PART 2

In response to the question asked in the previous blog, our preteen ministry is going to take an approach of simplification. I like how Luke (the person who left a comment on the previous blog) used the word burden to describe the business that we strap to the backs of the people that we minister too. In a sense, a lot of our programs do become burdens to our people, because many times we make them feel guilty for choosing other functions over ours or they themselves feel guilty for not doing enough for God (There are many other reasons as well). Through all the business, people have a hard time of seeing a clear picture of the character of God and experiencing the glory of who He is and what he means to them! Can we bask in His glory, when we are busy doing?

I must state here, that I am not against programming, because programming helps us meet the felt needs of people (See Acts chapter 6). What I am saying, is that our programming needs to be more than just purposeful, it needs to be narrow focused and strategic. Simplification does not mean "dumbing down", it means to move away from doing a lot of things good or even really good, to doing a few things really well and with excellence.

What are you doing in your churches and other organizations to take the burdens of the backs of God's people, so they can bask in the Glory of God? (Part three, I will elaborate on what we are doing for our preteen ministry)

Joe