Ratios

My kids of late, have been repeatedly watching Daddy Day Care, starring Eddie Murphy. An hilarious comedy, one my favorite scenes is when they invite Marvin to join the team. What convinces him isn't the opportunity to impact kids, though he does very well with children. Dr. Spocks' book isn't about Star Trek, he admits. (Go figure.) It's the love-at-first sight introduction to Dillan's single mom, Kelly. But in the preceding moments, Charlie (the dad with the day care idea) preemptively tells the visiting social worker, who is helping them go through the approval process, that they have already Marvin. Of course, why tell them that? In a knee-jerk response to the social workers observation that they have taken on even more new kids since his last visit... so they must have gotten some more help (as required by law).

Ratios.

I'm not sure why I was thinking about this movie, but as it usually happens, something within wondered if a same rule of them applies to ministry. It should. Of late, one of the mantras of my own church, especially in the last year as our "LIFEGroups" ministry was revamped, is that "as the church grows larger, we must get smaller". Essentially, it's the idea that if you don't carefully plan community and structure ministry in a way that is not only effective and efficient, but that allows anyone to come into a smaller setting and immediately begin making connections with the body of Christ, you will increase the likelihood of success in growing a healthy and mature church.

So, the importance of making sure people don't get lost, spiritually or physically for that matter, when they enter a church is crucial. This is why pastors and leaders burnout. This is why Moses was given the advice of his father-in-law (and heeded those words) of assigning others handle the day-to-day issues and disputes of the people. Leadership has it's place and those at the time have a huge responsibility. But like anything else, effective management of the big picture requires and relies on the effective management of the detail and minutia.

Consider, Nehemiah, rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. He couldn't do the work himself. But because everyone focused on the portion of the wall that was right in front of them (their piece that was manageable; that they could and were held responsible for, and the wall was restored in record time. When nobody thought it could be rebuilt. When their aren't enough pastors; when their aren't enough teachers, volunteers, ushers, helpers, staff... granted there may be a point where it's possible to have too many and you lose effectiveness or efficiency at the other end of the pendulum swing, but I venture the number of churches in that classification is few; but more kids require more adults. More employees require more managers. And corresponding, for the church that wants to experience a healthy, vibrant congregation growing in their maturity of faith, they will need more leaders... in whatever role is best suited to the ministry.

Pray, this #deaconThursday, for churches struggling to do the work of the ministry because their aren't enough "hands-on-deck". Whether there be a gap in pastoral positions(s) or a deacon board with only one member, or the church office be understaffed; teachers for Sunday School; volunteers for VBS...whatever the need be, may God place on peoples' hearts the desire to be more involved. For those already well-engaged in multiple ministries, may they be strengthened and renewed as the serve. Pray the blessing and favor of God upon their lives for their service. And for situations needing fresh vision and a new approach, may their be a spirit of creativity and excitement as they seek the face of God for the direction they should take.

- PNC

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