Don't use Threats!

As some of you know I get upset when people are let go from ministry. I've been there! I've seen conflict. I hurt for my friends that go through this process. The best thing is to ask questions. Of course there is always His side.... her side ... and somewhere lies the truth.

I've always felt that churches and parachurch organizations can resolve some of this conflict prior to Firing someone. (Usually a firing should be a last resort and not the only one and not even used or thought of in the process).

Sometimes it is thinking through things like: How does this help God's Kingdom?
Could a mediator help this process? What is the best way to partner and improve this situation? Of course most of these thoughts are after the fact. Today I've been making several phone calls on our Camp situation ... and just let's say as people of God ... our church is evaluating where we stand by the end of the summer. This whole situation just wasn't handled properly - even if justified! Sometimes the church continues to shoot its wounded!

Ever Get Ticked off @ Something?

I mean really?

I'm just so ticked off the way some churches and parachurch organizations treat their leaders. Umm ... you've been let go. We're firing you. And usually this isn't due to any wrong-doing but some differences in direction! One such case happened recently to some of my friends at the Camp they were Managers of. SAD really!

I mean REALLY! These are godly people, these are hurting people ... in fact in their address to family and friends - they literally stated "We're hurting".

I do have several questions for that camp board though. (Which I'd probably phone call the members soon and attend the next meeting)

Here is one:

What were you thinking?
What direction do you want to go?
Why did you let go of the best camp managers I've ever seen?
And what is it that you were thinking letting these people go only weeks before camp was to start - umm if there were problems - why not give a probation or help in the issue?

Of course I might not get the answers right now but thought to vent!

God's Church. The only army in the world that shoots its wounded!

The Bob Barker of Youth Ministry.

Bob Barker has been on TV for over 50years; 35 of those with CBS' The Price Is Right. A gameshow based upon gimmicks and the chances to win and play some game to win Big Bucks. I had even seen Bob's Finale with Adam Sandler making a Guest Appearance.

So this got me thinking that we have lots of Bob Barkers of Youth Ministry out there. What does that mean?

Well ...before Purpose Driven YM, before the baseball diamond model of youth ministry there was the funnel. You had the Crowd - all the way up to Disciples of Jesus - each time the funnel getting smaller and the Crowd being the Big opening of the Funnel.

It seems to me that some Youth Workers want to be Bob Barker. Oh, they would say they want disciples of Jesus - but they really want everyone to like them - so they have Fun and Games and try to attract as many people as possible to the Big Show.
Thus they use I-pod giveaways; retreats, visits to the local amusement park, "Christian" concerts ... all in the name of Jesus but the focus tends to be on those things rather than on Jesus.

It makes the parents happy too because now they don't have to babysit their kids, nor entertain them. As long as the Youth Minister is being "Bob Barker" and pleasing everyone - there isn't any conflict.

The problem is the church and youth ministry isn't called to be the Next Bob Barker nor youth fun and games but requires some (Spading as Bob would say) balance in the idea that we are making disciples and better disciples of Jesus.

Can we have Fun and Games in our Youth Ministry? Sure! As long as it isn't the primary focus. Someone needs to tell some of our Young Youthworkers to Stop Trying to be the Bob Barker of Youth Ministry and instead be Who God has called you to be .... to love Him and love those students.