By Naomi Sinclair, Staff for Kanto Region
When I first started meeting to read Colossians with Aya*, I was surprised that such a shy, quiet person was the campus group leader. She would take long, reflective pauses to answer questions, and in bigger gatherings she was the contemplative one sitting near the back.
But what Aya has, which continues to make her an excellent leader, is a passionate love for her group members and commitment to seeing them grow.
There is a verse that I like to quote at Bible study leader training:
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:28-29, NIV)
Aya told me after the training that this verse helped her remember that the reason we gather in Bible studies is to help each other grow. She admitted that in the beginning she had been focused on wanting members to have a good time. But this verse refocused her on the main game—to ‘present everyone fully mature in Christ’. Inspired, Aya made some bold moves to help her group members grow. Since no one was able to make the designated Bible study slot, she personally messaged members to arrange one-to-ones and one-to-threes across the week. In God’s kindness, the members responded, and before she knew it, her calendar was full with multiple short lunch-time ‘Bible slots’. ‘What did you read?’ I asked her. ‘Well, I asked them what letter they’d like to read. With one person I read Philippians. And then with another person I did Romans. I just tried to do what we were doing when you read Colossians with me.’
Praise God that Aya has discovered the joy of reading the Bible with others!
Pray for her and other student leaders as they seek to grow their members in maturity, and pray also for us staff-workers as we help to train leaders in confidence to share God’s word.
May God in his kindness use the labours of KGK to raise up a multitude of word-loving, passionate servants for Jesus!
*Name changed