Support
Coming alongside others and providing gentle, appropriate assistance with a problem or struggle. (Galatians 6:2)
Support for Believer’s and Other’s……
Let’s talk about something for a minute. If you have kids, you know that Sunday morning can be a challenge getting everyone out the door and to church on time, right? I want you to think about all of the people that make Sunday morning work. Do you realize most of them are ther e very early i n the morning? Many may arrive even before you wake up? They are there making sure everything goes smoothly. The Sunday school teachers, the worship team, tech team, leadership team, youth leaders, the grounds crew, the coffee makers, the greeters, the toilet cleaners (yes someone does that every week), the parking team….the list goes on. What would happen if you showed them some support this Sunday (since, hey, this comes out on Saturday), or next Sunday, or any Sunday?
What are some ways we can show support to this crew that makes each Sunday happen at your church? Some of these people put an incredible amount of time into Sunday. Look at the “lovely masterpieces” your children so proudly display to you after you pick them up from Sunday school. Maybe you could offer to help your child’s Sunday school teacher prepare them or maybe offer to bring the snack.
What about your pastor? Think of the work he puts in! Maybe you can email him or call him and ask him how you can pray for him this week. Does he have small kids? Maybe you can babysit his kids so he and his wife can have a date?
What about the leadership team? Maybe you can send each one a note of thanks and support. Can you imagine the encouragement when they go to their mailbox and read your words? Support is all over that!!!
What about the people that clean the restrooms? I say some baked cookies and or flowers will say a huge supportive “thank you” to them! Have you seen the condition we leave those restrooms at times? 🙂
What about the worship team? I don’t know about you but I wonder sometimes, “What if those worship leaders have had a crumby morning?” “What if they had some sick kids or don’t feel well themselves? What if they didn’t feel like worshipping that day because it has been a very hard week and they are a little mad at God?” Can you imagine? They need your support? Maybe bring some donuts and coffee to them as they practice early Sunday morning and take a minute to pray over them or fast and pray during the week for them and let them know!
What about your youth leader? I was a youth leader, so I know what each week entails! I can tell you, “parents they need you!” Think of the impact that youth leader has on your young adult. I know your youth leader can use your support each youth trip they make. You would be a huge help to them buy offering to help out on a trip, a youth social, or a Bible study group .
There are so many ways to reach out to those that serve every Sunday morning. Our service would look so different if they didn’t take the time to prepare and pray, wouldn’t it? You, could put such a smile in their heart with just a small amount of preparation ahead of time. Will you do it? Let us know what you did to serve these wonderful men and women of God!
Let’s think about ways we can be a support to those that do not know God or specifically for those that visit our church for the first time.
Do you remember the first time you went to church? I know some of you have gone all your life, but I am talking about those coming in on their own. Do you remember what it felt like? If you are an introvert like me, you are scared to death! 🙂
I know it can be so hard to know who is there for the first time, especially in larger churches, but maybe you can be more alert. Can you ask God to give you His eyes and heart as you scan the lobby looking for those whose body language says, “I am new here”? I know that will not always be the case, but if you see someone that looks this way, can you walk up to them and engage a conversation? It would help them tremendously, and you will be reflecting Christ to them!
When someone purposefully engages me in conversation when I am new to a church or situation it helps me take a little sigh of relief, because I don’t feel so alone. It says to me that someone took a moment to notice me and wanted to start a conversation to find out about me.
Remember I said I was an introvert? Well, I am speaking to myself as I write this! I need to make the effort as well and trust God to calm my inner fears knowing what my actions say to the other person. I want to be God’s hands and feet to remove some aloneness in another. That is worth a little inner trembling, don’t ya think? 😉