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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 1/27/2010 2:17 PM | The process of transforming the sanctuary continues, and trust me, it is an amazing process! While the physical transformation of the sanctuary will be impressive, there are other things that connect to that renovation that continue to amaze me.
I have already shared with you my conversation with the electrician who said he enjoyed working on churches more than most jobs because he felt like he was doing something special in helping to beautify the Lord’s House. Since that time, I have had 3 other conversations with folks from Choate Construction and some other sub-contractors. They have had questions about the church, who we are and what we believe. These are guys who have seen me every day that they have been working here, guys who have greeted me and asked what I thought about the work they were doing. But after a couple of weeks, the conversation got away from the work on the sanctuary to the work of the church. In my experience, this is not that unusual. Folks have to get a little comfortable with someone before they will start asking “church” or “faith” questions. And so, after a couple of weeks of chatting, the questions started to come. They shared with me some of their faith journey, their current struggles and raised some questions important to them or concerns about people in their family. It has been a wonderful chance for me to share, to listen, and yes, to minister to some good folks who are seeking just a bit more guidance in their journey.
And here’s the interesting thing: each and every one of them apologized for taking up my time, for taking me away from my work. They didn’t want to be an intrusion into my day, they just wanted to ask some questions. In each case, I was able to assure them that it was absolutely no problem at all. Henri Nouwen once wrote that when he was pastoring a local congregation he would get very agitated with all the interruptions to his planned ministry until he realized that the interruptions WERE his ministry! That’s sort of how I feel when I hear people asking about the church, about faith issues about their own journey.
The fact is, each of us have people in our lives who we are friendly with who at times need someone to listen, someone to answer questions, someone to guide them. Our job as part of the Body of Christ is to be aware of those people and to be ready to listen when they come with their questions. Sometimes they are so reticent as to make it hard for you to realize that they are coming to you with faith questions. That’s when it becomes even more important that we are willing to listen, and give them encouragement. Because most of person-to-person ministry is simply being there, being a listening ear. But if we treat the “interruptions” as intrusions, we will never hear the questions, and the people raising them will remain unheard. And that is a lonely place to be.
I am not suggesting that we all become proselytizers or spend our lunch hours preaching in the common area at work. What I am suggesting is that when we become engaged as Christians, it shows, and when it shows, people will come with questions to be asked and with stories to be heard. What I am suggesting is we find a way to listen. Because in the listening is the most effective ministry we will ever undertake.
For an updated prayer list or list of coming activities, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Please keep Carol Ann Womack’s mother, Evelyn Koster, in your prayers as she recovers from hip surgery earlier this week. Things are going well and she is progressing nicely.
Please pray continue your prayers for those in any way connected to the natural disaster in Haiti: victims, survivors, aid workers and those who are still awaiting word from a distance about loved ones.
Upcoming Events
On Sunday evening February 7th at 5:30 p.m. you are invited to the home of Darrell and Melissa Rodgers for a viewing party for Super Bowl XLIV. For the XLIVth time, the Detroit Lions will not be participating, but come for good fellowship and good football. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share and bring some dollar bills ready to participate in our “Guess the Score” game. All proceeds from the game will go to Community Service projects, both Outreach and Inreach. You can get information concerning directions to the Rodgers’ home at church Sunday or by calling the church office.
I hope to see many of you as we once again worship the Lord together this Sunday. The sermon title this week is “Celebrating Renewal” and the scripture is Nehemiah: 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10. Have a great rest of the week.
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