Taking Care of the Unknown -Part 1: Who is the unknown?

It’s been said that everybody is a nobody to somebody, but what if you believe you’re a nobody to everybody?

Hi, my name is Dustin, and you most likely don’t know me. That’s ok, I don’t know you either. If you’re reading this, though, and I mention the names Josh Ties, Jeremy Rands, or Kylie Dulo, you can probably tell me some things about them that they didn’t know you knew. Why? You see them, you read their material, and you hear from them on Facebook and at conferences.

But have you heard about that pastor who took over a church that split and is trying to figure out how to make it another year? What about that guy who has been pastoring for 5 years and for whom things are going well but is looking for ways to improve his outreach into his community and take his ministry to the next level? What about the lady who is a wonderful mother and ministry wife but has NO (and I mean NO) desire to write or be in front of people?

Maybe you know a few people like that. I do. More importantly, maybe that’s you. You are what I would call the unknown guy.

The unknown guy is exactly who the Idea Network wants to take care of. You see, when you are the unknown guy and you walk into an Idea Day and you see these guys shaking hands and laughing with one another….you might feel intimated because you don’t know anyone.

Maybe you see Josh Teis and Tommy Thompson talking and think, “Man, I could never do what they do.” Perhaps you’re a lady that sees Heather Teis or Kylie Dulo on the platform and the thoughts of that petrify you. Can I encourage you? You are in good company.

The majority of the Idea Network, truly the majority of any network, is made up of people that will never step foot on the conference platform. There will be scores of people part of this network and others that will never write for a blog. There will be many ladies that are behind the scenes for their husbands supporting them OR in ministry on their own doing great things for God that will never be “known” like some of the names I’ve mentioned.

Can I tell you something else? Everybody is a nobody to somebody. All of the names I have mentioned can walk into stores and see people who have no clue who they are. They can even go even to churches in which,no one would know their names.

While I could speak to their own humility…I want to speak to you. The unknown guy. The unsung hero of the Idea Network. The guy who goes to the conferences, who follows the Facebook page, who doesn’t post on there but scrolls through seeking to grab the next idea that will be a blessing to your ministry. The lady who reads the devotions, ministers at her church, goes to the conferences and stays quite behind her husband as he talks, and has gotten used to waiting around for a while to leave because he talks too much.

You are loved, you are valued, you are important, and you are appreciated.

The Idea Network is not about the people on the platform. It’s not about the people who get their pictures on the Charter Member Roundtable graphics. It’s not about the ones leading the breakout sessions. The Idea Network is about you, the unknown guy.

Throughout scripture there are many unknown people. (Click here to see a list.) Each of them was important enough for Jesus to die for. He knew their names. He loved them. He valued them. He loved Bartholomew as much as He loved Peter. Just because your name is not known doesn’t mean you are not valued.

The Idea Network exists for you. The ideas that are shared, the blogs that are written, and the conferences that are put on are not for everyone that is known…they are for you.

That’s how important you are. There is a whole network dedicated to you.

There is a church family that thinks you are the most important pastor in the country. There are people that would rather hear you preach than Charles Stanley, Tony Evans, Paul Chappell, or any other “well-known” preacher. Why? Because YOU are the one that God is using to make a difference in their life. YOU are the one that Idea Network wants to invest in to encourage you when things are tough, to cheer you on when things are great, to weep with you with the hard times come, and to give you ideas (obviously) to better help you better serve who God has you to serve.

Why?

Because the Idea Network appreciates you. The Idea Network appreciates anyone who has it in their heart to serve God with their life. Whether you pastor 20 or 200, less or more, you have given your life over to the Lord, and we want to come alongside you as you travel this journey on which God has you.

Ladies, you may be the most introverted woman in ministry…but you are important, you are loved, and there is a group here that doesn’t want to make you an extrovert. Rather, they want to love you for who God made you to be. You may extroverted and love to speak publicly, write devotions, and lead Bible studies. The Idea Network is here to support you too.

I came to the Idea Network as an unknown guy. I received great value from every interaction with the network. Now, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to give something back through writing, and I’m overjoyed that the first person to whom I get to give back is you, the one who doesn’t feel like anyone cares about them, the one who doesn’t feel that he is a great pastor or leader because he isn’t known by others, and the lady who feels insecure in the role God has for her.

What do you think? Have you ever felt like the unknown guy? Was there someone that helped you be known? What did they do? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Part 2 will focus on how we can care for the unknown guy.