You may be saying to yourself, "Hey, I've already seen this picture." Well my next question to you is, "Hey, how come you never asked what it was all about?" It's not every day you see a picture of someone in a bell tower, talking through a megaphone, with their face painted. So you are probably wondering if their is a story behind it. And my answer is: Most definitely.
Back in February, as we were preparing for our Haiti fundraising, I chatted with Mike about how we could get our middle school students involved. Ideas bounced back and forth when all of a sudden, I remembered the time my Youth Pastor did something crazy. Back in the day, my church was trying to save money to buy a church van. My Youth Pastor was also the Head Pastor and he challenged the congregation to raise the money necessary to fund the van. If they were successful, he would dye his hair two different colors and preach from the roof one Sunday. It wasn't long until he had climb that ladder.
Having this in mind, I pitched it to Mike, and if you know him well, you know he loved the idea. I loved it because I was hoping it would inspire them to respond to the need in Haiti. Our church is working closely with an orphanage near Cap-Haitien. Therefore, the monetary gifts would all be used to support the orphanage were working with.
One Thursday night, I presented this challenge before the junior highers. As I made the announcement, "If you can raise $5000 dollars by May 1st, I'll paint my face and teach from the bell tower," I could see the students looking at each other like "is this guy serious?" I don't whether it was that I wanted them to raise $5000 or whether it was that I would paint my face and teach from the bell tower. Nonetheless, they responded.
They didn't quite get to $5000 but I was proud of them for what they did give. In our ministry, we always emphasized about helping out the least of these (Matthew 25). I was proud because they were obedient to God's word and their hearts were moved to help. You have to understand one factor that stands out to me. Every Thursday night, we have a cafe that serves pop, pizza, and candy. This cafe isn't free so the kids have to pay for it. So when they would put the money in the money hat, they were saying that giving to this orphanage was more important than them eating dinner (because for some, the pizza was their dinner), it was more important than drinking pop when they were thirsty (because they run around alot) and it was more important than candy (who middle schooler doesn't love candy?). They did not think about themselves. They were willing to give up the money they had to help those who don't have much. Sometimes, students came up to me and handed me $10 bills. I don't know if these kids get better allowance than I ever did, or whether they got their parents involved to make a difference. All I know is that they gave.
When I got up into that tower (it was really windy), I told them how proud of them I was. I told them that I wasn't up there because I wanted to be, but that I was up there because of them. Because they were moved in their hearts to do something. Because they realized they could make a difference. I told them that according to the scripture they helped the least of these, and when they did that, they were helping the Lord.
If you're in ministry, never doubt for a second (even middle schoolers) that God can't work wonders in them. He will touch their hearts and their faith will come alive. They will see that they made a difference and their hearts will be moved to serve more. They will see how it feels to please the Lord in giving of themselves. In this they will reflect the very heart of God, who has infinitely been giving of Himself.
God will use whatever it takes to show people His love. And if He wants to use a young man in ministry that will paint his face, get in a bell tower, and speak through a megaphone about how awesome God is, He can do that. He's God. He can do whatever He wants.
Be prayerful while we are in Haiti serving from the 18th to the 28th. We all thank you for your prayers.
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