“Who dares despise the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10)

The room buzzed with the nervous energy of sixth graders. Snack crumbs littered the table, school backpacks strewn on the floor. We’d been there almost an hour, and my planning agenda sat in ruins. I was way out of my league, trying to wrangle a group of boys who seemed more interested in cracking jokes than planning anything. It was the fall of 2007, and we were sitting at my kitchen table, attempting to organize something far bigger than any of us realized at the time. Truthfully, we were all out of our league. But little did I know how God was quietly at work.

We lived in Northern Virginia, where public schools leaned heavily secular. Yet, thanks to the efforts of a group of local churches, a program called EDGE Club had taken root. These after-school Bible clubs were allowed by Prince William County schools as long as there was a teacher sponsor and a parent or community coach. And while the program had been successful in several high schools, middle schools were struggling. The reason? The clubs had to be entirely student-led—planned, organized, and executed by the students themselves.

My 12 year old son, Joshua, had just entered 6th grade. And knowing how challenging middle school could be, I volunteered to “coach” a club at Stonewall Middle School. So, on that afternoon in 2007, the nascent “EDGE Club Leadership Team” met for the first time.

Those early leadership meetings were absolute chaos. If you’ve ever tried to keep middle school boys focused, you know what I mean. We’d meet monthly after school to plan the activities. EDGE Club followed a four-week cycle—Equip, Deploy, Grow, and Encounter—culminating in a monthly outreach event like a pizza party or a themed gathering where a local youth pastor would be invited to share the gospel. Somehow, amidst the giggles, distractions, pranks, and countless side conversations, we’d cobble together a plan. Flyers would get made and distributed, icebreakers and games organized, and one of the boys—often nervously—volunteered to prepare a short gospel devotion.

I can’t tell you how many Domino’s pizzas we went through over those years. At $6 per pie, they became the foundation of our outreach strategy. Week by week, month by month, the leadership team planned and middle schoolers showed up—sometimes a dozen, sometimes more. And year by year, the team grew in confidence and impact.

By the time Joshua and his friends transitioned to high school three years later, the team had solidified: Josh, his best friend L.J., Carlos, Tyler, and eventually Miguel, L.J.’s younger brother. And the entire operation migrated to Stonewall Jackson High School, while my wife Pam stepped in to coach the middle school club, mentoring a new rising leadership team that included our daughter, Amanda.

As Joshua and his friends stepped into the vast, intimidating halls of Stonewall Jackson High School, they brought with them the lessons they had learned as middle school leaders—but now, the stakes felt higher. It’s hard to underestimate how intimidating it was for these boys—9th graders at the bottom of the social food chain—stepping into a high school of 2,400 students. But they persisted. They organized events like “See You at the Pole,” Christmas and Thanksgiving parties, talent shows, campus cleanups, Valentine’s Day campaigns themed around God’s love, and even a debate on the person of Jesus Christ with the Muslim Student Association. Whatever excuse we could find to gather students and share the gospel, we used it.

By the time the boys became seniors, the club practically ran itself. They had taken full ownership, growing bolder in their leadership and witness. What started as a small, chaotic gathering of unsure sixth graders had become a leadership laboratory. It didn’t just touch lives on campus—it developed deep spiritual roots and leadership skills in the boys themselves.

It’s hard to believe that 18 years have passed since those early days in my living room. This past weekend, at L.J.’s wedding, we had an unexpected reunion- Josh, L.J., Carlos & Miguel. The EDGE club team—now grown men—stood together for a photo. They are husbands, leaders, and most importantly, followers of Jesus, each seeking to make a difference in their world.

Never underestimate the power of small beginnings. In fact, what seems insignificant or even chaotic in the moment could lay the foundation for something of eternal impact. I could never have predicted the influence this club would have—not just on the students who attended but on me, my son and the other leaders themselves.

I once read that 85% of the Christian life is just showing up. We faithfully plod along, offering our bumbling efforts, and God takes them to advance His kingdom work. And in so doing, He gets all the glory. God delights in small beginnings and multiplies them for His glory.

What “small thing” is He asking you to do today? Trust Him with it and watch Him do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine. The day of small things isn’t something to despise—it’s something to treasure. Because in God’s hands, even the smallest seed can grow into something of eternal impact.