Teaching With Heaven In Mind

Several years ago, I received a call from a lady asking that I conduct a memorial service for her nephew. The headlines of our Palm Beach Post had recently bannered the sordid details of this boy's death telling of how the boy's mother and live-in boyfriend had beat the boy to death and then used cosmetics in an attempt to cover the scars and bruises. When asked about how I could help the family, the aunt told me that I had already been a help. I learned that the only time the boy had ever been to church in his entire life was a few weeks earlier at our annual Easter candy drop. The boy was filled with excitement about a service at which we drop some 15,000 pieces of candy from a helicopter as it flew over our soccer field in each of our three Easter services. The opportunity to grab a bag full of candy drew the boy to what could possibly have been his only opportunity to learn about Jesus and make heaven his final home.

What a sobering thought. One opportunity to share the Gospel. One opportunity to provide a choice for an eternal home. My mind began to race. I retraced each component of that service. Was the message clear? Did the ministry tools capture the children's attention? And, more importantly, did God's anointing permeate the candy-craving packed-out auditorium?

What a sobering responsibility. Unknowingly, each ministry opportunity provides what might well be the only time that a child gets to hear about Jesus. Unknowingly, we might have been given the one opportunity to share the salvation message.

Let's make each ministry opportunity count. Let's minister with the thought in mind that someone is counting on you to have God's anointing, message, and sensitivity. Only heaven knows who sits in front of you each week. Selah!