigger than what we can envision.
But so far He has not opened doors and created opportunities for this need to be filled. There was someone whom I earnestly thought was just the person God wanted to fulfill this need. But apparently he wasn’t the one God wanted—at least not yet. So we still have a need in this area.
We must have faith in God’s timing in this matter. We must believe that He will provide the right person at the right time. He always has and He always will. We have to keep believing and trusting God. So we’ll pray and keep tuned to what God is saying and to where He is leading.
I have experienced it both ways. When I have tried to “force” things to come about by my own strength and on my timetable, it never works out well. But when it is God’s timing, it always works for the best. But this seems to be a lesson I must be taught and must learn periodically.
Jim
posted by jim 6:34 PM 0 comments
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