Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your day to catch up with YOKE and to keep us in your prayers. If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that we talk a lot about leadership development. As one of our core values, we express it this way: we are committed to equipping and empowering the next generation of servant leaders.” As leadership development professionals, though, we’re also committed to developing our own skills. We do this through getting involved with mentors in our own lives, through attending conferences and workshops, and through reading books together.
Our team recently finished an encouraging little book called Presence Based Witness: Six Steps to Power-full Witness in Christ’s Kingdom. Our team loved this book, not just because it was only 52 pages, but also because it was so relevant and encouraging in the work that we do with middle school students.
Step two in the authors’ 6-step process is about finding your place. It’s based on Luke’s story in chapter 10 where Jesus sent his disciples in teams of two.
He says, “in your going,” or “as you go” (v. 3), and then proceeds to tell them to be present in a place. Do not parachute in, drop a few tracts, speak a few words, take a survey, and then leave. In the course of the rhythms of your everyday life, find a place; a place that you can visit regularly, become part of, know the people, and be known. He says, “remain in the same house.” Don’t move from place to place. Become a regular. Become part of the actual ecology of relationships, eating and drinking whatever is provided. This is what it means to find your place, be present in a place.
As I read those words, I thought of the ministry of YOKE. Middle schools are our place. Our staff and volunteers do so much more than simply lead a club every week. They walk the halls, visit lunches, attend ball games and concerts, getting to know students, teachers and administrators, all the while carrying the Good News of the Kingdom. Thank you for the work of praying and giving so that we can continue to do this work.
What about you? Where’s your place?