I feel disgruntled. I feel discouraged.
We spent the last 12 hours at church. 12 hours from noon to midnight. Last night I spent 4 hours at church. This past week we spent 2 evenings and afternoons preparing for tonight. I'm physically exhausted and feeling spiritually spent as well.
It feels like our community has a problem of double dipping. We ask a smaller percentage of our body to do more than their share and it burns them out. Today for instance. We sent individual e-mails to people to help set up and you know what? They didn't even have the courtesy to respond. We had people that said they would show up that didn't. Our three helpers today rocked, one did it all with a child strapped to her. Another helped set up even though she couldn't make it for the actual program. Then while we were finished setting up, we were asked to help out the program for the evening because there wasn't any greeters. Later, I was asked to come to the second hour and help with sunday school.
I would've flat out said no to anyone else, but the person who asked me gives more of his time than I do. Say what you will about his methods, but he loves and serves the Lord whole-heartedly. I admire that he sets an example by doing. Nothing irks me more than a leader who divvies out responsibility and directions like it's kool-aid but keeps their hands clean from the work.
I really don't know how much other people serve. I don't know how many other ministries people are involved in, but right now it feels like too many people are content just coming to church and tithing their "ten percent" of money and expect the church and it's programs to work. Sometimes people will bother to support their own ministry. A few might actually help out with their kids ministry or a ministry that affects people in their own peer-group. But it seems like it always comes down to the same people.
*sigh*
I'm directing a youth camp this summer and I've lost count of how many e-mails have gone unresponded. Luckily, there are one or two people that are really excited and that keeps me going.
Today was discouraging. It was ironic that our topic was about living vs surviving because right now I feel like I'm just surviving. I'm doing what I can to prepare for whatever hoop I have to jump through next.
Maybe we need less programs. Maybe we need more people to volunteer. Maybe I need a break. My wife could use one too.
5 comments:
Another irony is that a majority of the people that will read this are the one that give the most.
Thanks for filling in as a greeter last night!!! I was too pooped after RAV packing. The way you all transformed the Fellowship Hall was absolutely amazing!
Yeah, I agree that 10% usually get asked to do 90% of the serving. I've reached burn-out levels in the past and just had to decline 'cause I wasn't spending enough time with God. I would get caught up in just doing, but I wasn't really "sitting at Jesus's feet" much. I also think we should cast a wider net out to 2nd Service Brothers & Sisters in areas of service. One thing I've learned from preparing for Mexico is that people like to be asked . . . if we just don't even consider asking them, we just end up burning our small # of folks.
- Wayman
yikes, this isn't good. thanks for the honesty, though. i can sorta relate, though my involvement has often been more "official." in all honesty, cbc in my opinion is a bit too focused on maintaining the "machine" of ministry- diverse programs for every age group, endless retreats and other annual special events. it is sustainable, but not at a high level of quality. in the end, ppl either tire of sustaining all the tentacles or they go through the motions and lose motivation for anything more than routine.
have you talked to marty about this? i know he would be sympathetic and "go to bat" for you if real programmatic change needs to occur. i think some healthy re-evaluation of the ministry scope might be helpful. if it's any encouragement, the 80/20 or 90/10 rule is pretty much the standard in most churches (sadly).
i'll be praying for you guys... rest and say no when you need to.
hang in there, okay? i know that a certain summer camp in august can take a lot out of you. know that i'll be praying for you and the team! hope all is going well with the planning....
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