Luis Palau had been supported by our church for decades and we tried to have him speak at least once every year.
I met him when I picked him up from the airport and took him to his hotel. He acted like just a regular guy even though I knew he regularly spoke to tens of thousands of people all over the world.
He spoke at church on Sunday, and I drove him to a small luncheon hosted by one of our elders. When he arrived, he began to mingle with people without any pretense or sense of superiority.
By the time I drove him to the airport, we knew all about each other’s families and I was amazed at his humility.
Later that week, our lead pastor told me to call his office and schedule for the coming year. When I called, his assistant told me that Luis would want to talk directly with me.
I was about twenty-eight years old and a nobody compared to Luis Palau. When they transferred the call to his office, he greeted me by name, and I fumbled for some words.
While I was mumbling something he asked me “How is your little girl Brittany doing?” I couldn’t believe he remembered my daughter’s name. So …… I said something like “How could you possibly remember my daughter’s name with all the people you meet?”
It was quiet for a second and then he said, “Guilty! I have a little card system I use to remember people’s names, their families, and a little about them. “I will never forget what he said next.
“I don’t want people to think I view myself as more important than they are.”
It is this kind of relational ministry approach that characterizes great leaders.
It also characterizes great children’s ministry work and was evident in Jesus’ ministry with Peter. In fact, their relationship was the foundation for Jesus’ impact in Peter’s life.
We see this throughout the gospel accounts but nowhere clearer than in the dramatic account of Matthew 14.
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”” - Matthew 14:25-33 NIV
The relational nature of the passage is not immediately apparent as Jesus sends the disciples and the crowd away, leaving Him alone through the night.
After the temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4), this is the only time that Matthew depicts Jesus separating Himself from the disciples. This results in the disciples being threatened by a storm on the Sea of Galilee as they attempt to travel across during the night.
What started as a time for seclusion and introspection for Jesus became a memorable relational moment between Jesus and the impetuous Peter.
For our purposes, we can note three qualities of Jesus' relationship with Peter.
Peter Desires Jesus
The disciples were terrified by what they perceived to be a ghost walking across the lake towards their boat.
Certainly, none of them envisioned a person defying nature by walking on water. Jesus’ announcement (vs.25) must have caused further confusion as they tried to process the idea of a man walking on water to their boat, in a wind-whipped sea (vs. 24).
Standing out, among them was Peter who not only believed that it was Jesus, but he also announces his intention to walk out and join Jesus on the water (vs.28). This beautiful moment is a window into Peter’s perception of their relationship.
Namely, whatever Jesus was experiencing he wanted to join Him in it.
Jesus created an environment where Peter wanted to share life and ministry with the Master. What a beautiful example for children’s ministry leaders today.
Building a ministry climate where children want to share life and ministry with a leader who loves them and cares for them, as Jesus did Peter.
Jesus Shares
Jesus responds to Peter’s initiative by inviting him to join Him walking on water (vv.28-29).
Peter wanted to share in the experience and Jesus is willing. Jesus does not withhold the experience from Peter.
Rather, He is willing to let Peter join Him even if the attempt ends in Peter’s faith failing him and a descent into the waves (vv. 29-31).
Here again is a great quality for a children’s ministry leader— sharing our experiences with children and inviting them to join us in following Christ.
We don’t hold back and invite boys and girls to “step out of the boat” and experience all that God has for them.
Jesus' Presence Can Calm Life’s Storms
Jesus rescues Peter and when they step into the boat, the “wind died down” (vs. 32) and the disciples, including Peter, were amazed that Jesus had control of nature itself.
In awe, they proclaimed Him as the “Son of God,” an attribution of divinity. Having already fed the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21), Jesus has shown His ability to exert control over every area of life, including nature itself.
Today, many boys and girls face “storms” in life that leave them discouraged, brokenhearted, and fearful. This is a reminder that in relationship with Christ, He can overcome every situation and calm every storm.
What Peter experienced in his relationship with Christ can also be experienced by children around the world today.
Closing Thoughts
Jony is a children’s worker in a barrio in Ensenada, Mexico. She has been through EGM’s Model Children’s Worker program, and she loves to teach children the Word of God.
One day when she was serving at Eden Church in a VBS-type summer outreach, she was teaching a lesson developed in our EGM-Mexico training.
The focus was Jesus Christ calming the storm after the terrified disciples, who were fearing for their lives, woke Him up. Jony taught the children that Jesus can calm any storm, any kind of storm, no matter how big or how strong it is. The only thing you have to do is pray and ask Him for help.
So, Jony taught the children to pray for help, and she talked with them about the problems that they face, problems that are their real-life storms. They talked about some difficult circumstances, such as when a father comes home intoxicated and hits his wife in front of the children.
Near the end of class, each child got a piece of paper that had on it a specific problem as well as an image of a boy or a girl praying. Every day of VBS the children would write down a name and ask God to calm that person’s problems just as He had calmed the storm for Jesus’ disciples.
The following day, one of the little boys went up to Jony. Six-year-old Bernardino told her that when he got home, his mom asked, “What did you learn at church?”
He told her that he had learned to pray and ask God to calm the storms in their home. Confused, Bernardino’s mother asked, “What storms do we have at home?”
Bernardino just said, “I’m going to pray for your storm.”
“But I don’t have any storms.”
“Yes, you do. You have a storm when you cry and shout because Dad comes home drunk and starts hitting you. So, we’re going to pray that God won’t let this happen anymore.”
When his dad got home, Bernardino bravely talked to his father and told him that God was not going to allow him to hit his mother anymore. The father was shocked by his six-year-old son’s boldness, and even more impressed by his courage. Bernardino told Jony that his father apologized, asked for forgiveness, and did not want to be like that anymore.
Then, on the Sunday after VBS ended, Bernardino and his dad and mom were at church. Since that first week, the parents have reconciled, been baptized, and committed themselves to Christ and to Eden Church. Not only did God’s truth impact Bernardino’s life, but it also brought spiritual freedom and calm to his entire family. Praise the Lord!
One of the qualities of a life-changing children’s ministry is a relational approach.
Over the last few months I have argued that in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the Bible speaks explicitly about the qualities of transformational children’s ministry. The first of those qualities is a relational ministry approach.
We have shown how this essential ministry is present in a variety of ministry approaches throughout the Bible:
- Smooth Stone #1: God and Moses (Relationship)
- Smooth Stone #1: Paul, Love, Children and Relational Ministry
- Smooth Stone #1: Jesus and Relational Ministry
This weekend makes relationship building with and among children a foundation for a life-changing children’s ministry.
Pray that the relationship that was so impactful to Peter would also be impactful to the boys and girls in your care.