Training Up Leaders

After two days of much needed rest, I sit here contemplating the massive tasks that face us in the next couple of weeks. ACM classes start up in such a short time and it seems like there is no way we could possibly be ready. I think that’s one big cultural difference that we’re beginning to get used to. Ndumi is always telling us – “South Africa just has a way of pulling things off at the last minute.” Many American’s cringe at the thought of last minute scrambles for success, but maybe Tim Tebow’s infamous fourth quarter comebacks will soften up others to enjoy the process of pulling things together in the nick of time. I think we’re learning that not everything can be controlled, and sometimes the task is just bigger than the hours we have in the day. It’s easy for me to look ahead and trust that it will be pulled off, simply by looking back at what I’ve learned in the past three months.

A few weeks ago, we had our sunday school sleepover from friday to sunday, before waking up monday morning and realizing the leadership workshop was the next day. I was incredibly stressed out, poring through scripture and trying to find something to teach these teens. As I wrestled with feelings of inadequacy, I realized that all I could teach these kids is what God was teaching me in that moment. So I went through scripture and highlighted three different leaders – Moses, Jeremiah and Peter – and their reaction to being called by God. Moses argues with God in Exodus 4, asking him to send someone else, Jeremiah exclaims in Jeremiah 1 that he is too young, and Peter, before even being called, tells Jesus in Luke 5 that he is too sinful to be in the presence of Jesus.

The lesson went alright for the kids, but I definitely think it helped me realize God never calls people based on their own merit, or because of anything they’ve done to earn his call. God calls people in their weakness. He calls people because He has something to say through them, and He only asks them to be willing – not to be eloquent, or old enough or holy enough. I think this sums up the lessons we are learning daily – that God is teaching us, using us in the best possible way, and it isn’t dependent on any of our own talents. I wasn’t ready for that leadership workshop – but the Lord was, and he  used it in his own way.

He seems to be constantly asking us to trust him as events come together. It seems everyday our task list grows longer, but as he taught me with workshops, programs and events, He’s in control of the timing. He has plans for these ACM classes which are coming up, and they will be ready because of Him, not because of our efforts. As I seem to be learning daily, “Time and space are our own limitations, we musn’t impose them on God.” (God’s Smuggler).