Digging Deeper: Having a Heart for Your Community

I was raised in church. I was there nearly every time the doors were open, every time there was an event, and every time there was a prayer gathering. I was even there on days we woke up late and only made it for the last 20 minutes of the sermon. I lived and breathed church. In my house, nothing was ever more important than being present on Sundays. My church foundation is a gift I don’t take for granted. It’s something that, as a child, I ignorantly thought everyone experienced.

After being in the classroom for more than a decade, I can tell you the sad truth is that many, many kids grow up not hearing the truth about Jesus. There are some who have never visited a church, spent time listening to worship music, or even know anything about the Bible other than what 7th-grade Social Studies standards have ensured them it is.

When I entered the classroom, this is what I envisioned: tiny God-sized moments where I can answer a question and maybe spark a brief conversation that may one day lead to something greater. I pray over those rosters, the seats my students sit in, and I pray over my own thoughts and words constantly. I know my influence in the classroom can directly impact my community, so I find myself constantly looking for those moments.

Have you ever thought about where you can make a difference? A place where you can step in and shine a light, start a spark? If we know our goal is to shamelessly share the gospel, how are you doing?

I pray, as you take on this day, that you listen when God wants you to speak and that you pray for the community you are directly impacting. I pray that you plant some seeds that later reap God-sized moments.