Our Stories Unleashed

The pastor looked at me funny, as if to say, “Is there more?”

I gave him the look that said, “Nope. That’s it.”

I had just finished offering my first (and still only) children’s message during the worship service. The missionary pastor had asked me, the college student summer missionary, to lead the time with children. We had discussed the theme for the service and his sermon. I knew the scripture. I had a story to tell to go with it. I brought props for an object lesson. Fully prepared, I sat with the kids at the front of the room, and we began.

About 30 seconds later the pastor shot me that look. Well, maybe 20 seconds. That may be a generous estimate.

When he had first asked me to lead the children’s message, I tried to decline the offer. I didn’t see that as a strength of mine and thought it would be better for someone else to lead. Apparently he believed in me (briefly, at least!) enough to convince me to give it a try.

That missionary pastor showed me lots of grace that summer. He invited me to try new things, whether I succeeded or not. He encouraged me toward the things that mattered and chose not to dwell on my shortcomings. The aforementioned children’s message aside, he empowered me to use my strengths and skills in leadership in a way that complemented his own and those of the team in place before and after my summer with them. In short, he allowed me to be one part of the whole.

The apostle Paul taught the value of being part of a larger whole.  In Romans 12:4-7, he wrote, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Paul did not expect any one person to be strong in every area, but rather for believers in the body of Christ to bring our differing and complementary God-given talents to be used for the good of the entire Church and the Kingdom of God. He taught us to lead from our strengths, and to do so faithfully, generously, diligently and cheerfully. When we apply Paul’s teaching today, we still find Christian teamwork to be engaging, inclusive and fun.

Friend, you do not need to be good at everything. Lean on your teammates – your Christian brothers and sisters – to be strong where you are not. Extend grace when you see someone else’s shortcomings. Find joy in serving God and others with the talents He has given you.

And please, let’s agree to find someone else to talk about this during a children’s message.