He Went Missing: What Happened?

He just seemed to drop off the scene.

We first saw him with that choir. He wasn’t the lead singer, or anything, but he always looked like he gave it his all. Others seemed to just be singing the words, but he appeared to mean every word that came out of his mouth. Then later on, he was asked to be the one who presented some of the key speakers at some regional gatherings. Again, that guy seemed to get it. He was giving his all to set up the person who would be speaking. People recognised his authenticity and said that there was something about him that gave them the impression he meant what he said and wanted nothing more than to point people to Jesus.

Apparently he was active in the local scene as well. The leaders trusted him because there was nothing too menial or deemed too lowly that he would help out with. Setting things up before sessions. Helping to tidy things at the end. Supporting with some of the technical elements even when he didn’t have the expertise. He wanted to help. The leaders loved that. They saw that he could speak competently as well and would sometimes ask him to step in to be the main speaker. They just loved how available he was to serve.

That got him noticed for regional and then the national stage. The reports about him being a good worker made him someone that would be seen serving in different capacities at national events. Not on the platforms, not doing the speaking, but helping out and being so supportive of others.

Then he just seemed to drop off the radar.

What emerged really taught us something about not taking people for granted. The leaders only knew about the guy that turned up to the services. The folks only engaged with the man who served them at the conferences.

Few ever wanted to know anything beyond that. He showed up, he played his part, he said he was alright, that was good enough for them. See you next week.

Until they didn’t see him the next week. Or the week after that.

No answer to the phone calls. No responses to the texts. No activity on his social media.

Completely off the radar.

What happened? Should more have been done to engage with the man beyond the one who served others?

(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden