There are moments in ministry when everything you’ve been learning quietly clicks into place—not in a classroom or a sermon, but in the middle of real people, real pressure, and real purpose.
Kyla’s experience serving at the Whitcomb Christmas Store at Gloria Dei Houston was one of those moments.
When Kyla first arrived, her reaction was honest: this feels like a lot. Volunteers were everywhere. Stations needed organizing. Families were arriving with high energy and high expectations. Like many leaders wired to serve well and carry responsibility, she jumped straight into execution mode—focused, efficient, and moving fast.
But beneath the surface, something else was happening.
The pace, the pressure, and her natural tendency to rush were beginning to shape the atmosphere around her. Not outwardly chaotic—but inwardly tense. And then, in the middle of the evening, something shifted.
Kyla became aware of herself—her tone, her speed, her posture—and sensed a gentle invitation from the Spirit to slow down. Not because the work was done, but because something deeper mattered more. As she intentionally stepped back, peace settled in—clear, steady, almost tangible. Patience followed. The frantic edge softened.
The event stopped feeling like something to manage and became something to steward.
“I was using my spiritual gifts of administration, encouragement, and mercy—and it stimulated growth in patience, joy, kindness, and gentleness, not just in me, but in others as well.”
— Kyla, Houston, Texas
As Kyla and her teammate Avery moved through the space, their role subtly shifted. They were no longer just solving problems—they were shepherding people. They checked in with volunteers. They made sure stations were supported. And most importantly, they engaged families with genuine presence.
Conversations lingered. Stories were shared. Kids’ excitement spilled over into parents’ gratitude. What could have felt transactional became deeply relational.
Later, as Kyla reflected on the evening, she realized why it had impacted her so deeply. She wasn’t just doing something meaningful—she was being shaped while she served. Her strengths were being exercised, but her heart was being formed at the same time.
She was operating in her gifts—administration, encouragement, mercy—while the Spirit was simultaneously growing patience, kindness, gentleness, and joy within her. None of it felt forced. It felt formed. And as those qualities took root in her, they began shaping the people around her. Volunteers felt calmer. Families felt seen. The atmosphere shifted—not because of better planning, but because a leader allowed the Spirit to lead her before she led anyone else.
Kyla noticed something else that night: posture matters.
Not just physical posture, but spiritual posture. How we wait, listen, respond, and remain present communicates far more than words ever could. In a time when the church’s credibility is often questioned, these quiet, embodied moments of authenticity speak volumes. Transformation doesn’t start with polish—it starts with presence.
Whitcomb Christmas wasn’t just a successful event. It was a lived example of how God forms us in real time, in real places. It was a reminder that discipleship doesn’t only happen in formal settings—it happens in gift-wrapping lines, shared laughter, patient listening, and moments when we choose peace over pressure.
For Kyla, this night marked one of the first times she could feel who she was becoming as she served. And that’s the invitation for all of us at Gloria Dei: step into what God has placed in front of you, stay attentive to how He is shaping you along the way, and trust that He will use your presence to bless others—often in ways you never planned.