“Let’s all go around and share something we need to confess. I’ll start.”
I was pleasantly surprised to hear these words during a National Millennial Team conference call led by one of our Stonecroft leaders in New Jersey. Each team member takes a turn leading this bimonthly call on a topic that helps us better reach out to women around us.
During this particular call, the leader told about hearing a song centered on Hebrews 4:15 (NIV): “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.” She felt overwhelmed by her own sin in contrast with Jesus, who was tempted in every way but resisted. It caused her to look her sin in the face, and she knew confession was a must.
What strikes me about her challenge to us is that she offered to go first. That is key to being a great leader, and I think it came naturally to her as a Jesus-follower. If we ask women to share vulnerably about their lives, we need to be willing to do the same – first.
This leader didn’t choose an “easy” or “safe” struggle to confess, either. It was bold. That helped the rest of us feel bold in our own confession, too.
One of our other leaders then confessed something she’d been holding onto for a while. She knew the Holy Spirit was prompting her to confess her sin to others, but she hadn’t found the right person to tell or the right time to confess. Our group made it safe for her to share about her sin, and she felt freedom because of it.
That’s what Jesus does. He sets us free when we confess.
What ways can you use your struggles to reach out to women? How do you think our Christian and non-Christian friends will respond when we confess to them?
Because confession bonds us and sets us free, our team has decided to incorporate confession into our future conference calls. Will you join us in doing the same in your spheres of influence?
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
– James 5:16a, NIV
Maddison Berciunas
Outreach Coordinator