Little Ones Count

Ministry comes in all shapes and sizes! Ministry begins at home or abroad! Ministry takes all, not least!  Ministry is a calling! Since the time I was little, I have always wanted to be a Minister’s wife. I grew up in a minister’s home and my parents included me in their work from when I was young. That cultivated a desire for service as I grew.  Over the years, I have experienced varying degrees of ministry. Some have been in small groups and others large, but I found that it was not important where I was as long as I was in the center of God’s will. That is all that matters!

There are concentrated areas in ministry and I enjoy all that I have been privileged to be involved in. One that I have treasured are the “little ones.”  My husband and I became involved with inner-city children’s ministry when we first married. That involvement led to other events related to children such as special children’s focus during family camp, Vacation Bible Schools at our church and others, children’s church, and a new opportunity a couple weeks ago.

My husband and I just returned from Belize, Central America where we ministered in 3 Vacation Bible Schools. WOW! It was amazing! I had taken a couple other missions trips prior to marriage, but since our family has grown we haven’t been able to do this. Children…no matter where they live yearn to be loved. It is marvelous to be able to share Jesus’ love with them especially knowing it is probably the first time they have heard about it.

Uncharted waters! That is how we felt….we weren’t sure what to expect. The 3 churches there had not had VBS for several years. We planned an average of 50 children per night at each church. Were we ever mistaken! The very first night we had 111 children. It continued to grow until the last night it was well over 200. That was over 10% of the village’s population. Our 2^nd VBS was in a very, very tiny village. Our attendance there was 44 with which we were thrilled (still over 10% of the village population!) Finally our last stop brought us over 100 children. Seeds were planted in little hearts! That’s what counts!

Summer brings great opportunities for touching a little life.  Take advantage of it! Don’t run from the chance. You might be the one that can show Jesus’ love. Ministry comes in all shapes and sizes...it begins at home or abroad. Let’s remember Jesus’ words, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:14

-Tonya

Unscheduled Plans

Immediately you thought I was losing my mind by that title. I really haven’t, although, at times I think I might. YET, God is faithfully walking with me giving grace and help. Life in a parsonage can change in seconds. A schedule is determined in our household of how the day and week is planned. Usually by the end of that week, it hasn’t turned out anything like what I thought it would be.

I have learned that you must adjust accordingly. You might get a phone call in the middle of the night saying that someone has been life – flighted to a trauma center. Or you might get a text in the wee hours of the morning with news that a person for which you have earnestly prayed has finally made the choice to serve God and wants you to come and pray. It could be an early morning call from another just wanting a friendly chat. Or a knock on the door mid-afternoon with a surprise bucket of fried chicken. Whatever the case, it is a joy to be of service to the King!

My Pastor husband is not simply a preacher. He has a “shepherd heart” for he dearly loves his flock. There are times when I will voice concern over all he is doing. Stop! Relax! Yet he continues on with God’s strength. The past few weeks in our life have been extremely hectic. Easter activities… convention out-of-town…a trailer parked in our back yard to provide housing for a couple of needy souls…a traveling evangelist and his family (who are dear friends) stopped for an overnight visit enroute to their next revival and a mile from our house their transmission went out on their truck. Their overnight stay ended up being 11 nights much to their dismay and our children’s delight!...a minister’s conference in our church hence added responsibilities and preparation…a sick pastor…a community outreach flower give-away honoring mothers…a SICK pastor…a church to clean and sweep…a sick PASTOR…children’s church activities and Sunday School lessons to prepare..
A SICK PASTOR…did I mention to you that my husband got sick with a severe case of strep throat? Oh, but he did!

So did the schedule change? Uh, yep! It sure did! But that’s okay because we had lots of unscheduled plans and we survived! You know what? God helped! He was there and blessed in the midst of each activity. For if you take time to look then you will see that in the midst of unplanned circumstances, He has something for you to learn, something for you share, and something that is a blessing to others, if we don’t get bent out of shape by the unscheduled plans.

-Tonya

Listen Up!

How many times have I said to my children that they need to listen? Countless! It seems like this saying has resonated in my own ears at times.  I think that I pressed the speed button on my listening device one too many times and now all I do is grasp the first, middle, and last words of what is being said to me especially in relation to my family. My attention is pulled in a hundred different directions while I have this earnest face focused upon mine simply asking for me to listen. Now what is more important than hearing about how house is being played outside and the best soup ever is being made? Tell me; wouldn’t you like to know the recipe that includes gravel, water, and walnuts? Sounds absolutely delightful! I think I might make it for our next church dinner. Yet, it is important! I realize that when I don’t give my full attention to my children they feel like I don’t care. In fact, they have told me that. I am confirming in their impressionable minds that God is the same way. He doesn’t listen because He is simply too busy.

