In the Beginning
With small group starting and the first Bible Study being about New Assignments, it reminds me of my freshman year. I don’t know why but this year and last, I’ve really been reminded of my freshman year. Maybe cuz I have to deal more with freshmen as a small group servant, or I’m getting older but I don’t really know. When I think about my past small groups and being a leader, I’m always reminded of my freshmen year servants and I’m incredibly thankful. I’m thankful because they invested so much prayer into me and they didn’t see any of their fruit. Imagine that you have some freshman in your small group, you think he’s got all this potential because of what he tells of his high school days. Instead of getting involved with church, he gets involved with friends, with girls. After a difficult first semester, you feel he’s ready for a break out second semester, instead, he’s the same. You still think he has potential. You pray for him, invest your time and tears into him. But nothing, the semester ends and he’s the same. He hasn’t changed much, he hasn’t grown, in fact, you think he’s gone backwards. That’s me. But praise God the story doesn’t end there. Their vested prayers, their struggles for my soul will bear fruit eventually as three years later, all three of them see me become a co-servant, and the next year, learn to become like them, someone who sees potential and fights for the souls of his small group. I’m incredibly thankful because they were so faithful and prayful though they did not see the immediate fruit of their labors. Knowing that God is faithful, I’m encouraged. Things may go wrong, people may seem difficult, but our fight is not in vain. This is the year I learn to fight for the souls of men. This is the year I learn to see 5 – 10 years down the line. This is the year I learn how to “run a marathon”.