“For as we have many members in one body…” (Romans 12:4-8 King James Version)
This past week we cancelled our Tutoring Ministry session, partially because we cancelled all meetings and classes from Monday through Friday. The timing was perfect because the church had to devote our energies to some more urgent matters. However, a secondary reason for cancelling the tutorial sessions was because two of the primary mentors would be traveling.
One of our regular students, a seven-year-old second grader, asked her grandmother why there was no tutoring. Grandmother explained about our shortage of tutors, pointing out that one of the pastors and the senior pastor’s wife were traveling out of town. The second grader’s response was immediate. Now before I share her quick, non-hesitating response, let me point out that this perceptive child had no knowledge of the scripture above, had received no teaching about standing in the gap, had not been in Bible College and focused on the teaching from one Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth about the church body, and she had yet to receive any advanced physiological/anatomical education that would have gave her a clear understanding of how the body system works. No, she had no exposure to the how parts of the body work together, such as the respiratory and circulatory systems working together to provide the body with oxygen and to rid the body of carbon dioxide.
The second-grader’s response, “Aren’t there some other people (church members) who can do the tutoring?” Good question, right? As a result of her inquiry, I decided unilaterally that other than school breaks, holidays, and summer vacations, the tutoring ministry will meet. Other members of the church may have to step in on any given day to help the children who come to tutoring to develop their academic and behavior skills. That second grader’s good question led me to that decision.
But do you want to know something? We each need to be motivated to making sure that we help each other, substitute or fill-in when necessary, and keep all our ministries going. The church body must continue to function, working together, even when it means stepping in to keep a ministry or an even going. I might add for support, as I have long advocated and stated repeatedly based on biblical evidence, “You can take small means and achieve great results through faith.”
Personally, right this moment, reflect on the second grader’s question and ask yourself, “What is God trying to tell me today?” Hope you have a wonderful day in service! I’m sure God will send you a specific message for a specific purpose, sent by a specific messenger. Praise God! Be blessed!
“‘Be ready and stay ready…” (Ezekiel 38:7a NLT)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King