Yesterday was one of those days to lock in your memory, quickly retrievable on those less than encouraging days in ministry. A couple in their early/mid 60s, active in a suburban (non-Covenant!) church on the other side of town, had requested a meeting. (I'd briefly met the husband earlier this fall through a mutual friend.)

He and his wife have devoted their lives to serving Christ locally and globally through an international parachurch ministry. I knew he'd been intrigued by our intergenerational Gospel Choir that sings in worship each month but not enough to merit another meeting. So, shortly into our time together I couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here?"

He responded something like this: "I love our church. They do everything with excellence. I've spent my life discipling and mentoring Christian leaders-CEOs, VPs, even generals in the Pentagon. But lately I've found myself convicted by Jesus' words in Matthew 25. I guess you could say I'm a bit bored with 'perfect.' When I saw your strategic map, and that it was on its 10th revision, I thought, 'This is an urban church with a clear understanding of its purpose and process.'"

I was dumbfounded.

We spent the next hour dreaming out loud the ways this couple could invest their time and talents on Wednesdays with our After School program that serves our neighborhood school, mentoring men, utilizing the wife's 20+ years of experience teaching ESL, and of course, singing once a month in the Gospel Choir. I don't know where this conversation will lead-except that beginning on Jan. 4, they will join our team of ministry servants.

So here's the take away: keep focused. Or as my predecessor, Dr. William Peterson, was known for saying, "Keep the main thing the main thing." Amidst all the competing demands, it is essential we know why we do what we do in furthering God's kingdom-and that it's always about people, not programs.

Keep flexible. I left our meeting only to find four young men from New Life Academy standing in our entry. They're interested in getting students from their school involved in serving in our Wednesday After School program. Let me be clear: Recruiting 60+ year old couples from churches in the Western suburbs and student leaders from a private Christian school in Woodbury are NOT part of our strategic plan. But people are catching a glimpse of what God is doing in our midst and want to be a part of it. We need to remain flexible to allow the Spirit's leading to continually guide and broaden us-and hang on for dear life!

And in the midst of it all, keep humble. We don't fully understand what's happening in our life together but are fully aware it's about God and not us. It's our responsibility to remain faithful and courageous, grounded in prayer, fully dependent on God's grace and power to keep taking one step forward.

And finally, keep on keepin' on. I'm in my 10th year of ministry at First Covenant. There have been many times along the way I've been tempted to give up, overwhelmed by the needs, the complexity of our 138-year-old congregation, so very aware of my inadequacies to lead. If I had given up, I would have missed the joy of seeing the fruit that is beginning to burst forth after so many years of planting. So keep on keepin' on-as you remain focused, flexible and humble. And to God be the glory.

If you're heading to CHIC 2012, be sure to check out the CHIC Excursion info (Word doc). Excursions are off-site trips for individual youth ministries attending CHIC, like "waterparking," horseback riding, shopping, or white water rafting.

NOTE: The information in the description for the "After CHIC Rafting Trip" is incorrect. Updated information will be posted when available.  

If you have CHIC questions, contact the Northwest Conference's CHIC liaisons: Kyle Gunderson (763-486-8333) or Jason Hovis (763-360-9891) or call the Northwest Conference office.

With a record amount of registrations for Recharge so far, we are excited to announce that we may hit our capacity. To make sure you and your team get to experience a day filled with inspiration, education and encouragement, make sure to register before all the spots are filled!

Early Bird registration ends on Dec. 22, but don't wait until then!

Communications Corner