Don't look past people...

Pin It It was a great day for us at Redemption Church. The sanctuary was packed and I could tell from the first note that the Congregation was with us!  You know that feeling?  Sometimes it feels like you are leading them by the hand, others you are perhaps dragging them/challenging them (Like I mentioned in a previous post)... On January 30th it was one of those days where there was no stopping the people of God. It's good to learn how to notice the state of mind your congregation from the beginning of service.

I've heard Paul Baloche say that he has learned to read the crowd by how they respond to his "Good morning."

We spend a lot of time gathering songs, volunteers, charts, equipment, personal practice time, band rehearsal time, devotional time in prayer... We don't dare [Hopefully] go into a Worship service without the right tools, right people, and the right mindset.  We literally walk up to that microphone have thought about everything... but the people to whom we will be ministering!

This last week has been a real awakening for me. A sweet and wonderful woman of God passed away on Friday. She, Susan, was a faithful member of the church and one of the best greeters I have ever seen in any ministry. Her passing left us all short of breath and shorter on words to speak. As we spent time ministering to the her family we heard and shared stories that made us laugh, smile, and picture her as we always remembered her.

In the middle of this time I realized something that I should have realized long before. [I'm awfully slow sometimes]  Sweet Susan the warmest kindest greeter in ministry history was in pain as she served. Every Sunday she served with Joy, but it was through pain.

I didn't realize that she was in pain. I sang to her. I sang songs over her. I lead her as a worship pastor. I looked out and saw her so often and felt like I must be doing a good job... [Goodness!  We think about ourselves too easily and think of others too little]

When was the last time you thought about the pain that is in the body of Christ?  We are commanded to mourn with those that mourn.  When was the last time you really thought of the success that is in the body of Christ? We are commanded to rejoice with those that rejoice.  When was the last time you looked at your own worship team and saw their pain? Have you taken the time to look?

When I stepped to the microphone this past Sunday my heart was in better shape.  I was thinking about  the people in the room. I didn't want to look past people! I knew many where grieving over their friend Susan. Many where hurting or confused from other life situations...  I found myself focused on people and how much we needed Jesus to be the Lord over it all. Then Jesus showed up and was the Lord over all!

Maybe you are like me. Sooo busy doing "music ministry" that you forget to think about the people you are singing over.  True ministry is found in Luke 4:18..

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

Lord help us to not recognize the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive, the blind, and the bruised.

Dear Susan Phillips Bailey

Thank you.