Talk About Humility… April 29, 2007

i’m probably the only non-retired fully ordained elder in the denomination with sunday mornings free. our main worship is on tuesday evenings and we have a bible study on sunday afternoons. this gives me the opportunity to go around to different churches during their worship to cast the vision and enlist their help at all God’s

children. this past sunday i was in mt. gilead, about a half hour from mansfield. i was to preach 2 services (it was umw sunday.)

when we (i took a contingent from AGC to represent) arrived, i was introduced to the staff person running the show, the pastor was on vacation. she said “let me introduce you to the young man who is introducing you to the congregation. he was at youth jam back in december.” up strode a young man of about 14, shy, quiet and even maybe a little awkward but poised. i asked what he thought of youth jam, he responded “it was cool.” that would have made my day right there but probably would not have warranted a post after months of silence on God Don’t Make Junk. I went to my seat and awaited my turn to go and preach, and got my game face on.

the young man walked to the pulpit and said “the man who is preaching for us today is the sixth most important person in my life next to Jesus, my parents and my brother and sister.” he went on to explain his experience at youth jam and how it changed his life. he said the commitment service that i preached was the single most important experience he has ever had because it truly introduced him to Jesus. i was absolutely dumbstruck and without words. i’ve never felt as humble as i did in that moment.

it can be so easy for us preacher types to think of preaching moments as gigs. we go, do our thing and go home. this particular “gig” was extra special for me because there were so many people there. all of my reflection on the event surrounded how honored i was to be asked and what it meant to the kids i took. i never really stopped to reflect on the impact it had on all the others gathered. God uses us to transform lives. i’m just a fat white guy from pennsylvania working in inner city ohio. what positive things can come from that? the young man from mt. gilead reminded me how important all of our actions are to one another. we never know when God is working miracles through us.

Photo originally uploaded by Kenny Maths.