The more you have the better you are doing. However, attraction is not service and numbers do not dictate quality. McDonald's and Coca-Cola are in more places than any world religion has even dared to dream.
Now, this is not about mega churches being bad, or small Bible Study being good. This is about taking a moment to notice the little things.
I believe the little things count. I believe the little things add up. I believe sometimes the little things are really the big things.
Over the last year, I have been compiling a list of the moments in my ministry here at First that may appear to be the little things, but are the seeds that grow, the buds that blossom. They are the bedrock that demonstrate to me that my God is at work here in Gainesville.
Below I have shared some of those with you:
2018
7/23 I walk into my office to find a bouquet of balloons. One of them reads "Welcome Home"
9/19 Before Chapel, the Pre-School children sing "Happy Birthday" to me
9/24 During Communion, myself and the pastor receive the compliment, "You spittin"
10/7 A visitor who had come with one of our youth families and I had a conversation after church about who we were as a congregation. One of those "Oh, I didn't know Christians believed that" kind of conversations
10/7 Having the privilege to sit next to one of our youth at a worship service at Gator Wesley's (campus ministry) service
10/22 A proud parent sharing opening night video of their actor
11/1 Learning the story of a Saint, whose walk with Jesus was longer than my time here on earth thus far
11/1 Linda looses her head over her boyfriend (Evil Dead Musical)
11/1 Watching one of our youth win the championship game, followed by the end of the year ceremony celebrating both teams
12/10 Discussing the depth of Shalom with a Jewish congregant
12/16 The Sunday where every congregant under the age of eighteen was involved in playing, singing, reading, or acolyting during the service
12/16 Having two youth represented at the District Wide Science Fair Award Ceremony, and them giving each other a high-five as they waited for the other names to be called
2019
1/27 The night where one of the youth, who normally wouldn't give me the time of day, excitedly sharing with me what she knew from the topic we mentioned for next week
2/10 A youth stopping me in the halls to tell me they enjoyed Sunday School
2/27 Being ministered to and encouraged by Scout parents after a particularly rough week (and it was only Wednesday)
3/20 A Scout saying they have something that will make me happy. Followed by the announcement that they had made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give those experiencing homelessness
4/6 Watching a child's face light up when they hear the inflatable slide at the Art Fair is free to ride
4/7 Watching the youth spend time with each other and work together at the Art Fair
4/10 In the middle of our Chapel unit on the life of Jesus, one of the Pre-School Teachers walked her children into the chapel past the stained glass windows (that we had been using as visual aids) and points out the stories we had done thus far
4/19 A youth flipping through Bible to follow along with the reading at the Good Friday Service
5/4 and 5/5 Watching our church come together to reach out to our community with a crazy Harry Potter themed "Wizard Training" Event 5/5 Watching two youth groups work together to make day two of Harry Potter happen 5/5 Connecting with a (third) youth group at the Harry Potter Event
6/19 When the Director of Music walked into my office and said, "So, I was downloading panels of Spider-Man comics" (y'know for work)
7/10 While teaching the Pre-Schoolers the story of Adam and Eve, and asking "What do you think God did next?" "There is nothing you can do to make God stop loving you" was the reply. (Which is the line we end with every week)
7/13 At the Youth Families Retreat seeing one of the Youth wearing their shirt from the Middle School Mission Trip
7/13 Having a Youth ask me to watch her summer production of Mama Mia
7/14 A parent sending a picture of their first grader reading their new Bible on the way home from service
7/21 A Octogenarian and a three year old playing with an over-sized soccer ball after our Simple Sunday Lunch
7/24 Day 366 of working in the place where all are welcomed (even Harry Potter), and the place that has become HOME
