Just Because We Can
I’ve only been back from the National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta for a few hours, and already I’m replaying a dozen conversations in my mind, trying to process all that was discussed.
First, there’s some amazing things going on out there in youth ministry! Youth workers are dreaming incredible dreams, many aren’t satisfied to just keep things status quo. They’re experimenting with new ways to help students connect with God. They inspire me to do the same.
Second, it appears to me that some churches out there are doing a lot stuff that this emerging generation (and myself, for that matter) just don’t understand. It’s stuff that’s big and exciting and dynamic and funny and cool. But it’s stuff that feels … empty. Stuff we’re doing just because we can. Because we’ve got the money, the people, the audience, or the idea, and so why the heck not?
Rather than cite a bunch of examples and just sound like the critic, let me ask:
What are we currently doing in our church because we can’t not? What things, if we took them away from ourselves, would make it impossible to help our churches in the ways we want?
Instead of trying to top every ministry effort that’s come before us, maybe we can simply start with just those very few things that have real purpose, and build and dream from there.
We’ll probably feel lost and a little naked for a while, but at least we’ll be doing things that matter.
Thanks to everybody who made NYWC 2009 all that is was!
11/24/2009 at 2:45 pm
I think that is absolutely the question we must be asking. Budget squeezes are going to be the “cheap” way of cutting programs and things that we don’t need to do, but to ask the question in a more intentional, theological, way is where we really need to put our energy. How will the overprogrammed church ever gracefully give way to a more immediate, or even passionate, sense of doing what we’re doing because we CAN’T NOT. Amen and amen.
12/02/2009 at 1:17 pm
Hmmm. Things we don’t need.
-food courts
-buildings for that matter
-A “feel” or brand to a church (unless it is unintentional)
As far as things like camera’s and video, thats an art form that a lot of us enjoy . Its a tough call to think about whether it belongs in the church. As a means to just communicate, i don’t think we need them. As a means to express ourselves, i think we do.