Relationships and Ministry

It has been many weeks now since making the move to another local church and therefore leaving Outpost 112. "Outpost 112" may not say a lot to most people but to me it is more than just a title. It represents for me the boys and men that associated themselves with the organization. The boys and men that God put together in one time and one place.

It represents friends, and brothers, and those that God allowed me to pour a little bit of us, God and me, into their lives. It's the boys and men, and occasionally the parents of the boys, that I had built some form of relationship with.

Every relationship was different. For some it was just a "high five" or a handshake and a smile to let a boy know I see him and am thinking about him. For others it was a word of instruction, or the sharing of an experience that may help him. For many it was time studying the Word together and learning more of who He is and who we should be every week. It was learning and teaching ropes and knots and knives and compass and first aid, and all kinds of fun "guy stuff". It was helping a boy learn to read by letting him sometimes struggle through reading a passage of scripture. It was taking boys shopping at Christmas and Mother's day to make sure a single Mom got a present too.

It was loving boys through discipline, even when it felt more like punishment to the boy at the time. It was teaching young men how to treat a lady they may date, or even marry someday. And, yes, it was those sometimes delicate conversations that come up in a Bible study about sex and girls. Not because it had anything to do with the Bible study, but simply because that was what that young man was thinking about and needed to know at the time.

It was praying for boys and their boo-boos, big and small, and for their families. Praying that Mom and/or Dad would get to know Jesus. That a boy would have the faith and courage to share the Gospel through word and deed to family and friends. Praying that a boy would do well enough on a test to go on the next campout. And, sometimes he knew I was praying for him, but most times not.

It was the phone calls from boys. "Hey Commander Bob, wait till you see the knew knife I got this time". "Commander Bob, can I come spend the weekend at your house." "I heard this knew joke at school today, wanna hear it?" "Hey Commander you shoulda seen the double I hit last night." "When are we leaving for camp. Ok, two weeks from now, ok, good, cuz I've got all my stuff packed already..... should I bring a flashlight?" "Hello Commander, can you pray for my brother. He's getting into trouble." "Hey Commander, what's up? I don't remember why I called, just wanted to call and talk." "Hi Commander Bob, can we pray for my Mom? She's been sick again."

Every relationship was different. Often they didn't occur in a church building, or appear to be religious, or spiritual. They were not always about Bible study and prayer. In fact those "spiritual" times, in the grand measure of things, were rather infrequent. But it was those other times, those "non-spiritual" times that were a necessary predecessor to times of effective ministry.

"Outpost 112", was for a season, my relationships, my ministry, my purpose. I hope many of those relationships will continue. Yet I know that many, if not most, will be replaced by others. Others that God has in store for the next season of my life.

I'll miss the personalities and relationships of Outpost 112. But I know with great assurance that I'll form new relationships because I believe it is only in the bonds of a meaningful relationship that effective ministry can occur. And I am certain, that my ministry and my purpose will continue, in whatever form God shapes it for this the next season of my life.