Stories carry vision. They remind us of the "why" behind
the "what," the "Who" behind the "why." They
celebrate God moments. We love to hear them and share them.
So I wasn't surprised a
few weeks ago when Carl, one of our volunteer guest services leaders, shared
this story with me. I wasn't surprised because it's what we do and it's who
Carl is. But, I was amazed! Here's Carl's story:
Four young men (middle/high school) begin playing "hacky-sack" in the atrium. Because guests were distracted as they tried to take in the service via monitors in the cafe, the guest relations team ask them to go outside.
Some time later I was called to the guest relations kiosk where I was met by a concerned member who wondered if perhaps the boys should be asked to leave. This is where things could have gone "south". I said" Let them play. They aren't hurting anything". We watched as the boys had a great time playing outside the south entrance. After they had enough and were freezing from falling in the snow, they came back into the building. As they re-entered the building, they were laughing loudly, pushing each other and just being boys. Rather than assume they'd continue to distract others, I felt there was a God-opportunity.
Seeing that they just had a great "workout", I approached them and offered to buy a Mountain Dew, because we all know how much teenagers love that stuff. We walked to cafe' 2 and I bought them 4 cans of soda and 2 bags of M&Ms. We walked together down the hall, and I offered them a seat on a bench just outside the auditorium. I talked with them for awhile and learned that the one of the boys mom had "forced them to come" (their words not mine). I told them they were welcome to sit in the hall way for the last 15 minutes of the service. They thanked me and I shook their hands. I told them," I was glad I had the opportunity to meet them and that they were fine young men." (They may have thought that was "goofy".)
After the service was over, I was standing in the atrium as they were leaving. One of them said "see you next time!" That made my weekend!!! What could have been a "forced church hating experience" turned into a wave and a "Next Time". The fact that he even said anything at all was amazing and based on their original thinking about the church, I wasn't expecting the "Next time" comment. All this to say, " What is the next right step for each one"? I don't know, but if we love them, then they're willing to take steps with us. God is good.
I finish with this.
One ...hacky-sack....$0.99
Four cans of soda & two bags of M&M.....$3.50
Loving four young men into the Kingdom......PRICELESS
Are you hearing stories? Sharing stories? God's story runs through them. Look for them. Find them. Share them. And celebrate God in your people!
