This past week, Vickie and I took a couple days and went out of town for some much needed rest and relaxation. In doing so, we did something radical. We put aside being veteran Florida residents and joined the millions who come to Florida as tourists. You’d think that after living in Florida for almost 25 years that we would have seen all of the Florida’s sights. Nope! And so, we invested the time to become tourists and made the 4 1/2 hour drive from Lake Worth down to the southernmost point in the continental United States, Key West.
If you’ve never been to Key West, let me tell you a few facts about this city. Key West is located on a 2 mile wide and 4 mile long strip of land and is steeped in history. It’s also the home of three Civil War forts, a US Navy base, the Ernest Hemingway estate, and the Harry S. Truman Little White House.
Here’s the tale of Billy and Vickie, the vacationing tourists. After walking around the city for a while, we made one of the smartest decisions of our lives. We decided to purchase a tour bus package that gave us access to a bus driven by a knowledgeable, funny tour guide and the entrance tickets and guided tours of the Hemingway estate and the Truman Little White House. Having a tour guide made a world of difference. In walking around the city, Vickie and I had no idea about what we were seeing. But, as we were on the tour bus, the driver would point out sites and give information that we would have never obtained on our own. And, I can’t imagine what it would have been like to go through the Hemingway and Truman homes without a tour guide. It was worth our money to be able to go along with someone who had been to these places and knew what to point out to make history come alive.
What does this have to do with children’s/youth ministry? The children/youth in your ministry are desperately needing a Holy Ghost tour guide, someone who has been and continues to go into the heavenlies and will lead them into the realm of the supernatural. On their own, they might venture into these areas, but just like our unguided, walking expedition in Key West, the children/youth won’t have a revelation of what is surrounding them. There are places that they have never been, areas of worship that few have experienced, sights that have yet to be seen, and realms of intercession that few have explored.
How do you become a Holy Ghost tour guide? I’ll draw this information from what is expected of a natural tour guide. First, you must personally explore these places. You have to go there yourself over and over again so that you can accurately and clearly point out the wonders. Second, gather the “tour group” together, encourage that all cell phones and other distractions be silenced. Next, begin the journey. Did you catch that? It is a journey. It takes action. It takes movement. There must be action taken by both the tour guide and the tourists. Finally, keep the group together. You can’t lead a fragmented, divided bunch of people. There’s something about being assembled in one place and in one accord that causes the “And suddenly …” to take place.
Ready for the guided tour? Ready for the children/youth to go where few have gone? Holy Ghost tour guide, the group is ready and waiting on you. Begin the tour!
Great article! So true! Only people that know the facts and have experienced it’s wonder can be a good tour guide! You are one of the best!