Small Group X-mas party

Small group at Starbucks

Last night two of my small group boys had a JV soccer game against one another, so rather than exclude them from the whole night we did small group with the rest of the guys at a Starbucks near the high school. We met for an hour before the game, started to look at the Christmas story from the gospel of Matthew, sipped on some caramel apple cider and then went to the game. I did the honorable thing and watched the first half on one side with parents and then switched for the second half. The game was pretty exciting, but with two guys playing at least one got to win! After the game I was reminded, once I had taken a few of the guys home, just how much it means to show up to a game and sit with some parents and enjoy watching their son play a sport. I don’t do it as much as I would like but I know the parents are thankful and express it in words. The guys on the other hand usually show it in other ways. Not with words, you might get a forced, “thanks for coming to my game…” out of them but you create an even deeper bond and have something else to talk about and compliment a student on later. It’s really a win, win situation! After going to a game you win so much respect from both parents and students and with that respect comes even greater influence in both of their lives. Its really the quickest way to earn trust and if you show you care they will let you into their lives. Sometimes the biggest relational break through with parents or with just getting to know a small group student better can come from not saying a single word and just showing up with a gingerbread latte and watching a JV soccer game. At least last night it was JV soccer, for those ministers who sit through freshmen girls’ basketball games; there is a special place in heaven for you!