In full disclosure, I like change. Change is evidence of the movement of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is moving, I want to be in the middle of it.

I also like learning new things. The best way for learning new things is to check it out and try new things alongside other disciples who are trying new things.

At last Thursday night’s Family VBS we enjoyed the company of three kidmin leaders from a local church over an hour away who wanted to see what it looked like. They travelled together, arrived early, listened to me rattle on about loving our kids to Jesus and the spaghetti we throw at the wall to help Christian discipleship stick with our families ‘as they go’ (Deuteronomy 6) choosing deep over wide. They helped stage the event and chatted with our volunteer team before, during, and after. They praised and danced before the Lord with our families. They even stayed for the dine-out that followed to further debrief and enjoy some amazing fried okra.

Around that BBQ table we asked lots of questions of one another about what both churches were doing and family trends we were both discovering. There is nothing like the glowing countenance of kidmin leaders sharing how their team is knocking it out of the park. I’ll be heading their way for one of their family events with my team this fall.

I can read about stuff and even hear about stuff others are doing. And I do. I’m a visual learner and fascinated with logistics, timing, and church family dynamics. I see that best in-person, arriving early, staying late, and with other Jesus gals/guys who understand the WHY we do what we do as disciple-makers and not event planners.

I’ve served at other church’s VBSs after my own was ‘in the books’. We would meet at our monthly network lunch and make the summer tour to one another’s churches. It sharpened me as a disciple-maker, inspired me to think of other best practices, and the kidmin champion who led each church didn’t have to recruit for the area where I served because I was just as much over the top for her kids as I was with mine…and I was experienced. We didn’t share just resources and VBS backdrops. WE were the best shared resource for one another.

Christians are meant for community. Community connections inside and outside our own house, er church, make for better disciple-makers. Disciple-makers are meant for even a greater community of disciple-makers and we have to get out to make the most of it.

Get out. Make the connections. Take someone up on the invite to ‘come see’. Don’t wait for a conference. Just ask, “May I come see?” Get out of your own house and check out what others are doing. Arrive early. Stay late. Be fully-present. Learn all you can. Bring back what excites you. Be a blessing to one another with your ministry of presence. Be inspired by the most amazing Jesus guys and gals in their house and come home with ideas to edit your own stuff to excellence.

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Luke 8:16