Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Responding to a Tragedy as a Sunday School Leader
Our hearts are broken for the families who lost children and loved ones this month in Newtown, Connecticut. We pray for them as well as for government leaders, first responders, the local church leaders and the school teachers and workers who have been involved in helping the people of that community.
Sunday School teachers can fulfill a special calling in such a moment of tragedy. We carry the burden and the privilege of teaching and speaking into people’s lives in moments of pain, loss, and confusion. Leaders in Bible times often shared a word from the Lord that was appropriate to the crisis at hand and we will often have a similar ministry. Let me offer some do’s and don’ts for you to consider as the people in your class respond to such unimaginable tragedies.
Do pray publically for those who have experienced the grief firsthand as well as those who are trying to make sense of things in your class. Include yourself in the prayer—being careful not to give the impression that you are above feeling the pain associated with the crisis.
Don’t try to turn it into a political issue or use it as an opportunity to share your pet peeves and opinions. We cheapen the deaths of the victims with such rants. This isn’t the time for getting on the soapbox.
Do listen to the expressions of hurt and the emotions that are being shared. Allow there to be moments of tears. Also listen carefully to the questions that are being asked—especially the children. With children, give brief short answers. Be careful not to over answer their questions with long theological explanations. They really just want assurance and hope--so do the adults.
Don’t use the crisis as a way of scaring people into a spiritual decision. Such decisions are generally superficial and based on the emotion of the moment rather than a real conversion or renewal. Certainly we are always ready to respond to a sincere seeker no matter when they come to us, but using a tragedy to manipulate someone is not likely a method the Lord would approve.
Do assure people that our church does have security precautions in place to help protect people while they are here. We have a person who is the director of church security. The halls are monitored regularly and the doors are either locked or they are manned during Sunday School and worship.
Don’t pretend to have all the answers. It is proper to explain that there is evil in the world and that evil happens because people refuse to let God control and direct their lives. But we should not pretend that we know why this incident happened to these people in this town. Remind them that this was not from God and that He is not responsible for bad things that happen to innocent people.
Do continue on with the teaching of your lesson. You can discern if you need to give the class a little more time than usual for prayer and interaction, but God’s Word has an amazing way of providing comfort and insight that we may have never imagined. I am constantly amazed at how God will allow His Word to speak to each individual in our congregation in ways I never expected when I was preparing the message. The Holy Spirit is so good at taking the lesson you prepared and causing it to speak to each person’s individual needs—trust Him with that.
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Power of a Leader's Kindness
In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her six year-old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams—now that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, “Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?” Billy said, “Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.” Mom smiled back and said, “Let's see if we can make your wish come true.”
Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat—not a toy one—with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was overjoyed. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the emergency squad, and even the Fire Chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news.
Having his dream come true with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, Billy was so deeply touched that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night, however, all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, “We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room! With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, “Chief am I a real fireman now?” The chief said, “Billy, you are, and The Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand.”
The kindness of a leader in a person’s life can bring amazing joy and have a profound influence. You may not realize it, but as a Sunday School teacher, you may have that kind of influence over the people in your class. Your encouraging words and acts of kindness can touch a life deeply.
Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat—not a toy one—with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was overjoyed. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the emergency squad, and even the Fire Chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news.
Having his dream come true with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, Billy was so deeply touched that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night, however, all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, “We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room! With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, “Chief am I a real fireman now?” The chief said, “Billy, you are, and The Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand.”
The kindness of a leader in a person’s life can bring amazing joy and have a profound influence. You may not realize it, but as a Sunday School teacher, you may have that kind of influence over the people in your class. Your encouraging words and acts of kindness can touch a life deeply.
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