I have heard some lamenting over the past year when it comes to workers in the church. This cartoon I drew about volunteers and donuts in 2013 reminds me that volunteering has changed dramatically since the pandemic.
While some teenagers may still be as enthusiastic as the guy in the cartoon, it has been a challenge to recruit volunteers. This article from Christianity Today illustrates the challenges many churches are facing.
Last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing the featured speaker for the Church of God International Youth Convention (IYC 2022). Chip Taylor is a fabulous youth leader with a heart of gold. Here is a link to the article
Chip serves at a church where my wife was the children’s pastor for a time. Although they haven’t worked together at the same time, my wife is a leader with Intern Academy and they’ve worked together in that organization.
One of his quotes shows his approach to youth ministry.
“You have to be relational with today’s youth. You have to go to their turf. Positions don’t work anymore. You have to identify each kid as they are and acknowledge them. Relationships take precedence over roles.”
Chip Taylor
Chip will be a great speaker for IYC 2022. If you have a teen that is considering going, I would highly recommend it.
Last week, a lot of news was made about when church buildings should reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, and inevitably, it’s become a political issue. It’s unfortunate because in the current environment, politics are divisive. It’s inevitable because it was government agencies shut everything down and have the authority to open things up.
There are many valid arguments on whether it is safe to reopen church buildings as of May, 2020. When I drew this month’s cartoon, I thought of how the youth groups’ secret snack stashes across the country have probably been visited by a few church mice. Youth pastors, do us all a favor and get the dumpster ready when you get back in the building. Those cheesy, wavy, salty snacks will have to go!
Many churches have learned to adjust through this crisis. I have benefited from online services. However, the cartoon I drew last month shows the pitfalls of online worship services. We may be getting too casual when we can watch church in our pajamas. Some may have to remind themselves when they return to the church to dress up a little.
I have no easy answers. This is partly because churches come in all shapes and sizes. a small church may have no problem meeting without going over the state’s mandate to limit gatherings. Some churches are small enough to meet in a home. However, I have belonged to churches where over a thousand people meet. You can’t treat these groups the same.
No matter the debate, we must remember that churches are not the buildings their congregants meet in. The church has never really closed through the pandemic. It is the buildings that house churches that have closed. Perhaps we have become too dependent on the buildings that Christians meet in. In the future, will we need to radically change how churches meet and provide community?
Whatever decision churches will make in the coming weeks, they need to be made with consideration congregants and those outside the building. Let the churches be known for spreading good news, hope, and joy, not COVID-19.
www.dropbox.com/s/2hyvgr8j6r1l2fl/Spear 4146.jpg
My grandfather was a minister. My dad made his career in insurance. You can imagine the discussions they would have about faith, the church and liability!
I’ve been at both the child side and the counselor side of church camps. I’ve seen boys perform feats of skill that defy gravity and all logic. It is a wonder the ambulance wasn’t on twenty-four standby at the camp!
So now that summer is waning, let us rejoice that the kids are back in school and insurance adjusters for churches and church camps can breathe a sigh of relief.
I drew this cartoon for the August, 2019 CHOGnews Newsletter.
