Doing Ministry WITH our Friends

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A guest post by Brittany Mazuchowski....

Earlier this month I had the privilege of watching one of our leaders, Matt, give the talk at Capernaum Club. The scripture we’re focusing on this semester is the sinful woman who anoints Jesus. Matt began by telling a few funny stories about himself as a high school student. He wasn’t standing in front alone though, our friend Alan was standing right beside him, copying his every move and gesture. After he read the woman’s encounter with Jesus, Matt brought up our friend Cade, and showed them what it looks like to wash someone’s feet, what it could have looked like for the woman to wash Jesus’ feet. Obviously he wasn’t using tears, his hair, and an alabaster jar of perfume like the woman from the bible, but instead a bin, a bottle of body wash, some warm water and a loofah. It was such a sweet picture, to see Matt washing Cade’s feet (which honestly, probably needed to be washed- he doesn’t like socks, and hates wearing shoes, takes them off every club without fail). As he was washing Cade’s feet he was explaining Jesus’ reaction in comparison to the “important leaders” reaction- Jesus was kind, and he defended the woman from the harsh words of the others.


Seeing Matt with Alan and Cade up front was a great reminder that in Young Life, we do ministry WITH our friends, not TO our friends. I also thought of Henri Nouwen’s book, In the Name of Jesus, and how he took his friend, Bill, along with him to speak. About the experience Bill says, “'We did it together, didn’t we?’” Nouwen says in return, “‘What we did, we did together in Jesus’ name.’” Now, Matt didn’t invite Alan up front to help with the club talk, but he was there, and together, in Jesus’ name, they gave the talk. It was such a beautiful picture of ‘with-ness’ and togetherness. (After washing Cade’s feet, Matt gave the remainder of the club talk with one arm around Alan.)


In this indirect way, I see that we are making disciples of our Capernaum friends.  I have to trust and have great hope that my friends are learning more about Jesus, about how much he loves them, about how he is their defender, and they’re learning this more than they are able to tell me with their words. I’m thankful for these little glimpses- of Alan side by side with Matt, of Cade with his feet being washed, that by seeing and experiencing Jesus alongside our leaders, they’re understanding the great love Jesus has for them.

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