Just Being There

man with child
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Every Sunday, for as long as I can recall, there is a man who always enters the worship center just a little before the time of worship begins. He takes his place in the same area, usually the same chair and sits alone. He may shake a hand or two and even share a warm smile, but he faithfully makes his way to his place. He is timidly friendly with a humble demeanor that never fails to do one thing; bless me by …

 

Just being there.

 

Because, he always is.

 

He faithfully comes week after week, opens his bible, listens rather intently to the message, jots down notes from time to time, bows his head in prayer, and always seems to be taking in every word from the pastor. You can see it on his face. He is there for more than “checking it off his list” because he listens with the body language of someone who is thankful to be there. There is just something about his presence that seems to say, “I want to be here. I need to be here. I like being here.

You see, my friend, Bible teacher, and mentor when I was in my early 20’s and 30’s, Miss Nan Thompson, always taught about the importance of Hebrews 10:25, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some.”  Not only did she teach “her girls” – (as she proudly called all of us young wives and mothers in her class) – she knew how to hound us with this Hebrews 10:25 habit.

If we noticed someone wasn’t in the worship center, “Make that call,” she would say. If we noticed someone wasn’t in our life group, “Check on them this week,” she would say. If we noticed a choir member was missing from ‘their spot,’ “Write them a note and mail it this week,” she would say.  Family is family is family and she made sure we understood that by our simply ‘being among the family’ was not only blessing us, but was blessing other people … even if we never knew who or how or in what way. I can remember plenty of lessons when she would expound on, “not forsaking our own assembling together” by telling us,

 

“The ministry of your presence is just as important as the ministering of your gifts. Just being there matters.” -Miss Nan Thompson 

 

She would say something along the lines of:

 

Ladies, you don’t realize the ministry of your presence. Just being there could be blessing others who are counting on you to come. Sitting in your area, walking through the church halls, being in your life group, or simply being among the family could be (and more than likely is) touching, blessing and ministering to someone who is watching…someone who just counts on you being there.

 

So, back to the man who is always in his place at church on Sunday.

Well, one Sunday he walked in, a little early as always … but this time he wasn’t alone!

And what arrested my attention was the man’s face! He was glowing in his smile! He walked in with a little more pep in his step because this time he wasn’t only carrying his Bible, but he had a precious child in his arms! He wasn’t alone. And to say that he was happy doesn’t come close to describing his conduct. And not only that, he took a new place in a new row among a new set of people.

But as for me…

I cried.

Standing there with no tissue, just the sleeve of my husband’s shirt, I stood there with Rip watching this entire new scene and I couldn’t help but be so happy for what I was seeing. Because of the ministry of this one man’s presence and his joy in having the companionship of a child, I worshipped God like I didn’t expect when I first arrived at church. And it was all because of my …

 

Just being there.

 

Here is an excellent two-part Podcast on “Your Part in the Church – Part 1” and “Your Part in the Church – Part 2” – by Johnny Ardavanis of Dial in Ministries.  In this series, Johnny explores scripture in Romans, Corinthians and Ephesians that instruct a Christian concerning their part in the church. Each podcast is roughly 22 minutes each and they speak to our laying down our life, being humble in heart, understanding our identity in Christ, and putting to use our spiritual gifts. I can assure you that if you choose to listen to these podcasts, you will be so so thankful you did!

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching,” Hebrews 10:24-25.

 

*Today’s blog was written in 2015. Revised on 2/22/2024

*Google image added (I didn’t have a camera in church the Sunday this happened in 2015, so the photo image is the closest I could find in helping to portray the experience.)

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lisa rippy

2 Comments

  1. Sherry Harvey on February 22, 2024 at 1:19 pm

    I really needed to read this today.
    Thank you!❤️
    Love, Sherry

    • lisa rippy on February 22, 2024 at 4:51 pm

      You’re welcome…and we all need to be encouraged that ‘just being there’ ministers … to others and to ourselves.

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