Meet, Pray, Help

by Kerry Clarensau

This past Sunday evening, my husband Mike gave a simple yet powerful challenge to our church leadership council. The group includes delegates, deacons, elders, senior staff, and all of their spouses-34 people in all. Each of them has committed to the priority of extending belonging to every individual. We believe belonging is the first step for a newcomer to believe in Christ and then become like Him. Mike says it this way, "Belonging is the beginning of believing and becoming."

As usual, we began the Sunday evening meeting with dinner and a lot of great conversation. (My husband and I are so blessed to serve with people we enjoy spending time with!) Then Mike asked everyone to get out a piece of paper and write down these three words-Meet, Pray, Help. He challenged every member of our council to attend church services with the assignment to meet one person, pray for one person, and to help one person.

Mike encouraged us to look beyond our familiar circle of friends and search for someone to meet. It may not be someone new to our church, but someone we don't yet have a relationship with. Then he challenged us to pray for at least one person during prayer times or to tell someone we were committing to pray for them in the coming week. Mike also told us to look for opportunities to help someone. It could be something as simple as helping a mom carry a diaper bag or assisting a visitor in finding the restrooms.

These may seem like very simple instructions. But by being intentional and making "meet, pray, and help" a priority among leadership, we can positively influence the atmosphere of our church family. It can become contagious-encouraging others to extend belonging in the same way.

Mike challenged the entire council to carry a small notebook and to write down the names of the individuals we meet and the needs we commit to pray for. We were also encouraged to keep each other accountable-even asking, "Who did you meet this week? Who are you praying for?"

Think about your leadership team-how can each of you be more intentional about extending love and belonging to those in your sphere of influence?

"My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love" (1 John 3:18, The Message).

KERRY CLARENSAU is a mentor, speaker, and author of Secrets: Transforming Your Life and Marriage. She has served in ministry with her husband, Mike, for over 20 years in various positions in the Kansas District and in the national office. Currently she and Mike serve as pastors at Maranatha Worship Center in Wichita, Kansas, where she teaches an adult Sunday School class and oversees ministry to women. Kerry also serves as Leadership Development Coordinator for the National Women's Department. Visit her Web site at www.kerryclarensau.com.