feb '04 - making ministry moments matter

Team Training

MMMM.how to begin? remember those moments back in your life when you were having a normal conversation, on a normal day - but then something not normal struck a chord within your heart? it may have been during one of those average conversations with a friend - when suddenly God took something they said and delivered, right to your heart, a message of grace or a challenge or a gift of hope, just for you.

I remember a conversation with my son when he was probably about two. we were in a rush to get somewhere and he was being honoree.I wrestled him into the car, forgetting his water bottle on top of the car. as I sped off in haste to destination next - the bottle noisily rolled off the car, causing me to have to stop and get out. in my irritation and recovery of the bottle and exceleration out of the parking lot, now for the second time - I explained to him our need to hurry - which he responded with his question of WHY? his question was a word - but the Holy Spirit turned that question much deeper within me to a conversation of why was I always feeling rushed and hurried in life? what was causing that?

in an average - normal moment, God took 1 tiny conversation to penetrate my heart and began a journey of transformation and spiritual growth.

I believe most of us have these moments more often than we realize - often we're too quick to savor them.

What if we - as the leaders - prayed and intentionally listened for those available moments with our students? What if we practiced a bit of what Paul writes about in Colossians 4:

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:2-6

Ask God to help you recognize those divine appointments in the midst of those ordinary moments with students. Every encounter with a student can be a ministry moment!

I want to give you a couple quick tips as you have moments with those students you lead on how to foster those and make the most out of them. these aren't words to utter, but rather simple actions that communicate intentionality in those moments. pray for God to give you the words to say - as you practice these measures to communicate God's love.

if it's a simple encounter (a small conversation)

LOOK	in their eyes
TOUCH	use appropriate touch to communicate you're there - they matter
WORD	say an encouraging word .seeing you has made my day .I think you're a great person .you're awesome, thanks for brightening my day

if it's an extended encounter (longer conversation)

L  isten slowly, beyond the words.listen for their feelings

I  nvite them to open up a bit - ask clarifying questions

F  ocus on the student; zero in on them, block out distractions

E  mbrace them for WHO they are, not necessarily what they did or have done

These simple actions, taken during those moments of conversations with students communicate God's love intentionally; and during those moments, as you share your life and time, who knows what and how God might take those moments and penetrate the hearts of our students. We want to be used by God - as we share our lives - to help students close the gap from the life they're experiencing toward the kind of life Jesus invites us to!

May God use our simple and extended moments with students to stir their hearts! Share His Love, His Hope, His Peace and your LIFE with them!

8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

I Thessalonians 2:8

Shout Out

Email Jack one theory/tip/thought that stuck out to you as you read through this or from your meditation time.

jack@casaschurch.org

click here to see Leaders are Learners archive