I'm breaking my Lenten fast.
Don't judge, you've already broken yours I'm sure.
I'm breaking in for a moment to share a story about yesterday.
With family in town for my son's birthday, I rushed home really fast to take a family picture when I ran across a large group of teenage boys standing outside the church smoking.
My face lit up.
When I returned to the church I found them inside roaming the long hallway, not really sure if they wanted to go into their Sunday school class. Then I found them gathering around my desk as I was being introduced to the faces I didn't recognize. Then I found them roaming the halls once more and I felt the anxiety level of the adults rise.
Why were they here?
My stellar preaching of course!
Okay for the truth, a group of adults volunteered to take a group, whoever wanted to go, to a concert in Norfolk. They were here to go rock their faces off. And based on the reports I got back, they did just that.
Why am I sharing this? Well almost ten years ago during my rookie year as a youth minister, I took a group of youth to a concert as well. We were getting ready to go when a large group of teenagers showed up. They were not a part of the group nor were they signed up. A few students at OBU (that's Oklahoma Baptist University) had heard about the concert and decided they would invite almost every teenager they ran into. What started out as a trip for 20 turned into a trip for almost 40.
I was furious. I didn't have money to pay for all these kids. I didn't have a place for them to ride. They were unexpected guests who should have called ahead before showing up. Who just shows up like that? I didn't respond the way I should have. I didn't respond as Jesus would.
It's a blemish. The even worked itself out and everyone was able to go and a good time was had by all and a few of those unexpected visitors and I talked and they became followers of Christ that evening.
Yesterday was a redeeming moment. History was repeating itself and instead of turning people away or being frustrated, I watched as the adults leading the trip embraced them all, found rides, and took off to enjoy a wonderful concert. I watched my congregation's anxiety level rise and what I thought would be an anxious moment turned into a beautiful day of faith kingdom storytelling.
I received an email this morning that simply read: Outreach is hard. But we had a good time and nobody got arrested.
Yes, outreach is hard because when you open your doors you never know who that unexpected visitor will be. Thank God almighty for redeeming moments. Thank God almighty for loud teenagers who brought life into our hallways. Thank God almighty for the willingness of adults to embrace them and make room for them.
Thank God almighty.
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