In many ways, I think we have underestimated the value of shoulder tapping in our churches. But I heard a story recently that gives me hope that it might be making a comeback as a critical step in discipleship and in raising up new leaders.
By shoulder tapping, I mean that thoughtful and deliberate effort to approach someone to share an encouraging word or challenge with them. Maybe sometimes it’s even just sharing an idea with them, something that you think they should consider.
In my recent meetings with MB leadership in the US and Canada, the need to rediscover the value and power of this was brought up on numerous occasions. One of the USMB pastors lamented that shoulder tapping is a lost art in our churches.
That’s why it was so special for me to hear Sean’s story.
Sean Williams is a young man from Oklahoma who is currently a participant in TREK, our nine-month mission training program. He and the other Trekkers recently visited my home and Sean shared briefly with me about how he ended up in TREK.
He told me that the only reason he even thought about mission training was because an older man in his home church in Oklahoma came up to him one day, tapped him on the shoulder, and asked a simple question: “Sean, have you ever thought about global missions?”
Sean hadn’t thought about it. At least, not until then. But after his encounter with the man, Sean began to pray about it, and God clearly led him to TREK. Within weeks, Sean found himself in Winnipeg, Manitoba, training with other participants, and then being sent to Uganda on his service assignment.
All because one person felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to reach out and tap Sean on the shoulder and ask a simple question.
Are we willing to take that initiative with people in our lives, and in our churches? Are we ready to start shoulder tapping and asking simple questions like, “Have you ever considered…?”
I want to encourage you to pray about shoulder tapping and to look for opportunities to encourage or challenge the people around you, or even just to ask someone if you can pray for them. As we respond obediently to these promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will discover in new ways how God is at work among us, and how he is calling us to be his partners in mission.
PRAY
Ask God to restore the lost art of shoulder tapping in our churches, that we might encourage one another to embrace new opportunities in obedient service to God. Hebrews 3:13a says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today.'”
