Why is it, I wonder, that numbers matter so much to us?
Take last Sunday, for example. The first service of the day was at Gartree Prison when just under 50 prisoners attended. We had a good time of fellowship both in the meeting and afterwards over coffee. Several prisoners asked for prayer after I had given an opportunity for people to pray a prayer of invitation in the service. Praise the Lord!
I was away from the prison just in time to make the journey across to Yelvertoft, arriving at 11.45 in time for the informal fellowship at our church. John Langford had taken the service for me. I was encouraged to find a good number despite several being away for various reasons. I am longing for the time when our average attendance exceeds 20 each week, which would be good for a village the size of Yelvertoft.
In the evening I took the service at Market Harborough Congregational Church where there were eight of us including Doreen and me! Those that were there were clearly embarrassed that so few had attended. Well it's summer time, the minister's on holiday, and evening services these days tend not to draw many. It inevitably made me reflect on how I spend my time. Preparing for that service and conducting it took just as much time as it would if there had been 100 present. I also seek to offer helpful ministry in the best way I can. Could there have been a more economical use of time? Did it really matter?
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are full of stories of individuals meeting with God. Stories that involve crowds seem few and far between. Yes, there is the sermon on the mount, the feeding of 5,000 and 4,000, and the Day of Pentecost in the NT, but if you list the big gatherings against the individual stories recorded what appears important is the accounts of individuals. On the way to Jericho there was a great crowd but it is the story of an individual (Bartimaeus) that is significant. Once inside the city there is a crowd but here it is Zacchaeus that is significant. On the way to the home of Jairus it is a woman with a haemorrhage that is significant. If anything stands out within the pattern of the ministry of Jesus it is engagement with individuals that seek his help rather than crowds (from who he often sought escape).
But that raises an important issue for those of us who give ourselves in ministry often to the twos and threes. If it is not that numbers are significant from God's perspective then we do need to be sure that at least one person in each meeting feels God's touch, hears him speak, and draws closer to God. Obviously that is where our focus should be. If the promise of his presence is true then we need to be careful that he can be found each time we meet. We need to take care to introduce those who have need (even if unspoken) to the one who longs to meet it.
Prayers this week
Sunday 7th - Yelvertoft
Monday 8th - servicing (non-participation) a telephone conference for Sunrise Ministries trustees.
Tuesday 9th - Gartree Prison
Sunday 14th - 9.00 Gartree Prison and 10.45 Yelvertoft
Final preparations for "Holiday at Home" - an outreach programme to older people in Market Harborough 15th to 19th August.
Work on my research project, administration and pastoral visits will occupy the rest of the time. I will also try to take a little more time out during this relatively quiet period.
Please pray that I will be sensitive to what God sees when I am taking meetings and develop the ability to help the 'two or threes' or even the ones and twos to truly engage with God.
Barry
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