Couples Connected

Today we implemented a relaunch of our Bible Community at church. It is a class for young marrieds, mostly with families. It is newly titled "Couples Connected" and tagged with "Making friends for life while growing in Christ". For different reasons the class had shrunk to 7 - 9 couples. We have a new director for the class that had a vision for the class to focus our purpose and to reach those in our church who weren't involved in a Bible Community. After a couple months of planning it kicked off today with a five-week marriage series and a BBQ afterward.

So, with a 4-month old baby who is not incredibly portable and trying to connect with as many people as possible - I am wiped out tonight! I found myself sitting on the couch this evening and thinking about our class. No matter what it is headed for growth (we had 141 people today!), but what else? I would love to begin a group for new moms with 3 - 6 month olds. Could there be lifelong friendships develop? Or even better yet - discipleship? Or a group of moms who are sold-out-dedicated-ferocious prayer warriors for their children and husbands?

What about our men? Will our men in the midst of their fun activities find that friend that sticks closer than a brother?

How does this kind of thing happen? Not having all the answers I believe it is a lot about being a willing vessel. Just saying to God, "I will begin what you put in front of me and you use what I have." I've found that He does the supernatural work and we get to enjoy the results. I found this out first hand when I served as a missionary in West Africa just out of college. A local pastor asked me to help him with the women in his town who were new converts. I had no idea what a 23 year-old white girl had to give to village women who got up at 3 am to get water for their family, balancing the containers on their heads. I went with a good friend who was a translator. We began with 10 women and at the end of a month, God had grown it to 25 women. He already had this in mind, but just needed to use an ordinary girl who received a blessing in the process.

Maybe God is already using you as a vessel and you don't see it yet. Or you have a desire in your heart to start something? What is stopping you? Start putting some plans in place, no matter how small, but stay after it!

"And yet, Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8