Do you ever experience a moment of revelation or insight whilst in the middle of something seemingly ordinary? In the midst of a family gaming session over Christmas, I sensed God whisper something to my spirit; which culminated in a fresh reminder of how much He values and loves those of us He gifts with administration in the body of Christ.
Our eldest son received a game for his Nintendo as a Christmas present. It is hilarious. And is it difficult. And I am rather rubbish at it, much to the amusement of the family!!
Called ‘Overcooked’, it is based in a kitchen and players must prepare, cook and serve virtual food, working together as a team. Sounds simple. However, the most unforeseen and often ridiculous scenarios play-out. At times the kitchen is based on a pirate ship, or across two moving lorries, or either side of a pedestrian crossing (complete with annoying pedestrians getting in the way).
When the pressure is on, the players can help or hinder each other. If no-one takes some degree of charge in thinking, planning and anticipating the changing (and yes bizarre) circumstances, then it all runs to chaos very quickly. We discovered our son preferred waving a fire extinguisher at us to putting the kitchen fire out! My husband was superb at prepping the veg. but became so focused he missed that there were no clean cooking pots. I anticipated upcoming orders and shouted out instructions but spent too much time flitting from one thing to the next to be of much use! Once our 10yr old daughter took charge, giving us all specific roles, telling us off when we didn’t do them properly, and filling the gaps we missed, then we actually made progress (an administrator in the making that one!)
As I say, at the end of a game I sensed God bring those words Paul wrote to the Ephesian church to mind:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:11-13, 15-17
As I read and meditated on those verses later, I sensed God reminding me that He has given administrators to His church and loves it when we step up and play our parts; with love and with unity and team work, but also with confidence that He has called and equipped us.
Sometimes, in your role in church administration and operations, you may feel that the metaphorical kitchen is on fire; that the team is not working together, and your team mates are hindering and not helping you. Perhaps the most bizarre of circumstances land on your desk or the equivalent to an ‘annoying pedestrian’ cuts across the work you are doing. In those times, be intentional to hold on to the promise of God. He has called you and promises to equip you. He will enable you to do what He’s asking you to fulfil in the place you’re in at this time. It is God that gives the church those with apostolic functions (planning and strategizing) and administrative functions and gifts. If we need to be reminded why, it is ultimately so that we all partner with Him to ‘cook’ and serve banquet after banquet for the lost, the lonely, the desperate, the addicted and the captive in our communities. This is the church acting maturely and fulfilling its calling, with each one of us offering the message of the Gospel – the message of a relationship with God the Father through the freedom found in Christ.
Please be encouraged today. Christ sees you and all that you do as you play your part in His body the church. He loves your ability to plan, organise, anticipate and implement. He’ll give you all you need to play your part well, as you walk with Him and learn from Him.
And if you could do with some reminders, upskilling and hearing encouragement and expertise from others, then book in to the 2020 Cutting edge day conference coming up soon – it’s not too late. Right, I’m off to practice at Overcooked while the kids are out….!!!!!
Jules Morgan – Executive Director