OK, sometimes, whether we like it or not, everything in a service does not go the way we plan. We plan good music, our guest services are knocking it out of the park, and the pastor starts on the third service of the day explaining the scriptures. Everything is as it should be for God to work. But then sometimes none of that stuff matters. People show up battling for their lives and it is messy. They don’t need a coffee and a smile they need someone to stop and listen to them.

This past weekend at Oak Leaf we encountered some of these folks. I am not going to go into names and circumstances but here is what I discovered today.

  • We have volunteers that know how to handle a potentially bad situation.
  • Everyone was ready to chip in where they were needed.
  • It’s nice to see people are willing to stay late because someone is in need.
  • Even though we always prepare for ‘lost’ guests you can’t prepare for every circumstance.
  • Be aware of behaviors and body language.  Intercept people who seem not ready for the morning.
  • Make sure you have security and you know how to get hold of them just in case.

Lastly, and I wanted to separate out this point just to emphasize it,

  • We need to understand that part of the calling of the church is to step up to the plate and engage in spiritual warfare when we see it.

No, there is not a demon behind every tree but yes, there is something more than what you can see with the naked eye.  Let’s not always think that it is coincidental when people show up at a church, where the Spirit of God is moving, and they begin to act real weird.  I have seen some crazy stuff in my life and I know that where there is prayer and the worship of God that the enemy detests it. He will do whatever he can to pull those that he has sway with away from it.

Oak Leaf is about leading the Lost to where God wants them to be.  That means they don’t always show up in the best frame of mind.  So embracing the staff culture trait of “Creative Problem Solving of MacGuyver” (No really that is part of our staff culture:) ) we have to be prepared to meet these people where they are at.  That might mean getting a little uncomfortable and jump in the fight with them.