The Unexpected

Last week during our Equipping Staff Meeting we did an exercise called "The Unexpected." I asked each staff member to take a piece of paper and write down all the things that happened, both personally and in ministry, during the last several months that were unexpected.

The concept is that the unexpected shakes us out of our preconceived notions, our assumptions, and our certainties. Things are constantly changing. Nothing really remains the same forever. The ideas that work for a season won't always work. And when we seem to least expect it, God breaks in and surprises us. So we need to be on the lookout for the unexpected - to identify, observe and learn from our unexpected successes and failures.

It was incredible sitting around the table at Mr. Beans, listening to all the unexpected blessings, challenges and opportunities that we had all encountered during the past few months. Family Night, Men's Fraternity, Starting Point, Quads and Pods, Junior High Team Groups, and Leadership Community were not even on our radar several months ago. We also experienced unexpected heart ache with funeral services, ministry challenges and difficult personal crisis.

But through all of this, God has been faithful. The unexpected is God's way of reminding us that our life and ministry are His, not ours. That we need to hold our plans with an open hand. And that life is an adventure of trust, not certainty.

Several days after completing the Unexpected exercise, I read Isaiah 64:3-4:
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

I'm convinced that we have yet to see what God can to do through the ministry of New Covenant Bible Church. The things He longs to do are beyond our imagination, hopes and dreams. I'm convinced that the best is yet to come. That God can be trusted to work all things out for the honor of His name. And that we can expect to experience the unexpected!