Gods-Purposes-and-Our-Backyard.pdf

How do you combine our need for sanctification and the need for families in our neighborhoods to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do a Back Yard Bible Club (BYBC). Let me share with you a part of my story from last summer.

My wife, Lisa, and I knew that we needed to be more obvious and verbal in our neighborhood concerning giving witness to Jesus and the gospel. Also, I knew that if I were going to do BYBC training events, I would need firsthand experience in my own neighborhood. So we planned for a BYBC at our home in mid-summer last year.

Of all the things we did, the most challenging was going door to door inviting people to our backyard to hear stories of Jesus and the gospel. Everything else was relatively easy in comparison. I knew that this is where the battle lines were drawn in my heart.

I remember that sunny morning, feeling utterly dependent upon God but, by grace, quite determined to do this. So off Lisa and I went door to door, invitations in hand. Before we knew it, we had visited about 25 homes and had opportunities to not only offer a word about our club, but also to give witness to Jesus and experience that special kind of joy in speaking of him to those who don’t know him. I look back at that morning as an expression of God’s faithfulness to his own, helping them along in giving witness to his Son.

We held our BYBC the next week, and only one very young child and her mother attended—and for only one night because of a prior commitment. Even though our club didn’t come to fruition as we would have liked, God established his purposes just the same. In the past, we had been part of other clubs that were marked by many young hearts joyfully playing, listening, singing, and being exposed to the gospel, but it was almost as if the preparation for this club was primarily for our own growth!

Now … I invite you to give witness to Jesus verbally in your neighborhood. And with this, I welcome you to the place of immense gladness in participating in a good work for your neighbor’s joy and your growth in the faith.

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8) ... and this includes the good work of being identified with Jesus in your neighborhood. This is a blood-bought promise—take heart.

Please contact me if you would like to talk about this further. The summer is here, so the time is now for planning for a BYBC. We have a need for hosts, teachers, and helpers. Who knows, maybe I could join you for your club. There is nothing like partnering together in service. Invite your small group, invite an elder, invite a pastor, cast the vision to friends, and jump in!

For immediate assistance with planning a club, please contact Tara Schmidt (612-455-3495). She can answer your questions and put you in touch with me if you would like to talk.

For the joy of the next generation,

Bud Burk