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A Special Kind of Reunion

RefreshHer

When a person is a teenager – adulthood is in the far distance, people in their 50’s are ancient, and 35 years seems like an eternity away. I was a teen who had those very thoughts – didn’t you? But 35 years have indeed passed, I am in the thick of adulthood and also in my 50’s, and I’m here to tell you it came quicker than anyone could have ever told me it would!
This past weekend I had the opportunity to gather with peers that were shoulder-to-shoulder with me while I was in those tough teen years. We all went to George Rogers Clark High School – the only high school in our city (Winchester, Kentucky), and most of us at this reunion were members of Central Baptist Church.

A couple of men in Central Baptist were asked by some youth if they would start a Sharing Group – a regular meeting for the teens, allowing them the privilege to gather to share testimonies and burdens with one another. They did. What started out with about eight teens in the living room of one of the men’s homes blossomed to a group of 50 that moved to an annex of our church building. We met in the upstairs, and so it was named, “The Upper Room.”

Every Wednesday evening after the regular prayer meeting at church the teens would head over the The Upper Room. Often that room was so packed with teens in chairs all the way around the room and filling every space on the floor, that the late-comers would sit on the steps headed down to the door.

We had a leader – “Dr. Bill” as we affectionately called him. I clearly remember him sitting in his folding chair, leaning on the back two legs of the chair, arms folded across his chest while he got things going. “Does anyone have anything they want to share?” Some would share a blessing from the previous week; a chance to witness or a trial they were experiencing. Dr. Bill was always sensitive to the needs that were being mentioned. If there was a need, he would say, “Let’s stop right now and pray about that” and we would. Each of us took on the other’s burdens as they were shared. The evening was interspersed with songs, accompanied often by a single guitar. The sharing time concluded with conversational praying; each person saying a sentence or two. We would then stand in a circle, hold hands and sing a final song. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out…Matthew 26:30

Sharing group was an anticipated time in my week. Reading over the diary I kept during those years I often wrote about being thankful my work schedule allowed me to attend. I also remarked about how good the meeting was that night. I never forgot how much I loved attending and what a blessing it was to me during my teen years. It kept me connected with those in my youth group, it gave me a place to share my burdens, it encouraged me to share my faith as I heard my friends talking about witnessing, and it taught me how to pray.

Another huge blessing was the dear friends it brought into my life. It’s not often that you can be away from people for 35 years and be able to reconnect with them as though you’d only be apart a short time. However, when this reunion took place last weekend, that’s exactly what happened. We picked right back up. We shared. We prayed. We cried. We sang. That’s what Christian friends can do.

I’m sure Dr. Bill had no idea what an impact he was having on those teenagers. He had no clue what a difference the sacrifice of his time every Wednesday evening meant to us. He didn’t know that he was influencing many that were headed to full-time ministry. Only eternity will reveal what an impact Sharing Group had on all of us.

If you are ministering to youth, be it children or teens, take heart. You are making a difference in their lives. You may not see the fruit now, but the investment you’re making will be a blessing to them now as well as in the years to come. They will eventually say to you what I’m saying now to Dr. Bill – Thank you for investing your time in me!

With a grateful heart,

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Published by RefreshHer

3 thoughts on “A Special Kind of Reunion”

  1. After 35 years, the influence continues. My life was deeply touched by attending the reunion. What a blessing!! The sharing, prayer, laughter, tears, and remembrances of the past was indeed a little of bit of heaven on this side!

    Thank you, Dr. Bill, for your guidance. My relationship with Denise has been made sweeter due to how you and Sharing Group impacted her life during those years.

    Thank you to all who came this past Saturday night. What a joy it was to meet you and participate in the blessings of God's grace.

    Oh, how wonderful heaven will be when we see Jesus and are gathered forever on the other side!

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  2. Couldn't help but think of Joe Fritz as I read today's post! He was my husband's pastor in Oberlin, Ohio when he was a teen. He took him BJU to visit, and had a great impact on his life! Thank God for those who spent time with us!

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