So I had attended a church Promiseland PTA meeting a few weeks ago since my son Julian is a 5th grader and I wanted to try and support the ministry as a parent if I could. One of the topics discussed was ideas for fun field-trip events to plan for the future. Snowtubing was one of the ideas for example. So there was conversation back and forth among the group but then I noticed no one was able to volunteer to merely look into the costs and dates etc and report back to the group. I’m a typical guy so therefore I’m sorely lacking in the children’s event planning/detail department. But nevertheless it’s something that needed to be done so I thought why not and raised my hand and volunteered to look into it. I naively wondered to myself what harm could that do to offer to just look into things?
So a short report of several different fun things to do (like glass blowing!) was prepared and submitted. Not long after that I get an email from the group thanking me for volunteering to lead the field trip. Whaaaa? Hey what just happened here I had merely offered to look into it and next thing I know I’ve been “volun-told” I was leading. Very smooth of them that’s for sure.
Of course I’m only good-naturedly complaining about getting deftly roped into further involvement. This is not the first time I’ve tried to be involved. I think it finally dawned on me as a parent that it’s not enough to just expect others to provide these experiences for the kids. The church staff and volunteer Sunday school teachers and other parents have continued to invest in these younger generations so faithfully. And I’ve been blessed not only in fellowship meeting the other KC congregation parents and but also in my relationship with my son. Julian still occasionally recalls the last Promiseland retreat when our 12-bunk cabin had a late night pillow fight of epic proportions. Our cabin was the “cool” cabin. The kids in the other cabin even wanted to join our cabin. I told my son I was pretty much a band geek growing up so I had never in my life ever been considered in the “cool” crowd. So even though I’m not personally thrilled about these overnights sleeping in bunks, or campground tents, or on the Playstation floor upstairs (my back is not crazy about it either) it’s worthwhile to be part of our kids lives and maybe also score some Dad points too along the way.
Our church ministries across the board are relying more and more upon individual participation in order for the ministries to continue their good works. No doubt there are opportunities for each and every one of us to be more involved and quite honestly our participation is becoming essential. We can’t take for granted that the same parents or same church leaders should bear the full responsibility for this congregation’s spiritual well-being. The excellent examples our young adult and high school leaders have set investing their time, energy and heart into the youth over and over again is humbling. How does one say no to making an effort in the name of the Lord? And all this time God is watching.
From Pastor Mark’s Heart
December 14, 2014