by Min Kim

One of the duties of the Ushering Ministry is collecting white slips. It’s the little white slip of paper found in your program (or maybe you dropped it on the way into the sanctuary). The ushers collect the white slips and then I gather them and email the information out to the elders. Anyone may use the white slips to inform the church of changes in address, email, or contact information. On the front of the white slips, you can also indicate what affinity group you belong to, whether you’d like to be added to the weekly email list, want to apply for membership, or if you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today. There is also a question you can answer (every week if you wanted to), “If you were to die today, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?” Y/N. The white slips have changed a little over the years. There is now box for Youth! Maybe one day we’ll have one for Sonlight? Sparklers? I do remember years ago when there was another box, “Would you like a pastoral call?” I used that one from time to time. But that was when the Church was a lot smaller and the pastor was able to visit every home in a week’s time.

On the back of the white slips, you can write down your prayer requests or comments. If it is of a more sensitive and personal nature, then there is a box for you to check off Leadership Staff Only. This means that only the elders and I will see the white slips. If the box is not checked off, then that means that the faithful prayer warriors will pray for you Sunday mornings before Church service begins. The elders will pray for you and I will pray for you as well. Lately, I’ve had the prayer list open on my computer and pray over them through out the week.

One may think that this is an easy and simple job and even an encouraging one at that. But there have been times when it has been difficult. You may wonder how just relaying information can be difficult. I have been collecting, reading, and emailing white slips to the elders for over ten years now. And let me tell you, I have been immensely encouraged by the questions and comments, but there have been times when I have been discouraged by them as well. There have been some strange ones too. I will not say more here because of the sensitive and personal nature of the questions and prayer requests.

I do have a request however. Please write legibly. There have been many times when I could not for the life of me read what it says. So if you have not been getting weekly emails or have not been contacted by the Church, then there might be a reason: I cannot read your writing. Sorry. And lastly, please use them. The leaders of our Church truly appreciate it when you communicate with them, and they welcome your questions and comments.

And finally, if you would like to be an usher or help out with communion setup/cleanup and are a member of Lighthouse Bible Church, please let me know.