God of the Gaps.

I studied science in a previous life, and encountered the topic of evolution my second year. Our lecturer, who didn’t strike me as a real happy camper, proceeded to inform us that science was able to explain everything except the origins of DNA (which strikes me as rather important). It was in this gap that we could put our God if we had one.

But he had a warning…God was getting smaller.

Now that is something that we are used to in youth ministry isn’t it. GAPS. There never seem to be quite enough people around for what it is you want to do, or for what your ideal structure would be. So what do we do with our GAPS?

The tendency we have is to try and plug them with people, any people, friends, family, people who owe you a favour. These folks are well meaning and really want to help you, but the short term gain can rapidly come undone. Your people will tire and become frustrated as they may be in roles that are not bringing out their best. Try to hold back the desire to seek to fill gaps with anyone who able. Instead begin with your people, and design the roles to suit them rather than squeeze them in. In our ministries we need to spend time placing the right people, in the right places, at the right time, for the right reasons.

The good news is we will always have gaps. If we don’t there is a real danger that we think we can pull it off, with our program, our system, even our leadership structure.

We need to always leave room for the wonder and the recognition of Gods Spirit, who is the ministry of our programs.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts a person plans their course

But the Lord determines their steps.

God has ways in our ministry that are far beyond ours, and his delight is when we offer our plans, with our gaps and allow him to establish them