Does it Really Matter?

     I was talking to someone recently about the Adult Soccer outreach that I have been involved with on Thurs nights at our church. His comment was, "It doesn't really matter. None of those guys will ever come to the church anyway!" That comment has made me think, "does it really matter?"

     I think it does matter. Ruth and I have dedicated our lives to telling others about Jesus. But we don't always see the results right away. We live in an age of instant everything. So if we don't see something happen quick, we think that it isn't working, we are not being effective, or we are doing something wrong. But ministry is not really about numbers or programs or outreaches. It's about people. We do outreaches like adult soccer as a means of creating relationships.

     I feel like I was able to begin a relationship with some of these young men who came to the church gymnasium every week. Did any of them "accept Jesus"? No... but I didn't expect them to either. Relationships take time to build and cultivate. They are like plants in a garden. They need lots of care and lots of time... Eventually you see a little green shoot poke its head out of the dirt.

     We have finished up the games for this fall. But the growing process has not stopped. Growth is still taking place underground. Please pray that the seeds of the Gospel that we have planted in the lives of these young men will continue to grow until we meet again in January. Pray too that some of the men will attend some the special activities that the church has planned for the holidays.

Doug & Ruth