DISCIPLESHIP – THE MINISTRY OF LIFE

MINE FIELD SKIT

I am part of a team of volunteers who lead a weekly chapel service for the Boys Home of the South in Greenville County, South Carolina. The Lord leads us to enlist the boys to be an integral part of the chapel service.

In March 2006, we were led to lay out onto the chapel floor large pieces of paper with a life "trap" written on each piece of paper. Traps included drugs, anger, bitterness, alcohol, selfishness, hopelessness, robbery, laziness, etc. Then, we blindfolded one of the smallest boys and took him through this "mine field" five ways.

1. All by himself. The blindfolded boy was first directed to walk through the mine field all on his own, but of course soon stepped onto a trap. This is a picture of a person seeking to walk through this dark world with his own resources.

2. Listening to the voices of many people. The blindfolded boy was directed to walk through the mine field by listening to the directions being shouted by all of the other boys. However, the boy was tentative in his steps because there were so many voices, and even one of the voices deceptively told the boy to step in a wrong direction and right onto a trap. And the blindfolded boy failed to make it through the mine field. This is a picture of a person seeking truth from many, and often conflicting, sources.

3. Listening to a single voice. The blindfolded boy was directed to walk through the mine field by listening to only the voice of one of the adults in chapel. Some of the other boys still shouted out directions, but the blindfolded boy was directed to discern and obey only the adult's voice. It took several minutes, but the blindfolded boy made it all the way through the mine field. This is a picture of a Christian learning to hear God's voice speaking personally to him.

4. Listening to a single voice and following a single body. The blindfolded boy was directed to walk through the mine field by listening to the one adult's voice again AND by placing his hand on that adult's back and following the adult through the mine field. The blindfolded boy made it all the way through the mine field again, in less time than when just following the adult's voice. This is a picture of a person growing to know Christ is much closer than he previously realized, and that Christ is his Pioneer. The person senses Christ's presence with him all of the time.

5. Surrendering to a single voice and a single body. Instead of being directed to walk through the mine field, the blindfolded boy was directed to surrender (fall back) into the adults arm. This is the "trust test" the boys enjoy. It was scary to the blindfolded boy at first, but ultimately he was assured the adult would catch him, and the boy fell back into the adult's arms without moving his feet. Then the adult picked up the boy and carried him through the mine field! During this journey to the mine field, we encouraged the adult and the blindfolded boy to talk to each other. This is a picture of a person growing to trust his whole life to Christ. The conversation between the adult and the blindfolded boy is a picture of the relationship between God and His children…God personally speaks to us through His Spirit and His Word, and we speak to Him in prayer. The adult fully supported the boy in his arms, and the little boy's arms are tenderly around the neck of the adult…a picture of an exchange of pure love.

What a big picture our little boy was used to portray to all of the other boys! And what a big God we have!