It’s All About Jesus
It was 18 years ago this month that I considered working with Coffee Break as a Ministry Developer to help churches in their journey of Small Groups and Discipleship. About 15 years earlier, Coffee Break changed my own life. I had embraced studying the Bible with other women early in my young adult life, but the ministry of Coffee Break opened up the world of evangelism. I experienced how God’s Word was speaking to those who didn’t know him, who were simply willing to read and ponder a text. I learned to ask good questions and I learned to listen to the prompting of the Spirit. And I watched God work among women in my own life. It was really a ministry of introducing people to Jesus, and to come to know him better. It’s all about Jesus. There is no greater privilege.
Working to support Coffee Break and small group leaders across the country has truly been a great joy for me. It’s been amazing to be able to share my faith in the work that I do, and to encourage others to do the same. It’s been awesome to study God’s Word with my colleagues, and to encourage leaders to engage it more deeply. I’ve grown in my understanding of and heart for evangelism, as I’ve seen people come to know Jesus in a meaningful way. This work has nurtured my passion for the lost, and my heart to welcome another.
I’ve been blessed by the stories of others. I’ve heard stories of dedicated leaders serving for many, many years, through family and church challenges. I’ve heard about lost women finding Jesus, and newcomers welcomed in, stories of young moms finding community and older women mentoring others. I’ve developed relationships over the years and across the miles. The community of faith is rich and flourishing.
I’ve seen a living out of the prayer of Paul from Ephesians 3:16-19, and it’s been my prayer for leaders across Canada for all these years.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
If you are a leader in Coffee Break or another small group Bible study, may you be strengthened with power through God’s Spirit. I pray that you will know the dwelling of Christ in your heart, that you are rooted and established to grow strong in his love. May you continue to grow in the knowledge of the wide, long, high, and deep love of Christ – that pursuit is endless!! And may He continue to fill you to the measure of all the fullness of God as you serve Him!
And, keep introducing people to Jesus. He is what it’s all about.
Marian Lensink