#18

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a little slip of paper that said inspected by #18. Who is #18? Male or female? Rich or poor? Do they feel valued? They were involved in an integral step.

I might have bought the jeans at the Gap, but the Gap did not build the jeans alone. There were people who thought of the design, obtained the material, put it together, #18 who inspected the quality, those who transported it, the warehouse people, the staff that put it on the floor, the person behind the register, and more. Together they are the Gap. Missing one role could ruin it all.

This is the same with the church. There are very few things that are done alone. For example, putting on a worship service involves the pastor delivering a message, readers, people to collect offering, greeters, and more. Sunday School not only involves choosing the curriculum and getting teaches, but also filling the seats with those who want to listen and participate.

Recently our pastor took a calling to another church after 28 years. We were spoiled. We retained the same pastor for 28 years. He was mostly out of seminary and then came to CSPC (our church). His ministry, him personally, and his family grew with us.

The author Rick Warren would call us a pastor-centered church. The pastor was at the center. Yes, we have programs and Sunday school and youth groups and pastoral care and small groups. When visitors came to the church, they always mentioned the pulpit message from the pastor. When we had a guest pastor, attendance dropped in half.

The pastor leaving will be an adjustment for us. Yet, the cards that people receive when they are sick are not all signed from the pastor. They are from different people in the congregation. The pastor does not teach every Sunday School class. The pastor is not involved in every small group or piece of pastoral care.

Christ was one man, one great man. Yet, his hands extended only so far and so fast. He called on those who listened to extend his reach. He called on the disciples to share his message then and after his death. Christ did not write the Bible. Inspired it yes, but did not write it. The disciples did not write every book of the Bible. The writers of the Bible did not pull it together as a collection. There was a #18 involved.

We each can do our part; we each can be #18. It could be the soft drink you provide to someone who is working so hard they forgot they were thirsty. It could be the lunch you go to so someone can vent because they need someone to listen. It could be the ride you provide to someone who doesn’t have one.

TAKE-AWAYS: We each add value to the world. Not everything we do is big. It’s the little impacts that build up to make a collective difference.