Then this same scenario can be carried over to my husband. He needs my attention, but how often have I been focused on a task that must be accomplished. The children are in bed. We are enjoying some peace and quiet. Time we could concentrate on each other. Once again my thoughts are honing in on other things. Are they of importance? Sure! However, my husband should receive my undivided attention. Do I fail? Oh yeah! Most definitely! Can I improve? I am trying! He needs me to listen up. Sometimes it is subjects that interest him. Sometimes it is issues he needs to voice. Sometimes it is plans for the future. Sometimes it is dreams. All of it is of essence in knowing my husband better.

Often treasured individuals that are in our church congregation need me to listen up to what they have to share. It could be a child’s accomplishment or even an issue they faced. Possibly it might be a deep hurt that was received years before that was never overcome. Maybe it is something exciting that took place in their spiritual life. Or perhaps it is a battle they aren’t sure how to fight. It may well be the loss of a loved one or illness that is facing the family. Whatever the case, my ears must be attuned to their pain or joy! I want them to sense that I care. Do I? Oh most definitely. Their pain is mine. Their joy is mine. Are they blood relation…only by Jesus’ blood that was shed for us, but God has given me a great love for my church family.  I want to listen!

Leaving the most important for last…I must listen up to God. He has much that I need to hear. Areas where I can improve in are especially in this listening aspect.  On a daily basis, I feel that I fall so short. Yet, I keep plugging along attempting to press the slower button and take time to listen. The cares of life are pulling me in every direction, but I must tune my ears to even the slightest whisper of God’s voice. If I can train my ear to listen to Him, then my husband, my children, and my church family will definitely have my attention. So today I am trying to listen up!

-Tonya

Boxes

The following post is written by our newest monthly contributor, Tonya Hamilton. You will be introduced more formally to each of our new contributors once we get a few more bugs worked out.

Let me out of here! Let me out, I say! Being crammed into a box is no fun, yet some of us put ourselves and others in one, as well. We each have a set idea of how the world should function. If it doesn’t fit into our boxes, then life just isn’t functioning according to how we perceive. Personally, I know this from experience. The Lord has been challenging me to get out of my box!

Inside the box we peer out through the peephole just for a second. There are many things we see yet we must get busy: Jobs to be done… House to clean… Laundry to wash… Meals to cook…Schedules to meet…Groceries to buy…Children to care for…The list could go on and on.  We are too focused on our little box to take more than a few moments to take a peep.  But if we would open the lid, climb out of the box and focus on the world around us then we might change our task list. It could include:  People to help! Hearts waiting to be loved! Faces needing a smile! Spirits needing a lift! A hungry belly to fill! A child needing a hug! A discouraged soul waiting for words of affirmation! A sick person that needs a meal! An older person that needs a visit! Oh, the possibilities they are too numerous to list.  

As this New Year has begun, this seems to be the emphasis that God has been resonating time and again in my heart. The world is hurting, yet life is so busy that we don’t take time to show we care. A simple meal fixed. A card of encouragement mailed. A short phone text sent. A praise written on a Facebook wall.  A small gift given. A batch of cookies shared. A loaf of bread baked. While these thoughts have been swirling in my head, opportunities to provide these things were in front of my nose.

 
For instance, just this week I was out running errands with 3 of my children. Weather in Central Ohio has been cold and snowy the past few days, finally! As we were driving towards our bank, on the corner was a woman standing on a corner holding a young girl’s hand waiting to cross. I recognized her as a cashier at my local grocery. I immediately thought to stop, but knew I was on a time-crunch, as usual, and must make it to the bank before closing time. However, when I pulled out of the bank I realized that it was one of those moments, so I turned and went down the street she was headed. They were a couple blocks down and I pulled up beside her to offer a ride. She immediately accepted. I took her to her destination and invited her and the little girl to our church. What an opportunity! I can’t tell you how good it made me feel. (I have never done something like that before!)

Getting out of my box! I did it! I did it! I really did! So my challenge this year…not just peeking out but to open the lid and climb out of my box often. Want to join me?