Over the past two weeks, our FYM sites have reached their capacity. It was a stressful two weeks for me. I was making sure I communicated to each person correctly and making sure that everyone was treated fairly. I was making myself sick trying to make sure that everyone who wanted an opportunity to be in the FYM program was given a fair chance. I was so focused on numbers that I lost the true focus, THE INDIVIDUALS!
Last week I was talking to a girl who has been in and out of foster care her whole life. She has been physically and sexually abused for years. Five years ago, she was placed in a Christian home and was loved by an earthly mother and father for the first time in her life. She accepted the Lord through them and was growing in her walk. In March, two months ago, her earthly father was taken home to be with Jesus. The only father who ever really loed her was taken out of her life just as quick as he was placed in her life. As he was dying, he told her to continue to live her whole life following Jesus. She is struggling at doing that, like we all do. But in September she is going out as one of our FYM’s. She desires to be discipled and be all that she can be for God.
As I talked to her, we cried, prayed and rejoiced in God, together. What a sweet moment for me that I will never forget. I was reminded that it is not about how many we have going to each place, it is about the individuals. Changing one life at a time. Growing one life for God at a time.
As we ended our conversation, I challenged her to get involved in some kind of ministry. She really never has been before. So over the next two days, her mom and her prayed that God would open the door to some kind of ministry she could get involved in before going out in Spetember. On Sunday morning at church, two different people approached her and asked her to consider being involved in thier ministry. One was teaching a Jr. High girls cell group. The other being involved in the prayer ministry at her church. She said “yes” to both ministries.
This is what it is all about. Seeing a inidvidual with passion for God, wanting to grow, desiring to change and taking the steps necessary to do it. I desire to never focus just on numbers again but to stay focused on the people who are growing and changing.
Thanks for sharing.