the running reverend

When did I become the activity director for a cruise line?

That’s the question I found myself asking as I looked at the four foot by four foot piece of whiteboard (see picture below) that listed all of the activities that we had asked the members of our congregation to participate in over the course of the last year.

On the board were listed our regular, weekly gatherings: Sunday School, Sunday Morning Worship, Small Groups, Mid-week Bible Study, Clubhouse, and Youth. 

Accompanying these regular, weekly activities was an expansive list of “special events”: parties, cookouts, potlucks, movie nights, fundraisers, membership classes, and camp (among MANY other things).

When I shared the mamouth (but not all-inclusive) list with our leadership team, they were just as awestruck as I was. With what amounted to an activity/service per day for an entire year, it was no mystery why so many of us are feeling so tired. We are being pulled in multiple directions. Many of these directions, while not necessarily bad, were time fillers that rounded out our already busy schedules, but in the end accomplished little for the kingdom.

Ministries that had started with the best of intentions have clearly become about entertainment and doing that which makes one feel good. Personal preference had taken a back seat to true transformation. Busyness had been valued over peace. Activity had been prized over thoughtful reflection.

We spent well over an hour-and-a-half staring at the board; sharing our reflections; and grieving over how the mission of God and His church had been hijacked with creating and maintaining programs.

Our eyes were opened as to why our pleas for involvement and participation have often been unsuccessful. (A big thanks to Dan Reiland, executive pastor at 12Stone Church, for the article “Are You Asking Too Much?” that helped us to think about and process this aspect of things.)

We understand that the way forward will require a concerted effort on our part to once again direct our focus upon and the mission that He has for His church. We know that this will mean reevaluating all that we do. We know that it will likely mean slaying some “sacred cows.” We know that there will be some who will be upset by decisions that are made. But, more than anything, we know that we cannot continue with things as they currently are. To do so, would be unhealthy for us personally and corporately. It would mean settling for what is comfortable rather than risking all for the sake of the King and His kingdom.

Thus, we prayerfully and boldly declare, “Onward.”