I’ve learned that reaching out into the local community with the love of Jesus can take many different forms. While I have been involved with countless ministry outreaches over the years, last fall was my first time to minister through tutoring children in their school work. I, with a few of our students, began to meet with five young siblings from a second-generation, Asian-Buddhist emigrant family each week in their home.
Their father made it very clear that we could be there as long as the children were using the hour and a half only to study and not play; he felt that the children were lazy and needed help focusing on their studies. His sternness intimidated us all, children and adults alike. And so each week we diligently guided the young minds through history lessons, math problems, science questions, and endless stories of Clifford, the giant red dog.
As the weeks passed, the father warmed up to us. More and more he was vying for our attention, sharing his woes of trying to integrate into American society and make a living when so many things were against him. One day he told us how he could no longer work due to an injury and was going to have surgery. One of our students immediately asked if we could pray for him right there. The quickness with which he agreed surprised us all. We prayed. And as the weeks passed, we felt the tension lessen when he was around.
Over time, our relationships with the children blossomed. Discussions about God came up as we worked on science and history lessons. Then there came that day during the week before Easter that one of the little girls looked up from her math worksheet, and seemingly out of nowhere asked, “Why did Jesus have to die?” There was a sudden silence as everyone turned and looked at me. I instantly knew this was a divine appointment and silently prayed for wisdom. All five children stopped what they were doing and quietly took in every word I shared about God’s love expressed in sacrifice, suffering and hope through resurrection. They then all peppered me with questions while continuing to carefully listen to each response. As we left the house that day, we were very excited about how God had opened that window of opportunity, sensing strongly that the timing had been very much guided by the Holy Spirit.
After a few days, I was told that Child Protection Services had suddenly come to the house and taken all the kids from the parents. We learned later that several staff at the kids’ school had been suspicious of abuse in the home for a while. It just so happened that it was reported to the authorities the day we had our discussion about Jesus, His love, and His promise to never leave or forsake them.
I still have not seen any of the children since that day. But I have grown more firm in my conviction that ministry happens as we invest in people and do not overlook the smallest opportunities to serve. None of our time with those kids or their father has been wasted.