Leadership: A word from Mennonite Church USA leaders

During a regional gathering of the Menno­nite Camping Association, Alan Stucky, pastor of Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in Harper, Kan., shared about how God can work in people’s lives through simple conversations—even those that might seem insignificant—and through caring people following up on such conversations.

I asked Alan to recount the story as a reminder to all of us that it is often in the little events of life that God does the most amazing work.

Alan: “Many times we don’t get to see the fruit of the seeds we plant in the work of ministry. But sometimes we do. Such was the case when my friend Brett sent me a letter he had received from a young woman.

In the summers of 2005 through 2007, I had the great opportunity to volunteer as the Bible lesson leader for a week of junior high camp at Camp Mennoscah near Murdock, Kan. One of the directors I worked with was Brett, another youth pastor whom I’d known for years.

During the week, we had opportunities to minister to all kinds of kids dealing with all kinds of issues. I know for a fact that we had a significant impact on a number of the kids. Others we simply had to turn over to the trust and care of God, hoping the Holy Spirit was at work in their lives. Rebecca was one of those girls.

One night after campfire, Rebecca stayed behind to pray and talk with one of the adults. She wound up talking with Brett. At one point, Brett asked her what she thought God was calling her to do. She said she didn’t know and that she didn’t even go to church.

Brett said, “You know that God loves you even if you don’t go to church, right?” He then asked if she had a friend she might feel comfortable going to church with. She said, “Yes, there’s Megan.”

After the conversation that evening, Rebecca felt as though God was calling her to start going to church, but she wasn’t totally sure. After going home from camp, she didn’t quite know what to do and began to question whether or not she was supposed to go to church. Then, out of the blue, Megan’s mom called and invited her to go to church with their family. Rebecca couldn’t believe God was actually calling her to do what she’d talked about at camp.

She attended church that year and returned to camp the next summer, excited to tell Brett what had happened. When she told him that Megan’s mom had called and about how she had started going to church, Brett said, “Yeah, I know. I called the pastor of that church after camp last year and told her about you.” Rebecca was almost in shock that someone would care enough about her to do that for her. It was confirmation that God was working in her life.

Rebecca attended church throughout high school and then attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. As she made plans for the summer after her first year, she actively pursued a job as a summer staff person at a Mennonite camp. She was offered such a position at Swan Lake Christian Camp in Viborg, S.D., which she had learned about while visiting a friend in South Dakota that year. Once again, God was at work.

While that summer presented its challenges, Rebecca also had a profoundly moving experience, again during campfire. After returning home, she decided to go through catechism, be baptized and join the church. As part of the catechism class, she was to write a letter to someone who had made a difference in her faith. She chose Brett. It was in that letter that she shared the story of her faith journey—a journey that had begun that night with a simple conversation after campfire.

Everyone has simple conversations every day. How often do we remember that God uses these conversations to be about building up and encouraging people in their faith? I hope Brett’s example of listening and follow-through inspires us to view every encounter—whether it seems significant or ordinary—as an opportunity to enter into the work God is about all around us.”

Kent Miller Middlebury, Ind., is denominational minister of youth and young adults for Mennonite Church USA. Alan Stucky is pastor of Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in Harper, Kan.