This post is dedicated to those who have invested in me through the years--those who were more than chaperones, but who over time showed me how much God loves me!
Chaperone: Someone who accompanies and supervises a group, especially of young people, usually when in public places
Small Group Leader: Anyone who chooses to invest in the lives of a few to encourage authentic faith
Which one do you want on a trip with your preteen? Which one do you want talking to your teenager about which college to choose? Which one do you want sitting with your child on a four hour bus ride to camp?
I am not saying that some chaperones cannot have significant influence in the life of a child, but I am saying that they are not usually given that responsibility. And, why are they not given that responsibility? It is because it takes time to encourage authentic faith.
As talked about in the book Playing for Keeps, it takes time, stories, love, fun, tribes, and words over time to influence a child. You cannot force a child to develop authentic faith. A weekend retreat standing alone or a moving worship service usually don't lead to a healthy, sustainable, and authentic faith. But, when you introduce a small group leader to those same retreats, worship services, conversations, and bus rides, you are changing things up. You are providing consistency and presence that you don't always get in a chaperone. You are providing a place for connection. You are creating a history that can ultimately show a child that they matter to God!
I think 1 Thessalonians 2:8 sums up a small group leader well:
"So we care for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
Wow! Did you get that? They didn't share a fleeting moment or a story or an experience. They didn't just go on a fun trip. They didn't just make sure the kids didn't get lost or hurt. They shared their lives. That is an over and over kind of sharing. That sounds like the community God had in mind when He designed His church!
Chaperones should be reserved for school dances and field trips, not for experiences that could define the faith of my child!
So, what does this mean for you?
1. Are your kids in a small group? At Lakeland, small groups start when a child is 4 weeks old. They begin to look more and more like community the older a child gets. Your child's leader is there every week. Are you?
2. Are you being intentional about allowing other people to invest in your children? Do you know who is investing in your child?
3. Who do you need to be investing in over time? What relationships do you need to commit to so that you can have a lasting impact in their faith story?
4. If you are in a church leadership position are you being strategic about how people invest in people at your church or does it simply happen by accident? Is it something someone commits to or something someone signs up for every once in awhile?
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