This week on the blog, we’re all writing about our favorite resource for summer events. 
Mine is a little bit of a “different” resource to consider.
This evening I was reading through my devotional book I read every night, Extreme Devotion. (It’s really great, and you can check it out by clicking its picture to the left.) Today’s devotion was about a missionary who went to Korea in the 1800s with a Korean Bible in tow. The missionary was killed before he ever spoke to a single Korean. However, his Bible is still read today by Christians in the restricted nation of North Korea. Over 150 years later, his action and subsequent death are still a testimony to Korean Christians.
You know what’s so cool about that? He had nothing to do with the growth but planting the seed. It’s kind of like he planted a garden then had to move away, so someone else started tending it. That’s where the parallel comes in.
Sometimes (no, most of the time) we have trouble letting go of our “gardens”. You know them: the ministries, events, duties, etc. that you’ve always done. It might be camp, VBS, summer outreaches, or whatever you may do. It’s your baby and you don’t want to let it go. The thing is, sometimes in order for it to really grow, you need to let go of it.
The death of any great ministry can be a leader who won’t let go. It’s just like a parent who won’t let go of their child once they’re out on their own. God has put volunteers in your church specifically so you can let go. I appreciate being able to serve under a children’s pastor like Ryan, who’s willing to let go of these projects when he can. For instance, a good portion of our VBS planning has been handed off to one of our best volunteers, Carol, for several years now. There was an opportunity to let go, and he took it. It’s helped both Ryan and our VBS in the long run having someone with the resources necessary to really invest in the ministry. He recognized that a volunteer was put in his path to be a great resource for him.
So what this summer could you hand off to one of your “resources?” Look at the things you refuse to let go of, but could really use someone else to tend to them who has the time and know-how. Use the amazing volunteers God has blessed you with to their fullest! It is called “summer break” after all.
