Family is important. Our families raise us, help shape us (for good or bad), and help us learn what it means to be in relationship with others. In addition to our families, we have our church families and other local communities to help raise and teach us about ourselves, the world, and God. Over the past few months during our Wednesday Bible study of Proverbs, we have read many wisdom verses emphasizing the importance of family. Many of us are blessed with wonderful families and we are thankful for our Zion Church family. The wisdom verse of Proverbs 18:24 compares a good friend to one who is as important to us as family, “some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.” Upon first glance at this verse, we notice the comparison of two types of friends, “some friends” and “a true friend.” There are “some friends” that play at friendship. These are our friends in name only, people we may refer to as acquaintances. We may consider them friends, but when a situation arises in our lives that calls for a good friend to help, they are no where to be found. The other type of friend is a “true friend” who sticks closer than family. We notice in this wisdom verse where “a true friend” is singular, while the group of “some friends” is plural, pointing out that a true friend is much harder to find. Alicia Porterfield shared a story about a time when she was working as a hospital chaplain in the oncology ward. One of her patients commented how many of her friends could not handle the difficult situation she was going through with cancer, so they quit calling and showing up for visits. We may have many “fair weather friends”, but when we face the storms of life, only our true friend sticks with us, just like family.
Do you have a true friend in your life? Are you a true friend to someone else, present with them in in life’s most difficult storms? We all have the best intentions to be those true friends to others, but life happens and we get busy with our own families, problems, activities, and our worries. Even with the best intentions to be a true friend, we sometimes fail. Our challenge this month and the months to come, it to be intentional in our efforts to be a true friend. We are beginning a True Friend ministry at Zion where folks will be partnered with another church member for a 2 months with the goal of developing their friendship and strengthening their relationship in order to be a true friend the each other. How do I join the True Friend Ministry? Simply contact someone within our church family that you think may be interested in being a part of this ministry. You can also contact the church office or Matt if you are interested in this ministry.
- Commit to connecting with your true friend over the next month(s) through calls, cards, texts, social media, or social distanced front porch visits. Share prayer concerns and needs. Pray for your true friend, but most importantly be intentional about staying connected each week.
In order for this to work, we need volunteers to prayerfully consider being a part of this ministry.
If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions for this ministry please let us know.