Have you ever had one of those moments when you weren’t quite sure how it was all going to come together? That’s how I felt on the eve of our all-day children’s ministry leaders training event when one of our key leaders, Leidy, called me to say that she was sick and heading for the emergency room. Just two days before the main speaker, a doctor who was traveling from Barranquilla called to say she was ill and was praying she could travel. There had been so many logistics to pull together and all of a sudden things felt out of our hands. In the end our speaker, Elisabeth, was able to travel. And while we missed Leidy, other leaders stepped up to help out. In the end over 40 people came together and it was a very good day.
We hadn’t gathered regionally since before Covid, but it continued to be an expressed need among local leaders. Because Medellin is so large and spread out, many times children’s ministry volunteers feel a bit alone and under resourced. That was what moved myself and three children’s ministry leaders to create a space for people to come together. The day consisted of a workshop on the effects of abuse and trauma in children and how to accompany them. Our friends who are serving in Colombia from Norway led this portion that was so vitally important. It is heartbreaking to think of the pain that many children suffer. We were challenged to do our part to advocate and protect the children in our families, communities, churches. There was also a time for people to offer prayers, to come before God with their own childhood trauma. 
After lunch we created a time for people to break into small groups and go around to different station. Each station had a particular theme, discussion question and resource. I’m so grateful for Diana, Alejandra, Melissa, Rosa and Diana who facilitated this time, along with me. People expressed how important that time was to hear from one another and share ideas. New friendships were formed. People exchanged phone numbers. Several professional educators and psychologists offered themselves as resources.
I love working in a team and seeing each person using their gifts and stepping into leadership. Melissa, a leader at Esperanza de Vida Covenant Church, led us in some fun ice breakers which allowed us to laugh and meet new people and led one of the stations during the afternoon. Diana is a dear friend and partner in ministry, who co-led the devotional time with me and led one of the stations. Rosa is a children’s ministry leader and has been in several of the classes and workshops I’ve lead. It was so fun to see her using her gifts and creativity, while leading others. The same is true for Alejandra, who studied in the children’s ministry certificate program and stepped up to lead a station. We missed Leidy who helped coordinate the use of the space and the lunch and who was going to lead a station.
The time together seemed to fly by and as it was time to leave people lingered to talk more. Many people asked when the next training was or how often we get together. Pray for us as we figure a way forward. It is a joy to pour into these volunteers who pour themselves into the children they serve.
