Connecting with Others

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Becky Frey

Being in ministry can often be a lonely experience, but it was not meant to be. I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:12–14: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

This passage reminds us that all believers around the world are connected to Jesus and each other. The Church is the Body of Christ, and we should be working to together to reach all people everywhere with the love of Jesus. While we all have our areas of focus, it is God’s heart for all members of the Church to partner together to reach people for Him.

So often, though, I feel alone in trying to reach the kids of my community for Jesus. I have my local church family helping, but I sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of the Body. This is why I love the heart of the C&MA, exemplified by how cmalliancekids recently started “Coffee and Conversation,” a monthly webinar to connect Alliance child ministry leaders to share ideas, questions, concerns, and victories.

In February we had an opportunity to submit questions that addressed issues with which we needed help. I am a mom to four kids, and it seems like they are always asking me something—no topic seems off limits. Sometimes they truly stump me, and I feel out of my depth as a parent. And I don’t like to feel like I don’t know what I’m doing.

As we approached the date for Coffee and Conversation, I started thinking, Many parents in my church feel the same way in answering their kids’ spiritual questions. How could I start better connecting with our parents to give them the tools that would keep the spiritual conversations going with their kids throughout the week?

After all, my kids’ team may get 2–3 hours a month with a child, but parents have more than 3,000 hours with their children each week. Helping parents become more comfortable and knowledgeable in this area would be a big win—for their families and for the church.

I was so excited to have the Coffee and Conversation forum to address my question. And I loved being able to hear others’ ideas; it was affirming to know that I am not alone in this struggle.

When I participated last month I was reminded that, above all, I need to be praying for the hearts of my parents and not just the kids in my ministry. There were so many good ideas that I want to think through and possibly try. This would not have happened without the input and advice of other leaders coming together as the Body of Christ.

I’m so thankful for Mel and her team giving us these opportunities, and I can’t wait for the next forum. I’d love to keep connecting and sharing new ideas to reach kids, their parents, and our communities for Christ.

Look for the next Coffee and Conversation date(s) that will be posted in the cmalliancekids’ e-newsletter and on the cmalliancekids’ Facebook page.