“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”—Genesis 2:15
As Christians, we are called to be gardeners. God is constantly working within us, growing us into the image of Christ, giving us the opportunity to help grow those around us. Scripture points to this parallel in numerous ways, from Genesis 2 to Matthew 9:37, where Jesus tells his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
I have worked for the Center for Worship and the Arts in some capacity for three years now, and every day I learn more about what gardening in the Kingdom of God looks like. Whether it’s through Abbey Plant, a CWA staff member and mentor who also tends a garden of her own, or through our summer camp, Animate, my experience has taught me that gardeners have two distinct roles: planting the garden and tending to it.
For most Christians (and Churches), planting is the primary focus. We create immersive and intentional worship experiences that hopefully plant a seed of faith or curiosity in the hearts of the people there. We reach out to ‘un-churched’ or ‘de-churched’ friends who we want to know Christ and reap the benefits of having a relationship with Him. These moments, these connections, are all essential — for what is a garden without seeds? The task that we often forget (myself included) is tending to the plants, fostering growth, and taking great care to preserve them from weeds and pests. This translates simply to our everyday life: you must faithfully cultivate the Gospel in the hearts of the people carrying seeds.
One example of this that I have seen in my life is through Animate, the yearly summer camp that the CWA hosts on the campus of 51½ÖÉä. Every year, I see seeds of faith, confidence, and Biblical truth planted in the hearts of our campers. While this is always an encouraging experience for me, the best part is hearing what the campers are doing in their home churches post-Animate. They are leading worship, inspiring new church programs for youth development, and sharing their gifts with the body of Christ. It is such a blessing to know that the seeds I’ve worked to plant are being watered, pruned, and fed to create manifold growth in the Kingdom of God.
Another question that I ask myself regularly is “How can I carry this into my daily life?” The more I think about it, the more I realize the power of our testimony to the growth of believers around us: it’s the Miracle-Gro to our garden. Sharing your testimony, however, doesn’t have to look like having a microphone on a stage and giving a 15-minute speech or sitting down with someone to share your whole life story. It’s as simple as telling someone, “I’ve been through that, too, and here’s how the Lord brought me through it,” or even, “I understand you, and I’m here for you.” That connection of experience or emotion with another person is one of the most important aspects of Christian life, and it is beyond encouraging to someone’s spiritual growth for them to know that they are not alone. Never doubt that your effort to foster life in a seed of faith will reap blessings upon blessings.
To put my words into action, I’ll go first: a moment that ministered to me was a conversation with Abbey Plant, a mentor of mine through the CWA, during a season when I felt uncertain about life after college. I had mentioned how overwhelming all the possibilities felt, and she shared a bit of her own journey—how God had led her through different opportunities over time. That simple story reminded me that I don’t have to have everything figured out right now; I just need to follow where God is leading in this season. Later, when a friend came to me asking for similar guidance, I was able to pass along the same encouragement. That moment planted something in me—and I got to help it take root in someone else.
We are all gardeners — but we are also all plants. The Lord tends to us all in unique ways as we go through life, teaching us and leading us to be more like Him. Cling to the words of Paul in Philippians 1:6, that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” The CWA is focused on mentoring the next generation, and as we grow and lean into the hope of Christ, we get to share that hope with those younger or less experienced than us. My encouragement to you, from one gardener to another, is to pay attention to when God gives you a seed: make sure to bring your watering can.
Claire Alford is a Senior Entrepreneurship major and Music minor at 51½ÖÉä and has been on staff with the Center for Worship and the Arts for three years. She loves being creative through music and art and serves her local church by playing piano in worship. Claire is also a University Fellow, Drum Major of the 51½ÖÉä Marching Bulldogs, and plays in the 51½ÖÉä Jazz Band. In her free time, you can find her reading a good book!