I am now the official Children’s Minister! I have been Interim since February and have had a great time. Now comes the work of looking forward and discovering the direction that God has in mind for all the ministries involved in this position.
Over the years our church has had a number of children’s ministries. But, times change, people change, children grow up and leave those ministries etc. Where there was once a big demand for a certain ministry there may not be now because of the changing demographics that every church experiences. So then we plot a new course for the needs of the present. God knew all these changes were coming even if we did not. He has a plan for all these changes too!
Ephesions 2:10 tells us:
” For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
I remember the first time that verse really rang a bell with me. He prepared those good things in advance for me to do! He tells us in Jeremiah 1:5,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..”
He might not have made us all to be prophets like Jeremiah, but he definitely has a plan for us. I have said before that I certainly had no idea that I would be here at this moment in time doing this job. Yet God did.
So how do we discover just what that plan might be for us? Are we taking time to actually ask Him and then listen for the answer? Are we taking time to evaluate the things that are occupying our daily lives? Perhaps a simple prayer in the morning of “Lord, show me the good things you have planned for me to do today” is the simple answer,. And then, to actually slow down to hear God’s answer.
Our culture has a hard time with just allowing time to be still. Just to slow down and wait. Slow down and hear God.
Our culture says keep going, keep doing. God says,
“Be still and know that I am God”. (Ps 46:10).
So I have been trying to take time to hear God and sense the direction we are to go in the months to come. I am actively waiting and listening and trying to discern God’s way, not mine or even yours- but the plans that God has prepared in advance for ME to do and YOU. All of you also have a part to play in God’s plans for this church and this ministry. I encourage all of us to begin now listening for how God wants to use each of us.
I have said a million times that the church runs on volunteer power. A ship needs a captain, but it would go nowhere without the rest of the sailors working all the parts of the ship. So this captain (me) will be needing many sailors (you) in the months to come to get this ship moving in the direction God has for it. (Too much analogy??)
I am so excited to be asked to do this job. I love this church and I do believe we are on the right path and I do believe that God will continue to reveal HIS plan to us . Please pray for me, for this ministry and for this church as we discover God’s plans for all of us.
Kathy Myers
Children’s Minister
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