I’m having a hard time articulating why this season of ministry is so sweet.
That’s one of the reasons why I’ve had no time to blog in recent months. Every time I turn around, there is another opportunity to meet with a girl, another parent I can speak Truth over, another note to write, another party to plan…and it has become one of the sweetest seasons of ministry I’ve ever experienced.
We had a candidate in for our middle school pastor position last weekend. In the process of his interview, he asked this question to me: “What is your vision for what you want to happen at Woodmen Heights?”
And I stumbled over words for a few sentences, making up some terribly unarticulate statement about wanting to figure out the ins and out of multi-campus ministry and to create an environment where both believers and nonbelievers feel loved and welcome. As soon as I closed my mouth, I was embarrassed. I knew I hadn’t given him the succinct answer he was looking for. And I knew there were a few silent “I told you so” nods going around the room concerning my inability to give a clear vision statement for what I want to happen at my campus.
I’ve been flustered about that moment all week. I hate feeling like an idiot. And it definitely didn’t make it feel better to realize that some of the other staff in the room were holding back their disapproval over my inability to give a clear vision statement for my campus and ministry. I know what all the leadership books say about having a clear vision statement. And I certainly don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. But I think there is something to be said about being so busy creating a vision statement that we aren’t fulfilling our vision. And there is also something to be said about being so busy fulfilling our vision that we don’t have time to create a succinct vision statement.
And that’s where I’m at with my ministry these days. I don’t have a way to give a clear vision statement or my dream for the girls at Woodmen Heights. But when I get in the middle of a Sunday night service or our Wednesday night girls’ group, I can look around and think that this is it. When I get another phone call from the girl whose family is in shambles, I know that I’m living in the vision. When I get another late-night text message asking questions about how a middle school girl should be dealing with grown-up situations, I know this is it. And when a new sixth grade girl tells me that I help make church “wicked fun”, I know that I’m living in the vision I have for these girls. I love these girls. I love this season of ministry. And when I think about what I want to happen in the next year of my ministry here, I think about right now…because this is the dream. Statement or no statement. I’m walking in the sweetest season of ministry right now, and I’m grateful for the way the Lord is fulfilling a vision before I even really know how to say it.
And may this wonderful season continue for a LONG time! I loved this post!