Leading and Supporting: Moments from 2014QA

Each day at Quadrennial Assembly had a theme.  Thursday’s theme was “I See You Through The Voice of Compassion.”  Compassion is one of those things that most of us can understand and agree upon intellectually.  But talking to people you will realize that everyone experiences compassion in different ways.

On that Thursday evening, April Lewton, NBA’s Vice President of Development and Marketing, served on a panel with four other women leaders who spoke about young adult leadership in the Church.  Each woman had something in common, they emphasized the importance of people who have supported them in living out her calling.

I saw compassion in that room two different ways.  One way that I saw compassion was, that titles were dropped at the door.  No one was considered a “top dog”, or “little dog”.  Five amazing women whose ministries are so unique and so different from each other coming together to offer support and encouragement to the young adults in the church.

The second way that I saw compassion was one presenter emphasized that young adults are not only the future of the Church, we are the Church.  I think that shows compassion because it is saying, “you can do it, and I am here to help you.”  It is also saying that you do not need to be an ordained seminary graduate to do ministry.  Ministry is anything that lifts up the Church.

At NBA XPLOR everyone has a role leading and supporting.  Each individual resident will be working with a different non-profit organization in the community.  Even more importantly, each resident will be able to support each other in their work.  We can also show compassion by lifting up the ministry of the Church and sharing God’s grace with the people we meet. How do see compassion in the life of the church?

Learn more about NBA XPLOR and the 2014-2015 XPLOR Residents!