As a children’s ministry leader, you are making a difference. To love and guide a child is an opportunity to not only influence a generation, but to change the world. It may seem like a big job with small recognition. It may seem overwhelming. But what you are doing matters. This month’s “For Your Soul” column is an excerpt from my new book, Simple Compassion: Devotions to Make a Difference in Your Neighborhood and Your World (Zondervan). I hope you’ll be encouraged and equipped to continue changing the world one life at a time.
I love reading the gospels. They tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth. After a brief mention of his birth and childhood, they focus on the last three years of his life, when he traveled around, teaching and preaching, just living life with a band of followers. Everything from bread to bushes provided object lessons as Jesus tried to tell them about the kingdom of God. Which, he said, was not a someday pie-in-the-sky promise, but a here and now reality. The kingdom of God is among you, he said. It’s within you.
Jesus leaned into his calling, which, according to Luke 4:18-19, was to “preach the good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, give sight to the blind, release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” As he did what God had called him to do, the people around changed. They were, in many ways, reborn. Not by saying a certain prayer, but by simply engaging in relationship with him. Their priorities shifted, and nothing was the same—it was as if they were all new people. In part, because he taught and helped them; but also—and this is the amazing part of love—because of their role in helping him as well.
Luke’s account of Jesus’ life reflects the meticulous attention to detail that you’d expect from a physician (Luke’s profession). He provides more detail about Jesus’ disciples than the other gospels. In addition to the twelve followers which he had designated as “apostles”—those who could pass his teachings along to others—he also had a larger group of disciples—people who followed him, who participated in his ministry, who believed or at least hoped he was the Messiah.
In Luke 6:12-16, we read that Jesus “called disciples to him, and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.” Clearly the group of people called “disciples” was bigger than twelve. Acts 1 also talks about the disciples choosing a replacement for Judas after Jesus’ death from among those disciples who had “been with us the whole time.”
That larger group included both men and women. All of them tried to live as their rabbi did. They didn’t just agree with him theologically or philosophically; they dedicated themselves to doing what he did, living has he lived. They wanted to be like him. They literally followed him.
Luke 8:1-3 notes: After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Jesus quit his day job, carpentry, to go into full time ministry. He was poor to begin with, even as a working guy. When he started just being a rabbi, he didn’t have any income at all. Some verses indicate that he was homeless, or at least that that he depended on the hospitality of various strangers and friends when he traveled about. He didn’t come to preach to the wealthy, although certainly some people of means believed in him, followed him, even supported him. He came to preach to everyone, and he did not exclude the poor.
Among his followers were some women. Jesus needed them. He chose to depend on others, which is an amazing style of leadership. What’s more empowering to a follower than being needed? Did you ever consider that just as Jesus needed these women to support his cause, he needs you too? I’m not saying this to load on the guilt. I want to give you a glimpse of what an important part you play as one of his disciples. You were meant to shine.
It’s funny that some churches don’t allow women to serve on their board of directors, when Jesus’ “board of directors” was predominately female. The women were not perfect. The text says Jesus had healed some of them, from disease, from “evil spirits”—afflictions of their emotional and spiritual health—which perhaps manifested themselves in what we would label depression, or worse. Jesus gives them new life. He invites them not just to follow him, but to minister to him. To care for him, provide for him. These women aren’t just told that they matter—they know it experientially. These women quit worrying about what others would think because they had become a part of something more important.
It’s interesting where in his narrative that Luke decides to include this information about these women. Notice the chapter begins, “After this. … ” After what? The previous passage describes Jesus being anointed by a sinful woman. She comes to him in repentance, and he offers her forgiveness and acceptance. The juxtaposition is not accidental. Luke is pointing out that all women matter—whether they are prostitutes or wives of political leaders.
Take a look at Luke 24:10. These same women are the very first people to encounter the risen Christ.
If you have trouble believing that you can make a difference, think of those women who kept Jesus’ ministry going. Before encountering Jesus, many of them suffered from mental illness. I’m guessing they didn’t have much self-esteem. Their society perhaps didn’t value them. Yet Jesus invited them to make a difference. They mattered to him. They helped change the world.
Keri Wyatt Kent is an author and speaker. She’ll be giving away some free copies of the book at her blog this month, so stop by www.keriwyattkent.com/soul/ to find out how you can win one.
