Applause happens.
Right? Watch American Idol, and every performer receives applause—even Anoop. Regardless of singing talent, an expectation exists for the audience to cheer; it’s normal. And, let’s admit it, forgotten a moment later.
Attend a sporting event, and applauding becomes your job. An easy job, for sure, during the NCAA basketball tourney. Yet once again, cheering is expected and quickly dismissed.
Unique moments of applause exist, though, that make their way into long-term memory—especially when they happen unexpectedly and for a great reason.
I visited a church mentoring program that takes place in an elementary school. Steve, the church’s program director, hosted the tour. We saw volunteer men and women of all ages sit with children of all ages to read a book, color a picture, and most important, just talk. The common trait found in the kids: the school classifies them as at-risk. The shared trait of volunteers: Christ-followers who love children.
After chatting with several volunteers and kids, Steve opened the door to the staff lounge. Our tour stretched across lunch hour, so all the teachers sat at long tables eating and engaging in loud chatter. I followed my host into the room and swung the door shut behind me. Unfortunately, the heavy door’s anti-slamming hinge didn’t work, so our entrance included a large bang!
Lesson: You can easily gain teachers’ attentions by slamming a solid wood door.
Before their shock could turn sour, though, Steve started to introduce me. Before he could get much past “Hello,” another interruption happened.
The teachers applauded.
Unexpected? You bet. For a great reason? Absolutely.
Incredibly, these educators cheered for the work done by a church in their school. You read that right—a school applauding a church’s efforts. During all the years I served as a children’s ministry director, I never dreamt of such a thing. Is it even legal?
So I walked from table to table, asking for the reasons that made them clap their hands. Teacher after teacher told me the names of kids whose lives changed as a result of this church’s program. Kids from last week. Kids from last year. Kids from several years ago. Have you ever noticed how long people remember the name of someone whose life changes?
This shouldn’t have been such a surprise. Life change is the important work of a church, after all.
A forty-year Kindergarten teacher told me she planned to retire this year. “I’m leaving on a high note with this church’s program.
“Last fall, two girls arrived in my class after losing their dads. One went to prison, the other passed away. So I called Steve and asked him to find two additional mentors, and he did. Those volunteers filled a hole in each of those little girls’ hearts.
“I’ve been doing this for forty years, so I know who will make it and who won’t. These girls will make it.”
Seems like a modern day example of Matthew 25—because these servants worked to meet kids’ important personal needs. Imagine the chain reaction of love that follows. Specifically, think about the difference made in the families of these children. Friends certainly noticed, too. Teachers sure did. When something really good happens, people still notice. They also remember. Even cheer.
Or consider a children’s ministry in Canada that presented the salvation plan to their kids one weekend, and then the next weekend had a few moments of “up front” time during big church to share what happened. They used balloons to visually represent each child who asked Jesus into his or her life for the first time. The church erupted in a long ovation at the sight of 42 balloons.
Definitely a modern day example of Luke 15; a congregation joins the rejoicing of angels taking place in heaven. Every balloon represented a child with a name and a family. Again, when something really good happens, people notice and cheer.
Of course attracting attention or praise should not serve as the motivation to reach and serve people. But, it is pretty cool when people outside the church appreciate the work of Christ’s servants. Just as honor is shown when a church body acknowledges the love and passionate work needed to reach children with the salvation message. Yes, applause will happen when people see relationships form, watch hearts heal, and see lives change.
Life change is the important work of a church, after all.
Cheers!
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12).
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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.
©2009, David Staal
