Recently I had a great opportunity to visit with Harry Bollback over a cup of coffee. Several other guys were there and we were all listening as he was sharing stories in typical “Uncle Harry” fashion. At one point, he reminded us of the fact that though the MESSAGE of the Gospel never changes, our METHODS do…. and should.
Later that day I was reading through the Daily Drucker (a collection of writings by Peter Drucker, the business/leadership/management guru). As I read I realized he was saying something very similar (from a different perspective, but the same principle.) The reading that day was entitled, “Organizational Inertia.” Here’s a quote:
All organizations need to know that virtually no program or activity will perform effectively for a long time without modification and redesign. Eventually, every activity becomes obsolete.
Now, Drucker was speaking from the business world. We in ministry know there are some things we have done since the beginning of the church and need to keep doing forever. However….there’s a point to what he’s saying and it’s very similar to point Harry was making.
Sometimes we get so comfortable with where we are. We get so sentimental. I understand sentimental. At my house every second between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a planned out tradition with superfluous sentiment… I like it that way. However, can I tell you something? THAT’S NO WAY TO RUN A YOUTH MINISTRY!
Too many of us choose the things we do based on all the memories of the times we did them before. If it’s not that, then we swing the pendulum entirely the other direction and just make changes to everything all the time, hoping something will work. It’s got to stop. Instead, we’ve got to start making decisions about our programs based upon whether or not they will actually help us meet our goals.
Goals? What Goals? What do you want for your students? Do want them to read God’s Word? Do you want them to know what they believe? Do you want them to stand for what’s right? Do you want them to worship passionately? Do you want them to have an insatiable desire to grow and be more like Christ? You’ve got to be making decisions that will help you meet these goals.
Bottom Line: If your ministry isn’t changing, it’s dying. If you’re not constantly infusing new ideas, fresh thinking, and different perspectives in order to continue meeting the goals you have for your students, your inertia is screeching to a halt. The minute an old tool stops meeting the goals, it’s time for a new one. So how’s your ministry? Is it growing, or dying?
