Ten yards? It doesn’t sound like a lot to most of us. If you are a football fan of the Cleveland Browns in recent years, however, you know that ten yards might as well have been a mile!
If you are a seamstress, ten yards is plenty of fabric to create something impressive.
Do you know how much ten yards of dirt is? When you are moving it by hand, it’s A LOT!
Recently, we needed to fill areas of our lawn so I ordered ten yards of dirt. I arranged for three young men to help spread the dirt, and I’m glad I did! When I mentioned this project to a friend, he said, “Sounds like you needed some young muscle.” He was right!
Ten yards doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you’re moving it by hand, it looks like a mountain. I was so grateful for those young men who helped that day. All of that reminded me of my responsibility to invest time and energy in the young men and women who are moving things for God in the future. That’s one reason why leadership development is one of the pillars in the Commitment to Common Mission which frames the work of our churches. Paul talked about that in 2 Timothy 2:2. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Nothing is more exciting and rewarding than to see the next generation assume the role of leadership in the work of Christ’s Kingdom. Why not look around and find at least one person in whom you can invest your life for Christ?
Bob Fetterhoff is the first multi-year executive director of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. (The title of moderator was changed at the 2012 conference in Indian Wells, Calif.) He is the pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, Ohio.