Looking for a Church

Last night I received a telephone call from an individual whose voice I immediately recognized but hadn't heard in quite some time.  The person behind the voice was a young lady who is now in her second year at UNI.  I first met her as an eight-year-old little girl whose first response to me, as I was standing in the entryway of our church sanctuary, was to hide behind her father's leg.  I must confess, that really was a pretty wise reaction!   In the years that followed we became really good friends.  She became a leader in our teen group, with great courage made an extraordinary effort to go on a short-term missions trip to the Dominican Republic, involved herself with obvious interest in our teen Bible study discussions, and contributed joyfully to the life of our church.   Now she is a young lady who is in that stage of life of trusting God for a life partner.  In our conversation last night she told me that she had met a young man whom she likes a lot.  And she asked me to help them find a good church.  So, part of my morning work today  involved researching churches in the Cedar Falls and Waterloo area.  I found five good possibilities and sent the names, addresses, and telephone numbers to this young lady along with some comments that I thought might be helpful.  I am excited that this young lady with her boyfriend's s total support wants to find a "good church" and that she trusted me to help her.  As I reflected upon my conversation with this young lady, I realized that the relationships I build today lay the groundwork for tomorrow's opportunities to make a contribution for Jesus in people's lives.  As I am ministering today, I sometimes wonder if anything I am doing is really making a difference.  Then I get a call from a college student who used to be a little girl of my present asking me to continue to be of help in her spiritual growth.  Hallelujah!  I am reminded that when I make an investment today in a person's life for the cause of Christ there is going to be interest down the road.  Isn't that what God pretty much calls us to do as a church family?  Be faithful and develop relationships that provide mutual satisfaction toward knowing Christ and making Him known?  I thank God for that call last night, and I suspect that I will have continuing opportunities to have some input in the lives of this young lady and her boyfriend.  May Jesus Christ be praised!