Note: In a 2003 Leadership Journal article titled “God’s Calling Plan,” Gordon MacDonald wrote: “A call story is a history of ‘whispered words and events’ that capture the soul and make you aware that God is speaking. For some of us the call-story is dramatic. In one forceful moment, you gain a sense of conviction that God has spoken and directed. You are never again the same after this. For others, like myself, the call is like a continual dripping: it just beats on you until you capitulate. ‘Okay. Okay!'”
Before caller ID, I answered every phone call. Until I learned how to use the Outlook preview panel, I clicked on every email message. In my younger days, I even opened every piece of postal mail. Fortunately, technology has come a long way.
Admit it, you and I screen many communications that we receive; after all, we must avoid conversations or information we don’t expect or have time to engage. In fact, I’d like my communication to remain conveniently on my terms, thank you. Fortunately, this approach doesn’t work 100 percent of the time.
June 1998
On a missions trip a decade ago, I looked up at the stars and heard from God. I didn’t expect it. Although not a spoken voice, powerful words filled my mind that used a tone not my own. And I had no choice but to engage what He said. At the conclusion of our conversation my life changed, and I committed to pursue His terms instead of mine: “Wherever You want me to go I’ll go. Whatever You want me to do I’ll do.”
I knew what had to happen next: leave my business career for full-time ministry.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-20 (NIV)
Four months later, I drove to my first day on Willow Creek Community Church’s paid staff—where I enthusiastically stayed for ten years. The church’s mission is easy to love, as are the people I worked with. The kids who come to Promiseland, the children’s ministry I had the privilege to lead, are a blast to serve. Willow Creek’s church body and leadership passionately support Promiseland with facilities, budget, and a volunteer team that defies description.
Good thing I didn’t screen God’s call ten years ago. Of course, it came when I didn’t expect it—probably by design.
And an approach that He would repeat.
June 2008
After several hours of sleeplessness, I decided to leave the warmth of my sleeping bag and look at the stars. A day of activities at father-daughter camp in Michigan’s upper peninsula hadn’t worn me out as much as I thought or hoped. Every 30 minutes or so I woke up and felt the urge to tip-toe through the cabin of sleeping daughters and snoring dads and go outside on the deck. Sure, the air felt chilly. But that meant clear skies and a spectacular star show. So I slowly made my way through the dark toward the door; the only sound coming from creaks in the floor—and my knees.
The night sky sure delivered a sensational display of the cosmos! As I looked up at the stars, I heard a question from God. Not an audible voice or anything weird, just communication that arrived unscreened in my mind: “What ever happened to that guy who, a decade ago, looked up at these same stars and committed to pursue life on My terms? Is he still around?”
In a flash, two thoughts came to mind. First: Wow! God woke me up to chat. Second: Probably not a good time to spin or sugar-coat an answer.
So I confessed some real honest stuff. Words that unlock pressurized doors in a heart as they blurt out. The type that, after you empty them, make your spirit feel unusually full. As well as free to take bold steps when asked. This brief, exhilarating experience ended with a familiar declaration: “Wherever You want me to go I’ll go. Whatever You want me to do I’ll do.”
I knew what had to happen next: leave my ministry position for whatever new adventure God had planned.
Not long after, I followed up on the recommendation of a friend to investigate an interesting opportunity. Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization, needed a new president. My friend believed I possessed the right mix of business/management experience, church leadership experience, and passion for kids. I remained skeptical at best, until one night at my computer.
After a lengthy Google search on Kids Hope USA, a compelling picture began to develop. This organization, with 13 years of experience, partners local churches with public elementary schools. At the heart of this partnership sits a mentor from the church who meets with an at-risk student for one hour a week. In addition, a prayer partner from the church appeals to heaven on behalf of the child and his/her relationship with the mentor. Something began to stir inside me when I pictured a mentor talking with a child and a prayer partner lifting that conversation up to God.
My pulse increased as I discovered how many kids qualify as “at-risk.” Some estimates show 8 million. Some show many more. Whatever the exact number, it continues to grow—as life becomes harder and harder for more and more children.
Consider this: millions of kids wake up each day with little or no belief that school matters, life matters, or that they matter to anyone else. Every child deserves to know that he or she matters—to God for sure, and to at least one other person.
In my children’s ministry director role, I poured out my life and my heart to reach children who make it to church on weekends. I love the cause of helping kids learn how to become a Christ-follower and then follow Christ with the way they live.
That thought preceded a (once again unscreened) gripping question that entered my mind and pierced my heart: “What about all the kids who, right now, likely won’t make it to church? Somebody needs to do something, or they’ll be lost.” These children desperately need to feel God’s love—because many feel no love at all. I had a Nehemiah moment:
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.”
Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
Isn’t “something” happening right now? Yes—great work takes place in programs that involve hundreds of churches across the country, but much more is needed. Amazingly, a larger number of schools want a Kids Hope USA program than the number of churches stepping forward to help.
Why all this demand? For one reason, studies show that nearly every child involved in a Kids Hope USA program makes clear progress in academics, behavior, and attitude. Yes, faith-based hope and love makes a tangible, measurable, and priceless difference in a child. One educator said, “Given the choice between $100,000 for instructional material or the love of KIDS HOPE USA mentors, I would choose the love.”
Conclusion: The day has arrived when the “separation of church and state” can yield to the “cooperation of church and state” when a child’s heart stands as the common ground.
The opportunity for churches to address the current (and growing) hunger for love in public schools is both obvious and very attainable. As Rick Warren says, “The Church is the largest force for good in the world. Nothing else even comes close.”
And a rebound benefit exists. Churches who participate consistently report a refreshing new wave of strong, relevant connection with their communities in addition to contagious spiritual growth in mentors and prayer partners. Should there be any doubt this happens when people share God’s love?
After learning all this, I knew what had to happen next: contact Kids Hope USA.
Today
Four months later, I sit in a different office, in front of a different computer, in a different Kingdom assignment, and marvel as the beautiful trees outside wildly change colors. You have to try hard to ignore the shifting seasons in Michigan.
Just as it would take effort to ignore God when He calls.
While He doesn’t force us to answer, I imagine (or hope) we please Him when we do. Because we don’t have to look far or search hard to see that somebody needs to do something to bring love to our kids and communities. Change is needed; one that leads to a whole new season of life, perhaps.
I’m glad I didn’t screen His call.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
David Staal, senior editor of Today’s Children’s Ministry, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. Prior to this assignment, David led Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. David is the author of Words Kids Need to Hear (2008) and lives in Grand Haven, MI, with his wife Becky, son Scott, and daughter Erin.
© 2008, David Staal
