Kelly's Corner: The Power of a Conversation
- Kelly Rader
- Dec 23, 2015
- 2 min read
At our church adult Christmas party this year I sat beside a young adult named Gavin who is attending our church for one year while attending a program called Life Teams. The Life Team adults live in community for a year to learn about and participate in Christian ministry. Gavin volunteers at Cyrus Centre in Chilliwack, a drop in centre for youths aged 12 - 18.
Being the inquisitive person I am, I peppered Gavin with questions about Cyrus Centre and his role there. I stumped him with a few questions to which he replied “you should get together with the Program Director who can better answer your questions.” I figured that was probably a good idea. So the following week I met with the Cyrus Centre Program Director for a tour of the facility, and to ask about current needs. She explained that the Centre serves a supper meal 365 days a year, and that many church groups or individuals take a turn once a month to provide a meal. She went on to explain that meals could be dropped off, or that providers of the meal can stay and eat with the teens. She went on to say that volunteers are also encouraged to come and offer what they like to do. For example “We have a Grandma who enjoys knitting and offered to come on a regular basis and teach the kids to knit. At first I thought the kids may not be into it. But it’s been such a success, and so fun to see the teens interacting with this lady and knitting.”
This conversation reminded me of Gifted & Called and how through this seminar we encourage women to look at what’s in their hand to give or do. We all have talents and abilities that God can use. Even something as simple as knitting can be a tool used to cross generational barriers to connect with at-risk teens. How cool is that!
I left Cyrus Centre thinking about what I may have to offer. I love to bake cookies and no longer have any kids at home to bake for. I wondered if my love for cookie baking might be of use to the Centre.
After some prayer and talking to the Youth Pastor on our staff, I am stepping out in faith to own a meal the last Tuesday of each month. I’m going to commit to attending each month and will invite different groups of teens, young adults or women from our church to help me prepare the meal and visit with the kids. I’m going to bring my homemade cookies each month for dessert. I’ve also invited my daughter to join me and offer the kids free haircuts each month.
What started as a simple “making small talk” conversation at a Christmas party will now see teens in our community fed another meal each month. God asks us to be available and willing to serve, He will provide the opportunities if we are open to them.
Are there organizations in your community that you could serve simply by providing a meal? Might God be challenging you to see what talents you have to share with others in your community?
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