Keeping it alive...

So how does one keep a ministry alive? SHOULD one keep a ministry alive - or should we assume that God will keep alive what God wants to keep alive? Sometimes we look for people to step up into leadership, allowing us to back off leadership, but we don't see anyone stepping forward, so we don't step backward. Sometimes we sit tight and wait for signs of movement, expecting God to wave a sign at us from the sky.

We want you to meet two people who've become dear friends of ours, fellow ministers in His service, and up-coming leaders in ministry. We didn't sit back and wait for them to step forward, we tapped them on the shoulder and said, "How about taking over this puppet ministry?"

This is Laura (second from left) and Ian (between Laura and Doug) McCrone. Ian has been a puppeteer since the earliest memorable years of his life. Laura has been an encourager, organizer and fellow puppeteer since the day she met Ian in high school and they began their walk together in the Lord.

Laura has been taking more and more responsibility in leading the puppet ministry at Rutherford Bible Chapel, planning, writing and directing their Labor Day Fair efforts for the last several years. This year, Doug is completely out of the picture (helping simply as a puppeteer), and Laura is leading the ministry with her own style and God's guidance. It's a wonderful encouragement to see such interest and spiritual concern on the part of these young people as they seek to continue a ministry they feel is essential to the Kingdom.

Ian is the proverbial fruit tree whose fruit is beginning to blossom and ripen. After years of being a puppeteer with Laura and his brothers, Ian stepped forward this year to perform solo for the entire week of Summerama. If you don't think that's intimidating, think again. Sometimes the most intimidating audience is kids. Ian came forth with characters that were not only fun to the kids, but endearing - even garnering chants from the kids, calling for their appearance. That kind of character connection is incredibly valuable... just ask Kevin Clash (he's the puppeteer behind Sesame Street's "Elmo"). God is working in Ian to develop new characters, and we're praying that He uses this young man mightily.

These young people are our friends. We pray for them constantly, and ask you to do the same. Pray for God's faithful hand upon them, and their own spiritual growth and development - personally and as leaders. Pray that they will continue to Love the Lord Jesus more than anything - including the puppets - and that they'll love serving Him together.

Sometimes you just have to put down the puppets and check your perspective.

Thanks for your prayers.