Ephesians 2:10a
For we are God’s masterpiece. (NLT)

This past Sunday, we learned about TCM International, a ministry dedicated to investing in church leaders from all over the world. As we continue to pray for them this week, we’ll also process what investing in others looks like in our own lives.

Until I was five years old, I lived in a house (a log cabin, technically) with my mom, my grandparents, and two uncles. It was a super loving household in general, but the person I most adored was my grandfather. His name was Mike, but to me, he was Papaw. We did everything together. Over the next few years, there were a lot of changes in my life. My mom remarried, I got a stepdad, I moved out of that log cabin, and Papaw passed away.

As a young child, I didn’t really have any way to process through all those changes. I was an angry and confused kid. But my family did at least one thing that helped me immensely. They kept me in church, and I met a man named John.

John was my children’s pastor. And like our children's staff here at Southland, he cared for all the kids in his ministry. But for whatever reason, he focused on me. He could tell I was hurting and lost, and he made time for me. Now, 8-year-old Tyler doesn’t have a lot in common with a 30-year-old children’s pastor. BUT… John knew how to do one thing that captured my attention and sucked me in: He could do magic tricks. He called them “object lessons.” I can remember many days sitting with him after church while my family was doing whatever they were doing and learning how to do the magic tricks he did.

He would show me trick coins and how they worked. He would show me “magic” boxes and card tricks. And through that time with John, he also talked to me about the love of Jesus. I don’t remember a ton of specifics about that time we spent together, but I can tell you two things I learned: First, I learned how to make a quarter disappear. But more importantly, I learned that I matter to God. It wasn’t too long after those conversations started that I was baptized by John.

John took the time to mentor me and lead me. And ultimately, he set me on a path toward Jesus. I moved away just a few years after John and I met, but I was able to find him a few years ago and let him know how thankful I was for him. Growing in our relationship with Jesus is ALWAYS a group effort. We all have people who’ve nudged, encouraged, and led us along the way. Throughout this week, we’re going to take a look at a few of those people in my life, and I pray you are challenged (as I am) to find people you can invest in, too.

Monday’s Reflection

Who has invested in you? What did they say/do that was instrumental in your relationship with Jesus? Have you thanked them?