Operation Barnabas 2009--Just Getting Started
Well, the buses pulled into CE National late this morning. Students are driving home, are in an airplane, or waiting to leave at the Columbus airport. Sound equipment, puppets, first aid kits, props, and evangelism materials are already on the shelves in the Barnabas Center storage area. Buses are parked outside the building and have been cleaned up and emptied.
So it could be said that ob 2009 is over. We did see 90 students trained in ministry by 12 adult leaders for 45 days. There were visits to over 36 churches and ministries from Chicago to DC. Over 100 programs and well over 100 who prayed to receive Christ through the OBer's ministries. Hundreds and thousands of opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus with all kinds of people--from the homeless to the hurting to those who don't even know they have a need. Over 12,000 miles of travel on the famous blue buses. And I am turning my cell phone off tonight as I go to bed for the first time since June 6.
So it's over, right?
Well, I guess that depends on one's perspective. I think that ob 2009 is really just getting started. No, the teams are not going back on the road--that part of it is now complete. But the real issue is how one views a student going on ob. Too many probably think that going on an ob tour is an "end goal". For those that really understand the heart of CE National's desire to be a Church Effectiveness office, ob is really just a step in the discipleship process. It is about training students to share their faith, be a servant-leader and become mature in Christ for a lifetime. The student have been given a platform to continue that growth process and impact the world. Six and a half weeks is a great start--but if that is all that ob is--we may as well shut it all down tomorrow. These were 45 incredible days that set the stage for continued growth and ministry.
So were this year's ob teams "good" teams or "great" teams? Good question. I'll be able to give a definitive answer in ten years...
So it could be said that ob 2009 is over. We did see 90 students trained in ministry by 12 adult leaders for 45 days. There were visits to over 36 churches and ministries from Chicago to DC. Over 100 programs and well over 100 who prayed to receive Christ through the OBer's ministries. Hundreds and thousands of opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus with all kinds of people--from the homeless to the hurting to those who don't even know they have a need. Over 12,000 miles of travel on the famous blue buses. And I am turning my cell phone off tonight as I go to bed for the first time since June 6.
So it's over, right?
Well, I guess that depends on one's perspective. I think that ob 2009 is really just getting started. No, the teams are not going back on the road--that part of it is now complete. But the real issue is how one views a student going on ob. Too many probably think that going on an ob tour is an "end goal". For those that really understand the heart of CE National's desire to be a Church Effectiveness office, ob is really just a step in the discipleship process. It is about training students to share their faith, be a servant-leader and become mature in Christ for a lifetime. The student have been given a platform to continue that growth process and impact the world. Six and a half weeks is a great start--but if that is all that ob is--we may as well shut it all down tomorrow. These were 45 incredible days that set the stage for continued growth and ministry.
So were this year's ob teams "good" teams or "great" teams? Good question. I'll be able to give a definitive answer in ten years...
2 Comments:
At August 20, 2009 10:28 AM ,
Matt Baldwin said...
I totally agree with this blog post. I have been reflecting recently on the things I learned on ob 7 years ago (wow, how time flies!). I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to participate for a summer with an ob team. I hope many others over the years have benefited from the experience like I have. Thanks for your leadership over ob, TK. For those that want to follow Christ as a young person, ob gives a great start on a life devoted to Christ.
At November 26, 2009 7:02 PM ,
Jared Hughes said...
TK,
Im thinking about going on ob the sumer of Junior year (2 summers away, 2011) and I was wondering if you know where we would go. My brother, Caleb, went this last year and was on the tri-state team, and he said I would probably be in Florida (or around that area). There isnt anything on the ob website.
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