Nobody Likes a Sinking Ship

Been doing some reading lately, talking with youth development folks, and discussing the idea of recruiting with a few folks and have come to the conclusion that "Nobody likes a Sinking Ship." A thought I was first introduced to by Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens in Simply Strategic Volunteers, I'm exploring ways that we can create vernacular and environments that portray a thriving and positive environment for both students and volunteers.

There are many ways to do this, but primary to creating positive environments, built for both excellence in experience and programming, is the way in which we communicate. The words that we use, the way we portray a certain event or process, speaks volumes to the way that people interpret the organization or ministry. It is truly your front door for both recruiting of students and volunteers. We can't expect someone to think that we have a fun and safe place to be if they constantly hear something contrary to that idea.

The reality is that this begins well before the creation of the materials designed to help recruit people. It begins at the development of each promotional piece. It begins at the creation of each email that goes to all our leaders. It becomes obvious at the launch of each night of programming. And each of these pieces sets a tone for the way in which people interpret the goal of the ministry or program.

So, how do people interpret your organization?

I know that over the last month this has become a primary discussion in my thoughts as we begin to enter a time of activating our fellowship and inviting them to be a part of the story that God is writing in Nappanee. And we can help someone feel welcome to join that story or that battle if we continue to consider how to provide positive reinforcement and intrinsic desire to help produce an excellent environment for students and all ministries, in general. It is not the end game, but this thought process certainly helps me think through how to best communicate to those who need to be plugged into a given ministry.

So, how are you doing?

A Redundancy of the Commercialized Church

In the wake of an over-commercialized church and the Ameicanized Church, there is one thing that I find so frustrating, so utterly distracting, and downright stupid and yet I know for a fact that I have participated and continue to participate in this at times. That thing I can't stand is the American Idol-esque judging of worship services and teachings that takes place every single time any message, worship service or ministry ever tries to put on a program to encourage, uplift and challenge people who, seemingly, want to be more like Jesus.

How many times have I asked or been asked how service went and the reply was not how God taught them today. No, rather the discussion was about how well the service went, or how long the worship leader talked instead of playing his guitar. There are certain times when this might be the approprite response like when you are with a planning group trying to seek God's face on how to guide His ministry.

Here's my beef. At no point in Jesus' teaching, the accounts of the early church, in Paul's writings to the churches or the training of Timothy or Titus, did anybody say, "teach them to know a good communicator" or "make sure they can identify an effective ministry." You never find Paul asking the churches if they have been having good communicators with Timothy gone, or Apollos on vacation.

Instead, you find them urging people to seek His Kingdom; to find Jesus in everyway that you can. To desire Jesus before you desire anything else in the world; To recognize that no matter what takes place in the ministries that God has ordered and established, no one communicator is to be the focal point of your life. Rather Paul pleads with the Church to quit bickering over who they follow, but to recognize that it is only God who nourishes, God who provides, God who waters the seed.

The critical spirit that I notice in the Church today, I know is probably amplified because it is my job to try and create and facilitate my interpretation of God's direction for a ministry in His Church. But, the reality sets in that this critical spirit has us more focused on the minor things than the majors. Our critical spirit allows us to get frustrated that the message didn't go as we had thought it was going to, than recognizing the conviction of the Holy Spirit to stop living a double life of "Chritianity" and the partying that continues to take place in our life. This same critical spirit that shows up and gets frustrated that the service went 15 minutes over, gets in the way of us recognizing Grace and mercy in our lives.

So, this week, as you attend any number of ministry programs, read books, or attend a worship service, may the critical spirit that has been fostered by this commercialized, Americanized, consumerisitic mindset that seems to permeate many churches, be replaced by a desire to accept His Grace, living in that Grace and extending that Grace to the critical spirit of your mind. Allow His Truth to reign in your life. Allow whatever is going on in front of you to be something that God ordained and has set into motion. Take God at His Word that He has everthing under His Power and the only reason that this thing is taking place is because it somehow is going to glorify Him and reveal His Name to someone. Don't miss the opportunities that that someone might be you.

GC

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