Make your ministry a
Watchtower ministry. That can be a scary statement if you have ever had the Jehovah’s
Witness pay you a house-call to leave their flagship flier the Watchtower. Of course I am not talking
about a little pamphlet stuffed with well-disguised lies. I am talking about peering
into the lives of students and observing their circumstances, their high times
and their lows. If you have a large group, you will need to cultivate your
leadership team and small group leaders to be the primary watchmen. If your
group is smaller you may be the only one manning the tower at first. Before
seminary, I wanted to save some start-up money for married life. Since my
degree was in Criminology, I took a job in the Florida penal system at Union
Correctional facility. As an engaged single guy I signed up for every hour of
overtime I could get - double shifts, holiday pay, and close-custody compensation.
However there was one drawback; my extra shift was usually on tower-duty. With
a standard issue 12guage shotgun and an AR15 rifle, I sat in a concrete tower
overlooking the recreation yard occupied by a thousand inmates each day. The
visual vantage point from a tower is tremendous. You can see trouble brewing and
direct help to various areas as needed. One vigilant watchman can respond to a
variety of situations. Likewise, one committed ministry watchman can provide a
tremendous amount of support to a student ministry. Give your volunteers the
advantage of noticing students who might be struggling with life issues.
Train volunteers not to assume struggling youth will be okay or that someone is
speaking encouragement and truth into his or her situation. Train volunteers to
pursue relational investment with students and engage them with genuine care
and concern. Don’t get so busy that fraught students slip through the cracks or
get lost in the masses.
“Then the lookout called, "O
Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every
night at my guard post.” Isaiah
21:8
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming
and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes
someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I
will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’” Ezekiel 33:6
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