CHURCH OF TEARS

He was near tears. And then droplets started trickling down his cheeks: “Can I go tonight?” Michael’s dilemma? He wanted to attend church that evening.

Eighteen months prior my friend John and I felt compelled to start an adult Bible study group targeting non-church goers in our community. We passed out invitations and put up posters around town. In total more than a 150 invitations were distributed.

Months later, beside the group leaders, one person attended regularly. We pushed on, continuing to wait on God.

One evening before the meeting, I was down the street inviting a lady who desperately needed the power of Jesus in her life. Again she declined. Then her eight-year old grandson Tyler said, “Can I go?” I hesitated. Tyler started crying: “I never get to go anywhere.”

I told him the meeting was a serious adult Bible study. He kept crying.

I relented.

The next week I relented again—before the tears. Tyler and his brother were allowed to attend. And in the following weeks other kids wanted to come. Soon the kids outnumbered the adults. Some would be lying on the floor; others looked like they were totally disengaged in the meeting, yet they returned the next week.

I remember thinking, “God what are you doing?”

The Bible states, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them.”

Soon all the adults drifted from the group, except my wife and me. And even more kids started coming.

Now sometimes after “kid’s church” I feel like crying—I am in awe of what God is doing.

God has good works prepared just for you. Please…please do not miss them. Missing God’s plan for your life—is there any greater crying shame?