Here's a few stories of how I've seen God move in my own life. Two stories about my involvement on the tech team for Fuel, your Student Ministry weekly program. God gets the praise, but I was priviliged to be part of it.
Story #1:
Just last weekend Student Ministies had our Fall Retreat at NorthBay in North East, MD. We had scheduled enough tech help for two positions; sound, and screen/projector. But we didn't realize that we were on our own for lights. See last year they had on of the employees of NorthBay working their already installed lights; but we didn't realize that it costed about $500 extra than we already spent to rent the place to pay the guy to run lights. More important than money, it didn't fit our theme. They had these really great flashing lights and things, but we were trying to "unplug" on the first night. So loud rock music and flashing lights didn't fit the theme.
So not only did we not have enough help, but our normal lighting design wouldn't work. We have this truss that sits behind the drums in our normal Fuel set up, but because the screen came down so far it would have blocked almost all of the lights on the truss. So it's about 2 hours before the first sessions starts, and we want to squeeze in some dinner before the session and we have no idea how we're gonna design lighting.
It was a cumulitive effort. After giving up and hoping someone else figured it out. I simply said why don't we just put the two poles on the sides and fly lights pointed in various directions. So it was my idea, Alex figured out how to link everything up to the light board, and Brandon being the visual guy pointed them in such directions that made the stage look good. We put our heads together, worked hard, but God showed up. We were running really late we almost missed dinner. We were thirsty and hungry and just desided to leave it the way it was for the night and go eat.
Well we got done eating, and realizing we had about a half hour before the first session we trotted back to the theatre and finished fixing up our design and making it work. I'm becoming more and more convinced that when we get together and work on something that's gonna glorify God, and we run into an issue, God always shows up.
God, our supply, our breath of life, still more awesome than we know.
Story #2:
Last year Matt, our youth pastor noticed there was a problem with our Middle School session, and so he and our lead tech guy Alex worked hard on making it possible for us to move the middle school session back into the cafe like where the Fuel session used to always take place. All sounded good, we're all down for making it an experience for the middle schoolers to come and actually be able to engage in worship and the teaching. One problem, Welcome to Mountain, our class for new comers was meeting in the cafe, scheduled to end at 4:30, and worship service for middle school was supposed to start at 5pm.
While WTM was on a break we were able to move some of our bigger clunkier items into the room, but basically we were not at all set up for a worship service. Within a half hours time it was all hands on deck. The previous group tore down all of their stuff, including their own tech set up, about 15 tables full with tablecloth's and place settings for the lunch meeting. And we began to set up a bunch of speakers, a full drum set and mics for all drums, guitars, singers, and speakers. At the same time some other volunteers were setting up a couch and chair set up as VIP seating for the winners of the big group game out in the gym. They also were setting up chairs in auditorium fashion, all facing the direction and more of them.
To make a long story short, we had enough time to sound check one full song, using that same song as a walk-in for the students. The even resulted in a total change. The kids were plugged in and participating in worship, and listening intently to speaker. It was a total 180 degree change from the previous weeks.
If you weren't there you may not get it. You might think, "so you changed over a room, big deal." I saw it deeper than that. It was the body of Christ, from different ministries coming together and accomplishing a goal. The work got done, everyone put their hand in and we did a total room change in about 20 minutes time. While it's easy to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done; it's always been my perogative to give God the glory. I'm reminded again of the Psalmist, what is man that you are mindful of me? We're nothing on our own. But put us together and we're the body of Christ, the laborers of his field. Solo dei Gloria. To God alone be the Glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment