A welcome promotional call

I received a call at the church today which went something like this:

Jarod: Covenant Baptist.

Girl: Can I speak to the youth pastor?

Jarod: Well, we really don’t have a youth pastor, per say. I’m the pastor and the only paid staff member.

Girl: Do you have any youth program?

Jarod: We have a youth Bible Study on Sunday nights, but nothing else organized or regular.

Girl: Well this is perfect for you then.

Jarod: OH? (I’m thinking, “Yeah right. That was a line.”)

Girl: We’re planning a youth rally in Atlanta….(Blah, blah, blah, I get advertisements for these type of things all the time, but I let her talk. These events, in my experience, are “Pump you up” rallies that play to a person’s emotions more than actually make a lasting difference in their lives. But there are some good that come from them, I guess, just not enough to be worth my time.) ….and it’s like, gonna be to encourage teens to stand alone and stuff, and be more than like, Christian in name only, you know what I mean? (She used the speech pattern of most energetic teenagers and early twenty-somethings of today, but over all was very articulate. I liked what she said about the purpose of the event, but I knew the extra stuff they would probably throw in would not be up our alley.) So do you think you’d be interested in us sending you a brochure?

Jarod: Well let me ask you. At these youth events you usually have music right?

Girl: Yes.

Jarod: And it’s probably going to be contemporary Christian, rock & roll type music right?

Girl: We will have a praise and worship band for worship times, and then a hip-hop Christian group, yes.

Jarod: (Yeah I thought so.) [in a very kind and non-condemning tone] Well, I appreciate the invitation, but we try to encourage our young people not to listen to CCM, and rock music in general, so I think we are probably not interested.

Girl: Oh I totally understand sir. I really do. (She had a very down to earth, genuine tone in her voice at this point, and it almost sounded like she agreed with me about music! I was a little taken aback for just a second.)

Jarod: Well, thanks again. I hope it goes well for you. (And I meant that. Sure we might disagree about music, but it sounded like they would be giving the youth some truth in spite of the error.)

Girl: Is there any way I can pray for you?

Jarod: (What? You are asking for prayer requests? That has never happened before. A promotional call in which they actually ask for prayer requests, even after being turned down flat! This really threw me for a second, but pleased me none the less. ) Um…yeah…well, what’s your name?

Girl: I’m Kara.

Jarod: Well, Kara, I’m actually just the interim pastor right now, and our church is looking for someone who will be able to take the position permanently and on a full-time basis. I’m full-time, but they are currently looking for someone more permanent. So I guess just pray that God will bring just the right man at just the right time.

Kara: Can we pray right now?

Jarod: (Now this really surprised me! I never expected such a thing from a promotional/sales call, but I was so pleased. And impressed. I often ask people this when they share a prayer request, rather than saying “I’ll pray for you.” But it doesn’t happen to me that often, except in certain circles.) Sure.

Kara: Dear God, please bless this church with just the right man as a pastor and I pray you’d bring him soon. Please work out those details and give them wisdom. I also pray that you’d bring the right youth minister because it is important that the youth have someone to go to. I thank you Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.

Jarod: Thank you very much Kara. I appreciate it.

Kara: You’re welcome.

Jarod: Is there anything I could pray for you about?

Kara: Well, just pray that God will bring people to this event, and that the details will all work out. Pray that he’ll be glorified.

Jarod: Can I pray for you now?

Kara: Absolutely.

I proceeded to pray for God to bless their ministry, and I thanked God for Kara and her obvious love for the Lord. We said good-bye after that, and I hung up unusually blessed. Now, before you jump all over me about music, let me just point out that my beliefs on that subject are not the point of this post. I was so encouraged by that call. I never expected a call like that to be spiritually edifying. I guess there are still people out there that are doing it right. That are practicing Christ-like love for people, especially the household of faith. In spite of our obvious disagreement, this young woman desired to pray for me. I felt that she and I were experiencing true fellowship right over the phone, even though we had never met each other. It was God’s Spirit bringing that unity. I don’t know who’s teaching those young people making those calls, but whoever is doing it is right on! That is the way to make people want you to call back……pray with them.

She sounded pretty cute too. Maybe I should have gotten her number? Or given her mine? “Yes, you can pray for me because my phone number, 540-555-LOVE, is not being called very often.” LOL!!! OK, sorry. Sorry to ruin a great spiritual post with a joke like that, but I couldn’t resist. (One of you would have made the joke anyway if I didn’t. Admit it.)