3 minute read
High Impact Insight
Crystal Matula has been a member of AHG since 2009, where she has been in various leadership capacities in Troops TX1318 and TX0317. She has been a Ministry Expansion Lead (MEL) since 2015.
Sunshine. What does that look like to you? Most people think of the sun and brightness and heat (especially those of us here in the south!). But what about Sonshine? How do we, as leaders and adults in AHG, shine the Son, and how can we ensure our girls and Troops do the same? The opportunities to SHINE Christ to all we encounter are endless! “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV) That light, God’s Light, shining in our dark world is like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Such a city would be a refuge—a place of safety and provision, a place to find rest after a long journey, a place to eat and be refreshed. Many people in our world today need the peace and rest that can only come from Jesus, and it is our privilege and responsibility to shine His Light; to be that beacon in the darkness, to share the hope so desperately needed. To do this, we must be different from the world, to be counter-cultural in such a way that we attract others to Christ while making sure that we are pointing the way to Him. To understand how to SHINE we must go to another verse, John 8:12, NIV: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Jesus is the Light of the world and those of us who have Jesus in our hearts carry His Light with us wherever we go. His Light is part of us no matter where we are or what we do. It shows on our faces as we smile at strangers we pass by, as we hold the door open for the lady with packages, as we encourage the veteran with a “thank you”. As members of American Heritage Girls, we have unique opportunities to SHINE the Son in many ways all over our cities through service to our communities, through the fun we have, and through discipleship. As girls of every age participate in service activities such as cleaning up of parks and trails, we show the love we have for our Creator by taking care of His Creation, which glorifies and honors Him. As we serve people by making blankets, collecting food, or writing cards, we SHINE Christ’s love and show the importance He placed on human life to others. Honoring veterans by participating in wreath or flag laying ceremonies, carrying flags in parades, or standing during our national anthem SHINES Jesus to others by respecting and remembering those who, like Christ, gave the ultimate sacrifice. By having fun with each other and taking the time to cultivate relationships, we strengthen the bonds we have as Christians, family, and friends as well as develop our inner circle—much like Jesus did with His disciples. The Light of the world and the Gospel of Christ’s love is then shared to other people through the discipling of those we encounter. They will see the love we have for Christ, and the love He has for us, and will want that love for themselves. Our American Heritage Girls Ministry provides opportunities to SHINE Christ’s Light in our dark culture. As you go about the business of planning your service activities, think about how you can best SHINE His Light during the activity. Praying before, during, and after the work and singing praise songs while serving are ways to SHINE Christ while working. During registration for the upcoming Program Year, encourage girls and adults to share how they saw God working last year, both with returning members as well as new ones. This is a beautiful way to SHINE in such a way as to “see your good works and give glory to the Father in heaven”, the call placed on believers in Matthew’s Gospel. Even a small light makes a big difference in darkness. Your Troop—girls, adults, and leaders—can all SHINE a light, a beacon that is so needed today.
