all about relationships

there has been a man from church who has been very anxious about getting his friend’s daughter involved in the middle school ministry at church. he has been e-mailing me off and on over the last week, asking me how to get her involved with the ministry. I told him to bring her by on Sunday.

yesterday he came over to middle school ministry, and again was very anxious- he wanted to make sure that we were ready for this girl to come over. he wanted to know who would be looking after her and how he could come and get her if she wanted out. his anxiety began to rub off on me and I began to scramble together some volunteers to be ready to greet this girl and host her at our ministry. the man went back to the girl’s family and got her.

when she got over to middle school ministry, she looked nervous, but I was out front waiting for her, and I had 2 staff girls with me, ready to welcome her. I’ll call her Alice for this story. The man introduced me to Alice, and I introduced her to the 2 staff girls, and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there- and then I heard 2 words that changed everyone’s demeanor: “hey Alice!” it was a very outgoing girl from our ministry.

I turned around and looked at her and said, “do you know her?” she said, “oh yeah- she goes to my school.” then she went over to Alice and said, “hey! is this your first time?! come on in! let me introduce you to my friends!” and off they went.

the man was relieved. I was relieved. the staff girls were literally relieved from their duty of escorting a nervous girl, and of course, Alice was relieved. she had a great time and stayed all the way to the end of the service.

it reminded me again- its all about relationships with middle schoolers. at 678, we have all kinds of cool resources and amazing volunteers, but none of those things really mattered to Alice- the most important thing to her in that moment was a familiar face and a friend who knew her name and was willing to make her feel comfortable.

I sent both girls a note in the mail today- one to Alice, thanking her for checking us out and commending her for her bravery at trying something new; and the other to the outgoing girl who welcomed her, thanking her for the way she served our church and the Lord so well.

its not just about relationships with middle schoolers- its like that for all of us. people come to jesus through a friend. some people find jesus on their own, but most people are introduced to Him through a friend- and this Easter- that friend can be you.

God is love.

-rev-rob