Six Reasons We Aren't Growing (2009)

[This is a blog I initially wrote in 2009. Since then I've grown a great amount and discovered many flaws in my theories.  Tomorrow I will post a new perspective on these ideas.]


1) Your Ministry is Boring

The Bible isn’t boring. God’s mission for His people isn’t boring. God has made it really is easy to have fun. Teenagers can have fun doing anything.

So why would you have a boring ministry?

2) Your Ministry Refuses to Take Risks

If you’re not growing naturally then you’re going to have to make changes. Any time you make change there is risk of failure. If you’re unwilling to take risks, you’re going to eventually going to plateau before sliding into decline.

3) Your Leaders Don’t Do Anything

Your leaders will only be as involved as you expect them to be. If you don’t give them clear direction and instruction, they can quickly become chaperons.  If you aren’t growing, find ways to put your leaders spiritual and natural gifting to work.

4) Your Students Ignore Visitors

You can’t grow if your visitors never come back. If all of your visitors are ignored, they’re never going to come back.

5) Your Ministry is Identical to Every Church Down the Street

If everything you do is identical to the church down the street, you’re going to be competing with the church down the street.

6) You Have all the Wrong People Making Decisions

You’re the student ministry pastor/leader. You’re dedicating your life to reaching students. If you’re doing your job right, then you should know teenagers better than anyone in the church.

So why should tradition, the last guy in charge, a paranoid parent, majority vote, or a group of elders with no connection to student ministry make decisions regarding your ministry? I’m not talking about disobeying your church leadership, but if they’ve put you in charge, they need to let you make decisions.