Control

We sat as a family in the Youth Room and listened intently as Pastor Doug told us all that he doesn’t like the ocean. He explained that he had been forced into a bad experience with “Jell-o fish.” I thought, “He must have been stung thousands of times by the jellyfish to cause this kind of long-term damage!” :o)

Then, Doug told all of the parents that we need to listen to our youth, to hear what they have to say and start the process of moving them to adulthood. What a frightening concept to the father of two teenage daughters! So, we asked our girls what we could do to validate their maturity. One said, “Stop treating us like 5-year-olds!”

OK, I’ll confess that I didn’t respond well to her use of hyperbole (that word is for you, Jeff!). She had exaggerated to make a point, that she felt like we were controlling them too much, not allowing them more freedom.

Lately, I have heard some in the CONNECT Ministry object to Leadership requiring certain studies. Let me explain what’s happening here. We are a developing ministry which is slowing transforming the culture of Grace Church. In order to develop CONNECT and disciple our members, we have determined key steps toward our goals. Therefore, twice a year we require specific content for our entire ministry.

Having everyone on the same page is very important to maintaining the unity of our church. Groups ministries have a tendency to produce churches with Multiple Personality Disorder. But all of our groups are part of CONNECT and Grace Church, and we are all intended to pull together in the same direction, albeit in different ways according to our SHAPE.

Also, most of these studies run 6 weeks. If CONNECT controls your content for 23% of the year, that leaves tremendous freedom and time for each group to pursue studies and activities which are meaningful to their unique discipleship needs.

Finally, and I say this at risk of hurled stones, one of the greatest discipleship needs in this area of the country is toward submission to authority. Now, no one likes godless leadership, but we are striving as Leaders of the CONNECT Ministry to model Christ-like headship. Partly, this is to maintain order and intentionality. But it’s also because this is crucial to your holiness.

Let us know if you feel like you’re being treated like 5-year-olds…..