Amy Sullivan: A Question and Not a Post

5/31/12

A Question and Not a Post

Around these parts, I talk about serving.

Recently, I heard a statement:

We are so busy helping the church that we are just too tired to help the community.

We pour our energy into small groups and kids' programs and the church garage sale, but we don't leave the church bubble/holy huddle.

Let’s discuss, shall we?

True? False? True for people you know, but not true for you? False, false, false. Do tell. I’m curious.

Here are some flowers just in case this question makes you grumpy. I was going to include a picture I have of candy, but I thought that might make you even more grumpy since you can't actually reach through the screen and eat the candy.

Did you know I'm working on a special project for you? Yep, it's because I like you, and it's because I have a new addiction.

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25 comments:

HopeUnbroken said...: well. . . .
true, that i am currently burned out on helping at church.
BUT, our church is very big on NOT being program-oriented. in other words, not much happens there outside of Sunday mornings. their emphasis, they say, is on getting into your community.
HOWEVER, i haven't found them to be very helpful in aiding the members in serving in the community. the attitude is more "go out and find a place to serve." while that could be okay, for some people (ahem) it is rather difficult to go and find opportunities on one's own. i am doing better at this, thanks to the encouragement of other people in my life (ahem, again) but it is still difficult.
so, i would say that most people at my church aren't doing either. so where does that leave us, other than sad??? it is something hubby and i discuss regularly. and i'm still not satisfied with any of the answers we've reached. but God--He's there in the seeking. and growing us along the way.
love the flowers, and they DO put a smile on my face :-)
steph; May 31, 2012 at 8:18 AM
Amy Sullivan said...: Steph,
Always love the discussin you bring, and fyi, I totally plan on quoting you.; May 31, 2012 at 8:32 AM
Lindsey Bell said...: Unfortunately, I think it's true for a lot of people. Since most of the church work is done by just a few people, those few people can easily get burned out. Maybe if the church work was more spread out (meaning more people stepped up), then this wouldn't happen.; May 31, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Amy Sullivan said...: Lindsey,
Great point. It is always the same people leading and doing. I don't just think this is true in church. I see the same thing in different circles of friends and even my daughter's school.; May 31, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Brandee Shafer said...: I chose my church, in part, because they were interested in participating in the community ministry I carry with me.; May 31, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Nicole said...: It is true that being involved in a church can suck you dry. My husband and I used to be worship leaders at a church plant and I also was the children's church administrator. Between that and our full time jobs, we barely had time for each other, let alone our community. But since having kids, that has changed some... we don't serve in church anymore. It's too hard to make such a large commitment and have to work within the boundaries of of lunch and nap times. For us, it's just not the season for serving at church. But with that, I've found the time to serve in my community by starting up a local MOPS group. Although it's a Christian organization, we reach out to all kinds of moms and try to help and serve however we can. So yeah, sometimes it's either one or the other, but not both. Sad, but true.; May 31, 2012 at 9:11 AM
kendal said...: admission alert. i'm a teacher, my husband a missionary. sometimes when i think of service outside those things, i feel really sleepy.; May 31, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Susan Struck said...: Our church is working towards developing a true discipleship way of thinking. That is, we are trying to focus on going to church to be "filled up" then moving outward to spread the love throughout our community. It is certainly not a new way of thinking. Still, it is true that it is so easy to focus inward on your congregation so much that it becomes like a private club.; May 31, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Kelly said...: This has been on my heart for a while now. Thanks for sharing the quote and putting words to it. I am highly involved in my church and wanting to back off some to free up space to serve more within my community. However, God has given me a true passion for the people within our church and I don't want to neglect that either. I'm trying to find ways to get involved in both at the same time - like organizing the church carnival for our neighbors or teaching Bible lessons to the kids that come to our food pantry. I want to be an example to the other's within our church and encourage them to get more involved, so from time to time, I'll organize something that gets us all together serving outside of the church. I think I'll write more about this on my blog soon. Thanks for opening up a great discussion; May 31, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Kathy said...: I once heard someone say something that has greatly impacted me...when you start looking inward instead of outward, you stop growing. I think that my goal is to see beyond myself wherever I am-whether in church or out and about in my city. I want to be a light and testimony to whomever I come in contact with.

With reading your question and discussion I am reminded of the Scripture in Galatians 6:9-10 "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Thanks for the thought provoking question and discussion :) I really admire your heart of service. It's a great encouragement to me.; May 31, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Loraine said...: Thanks for the flowers because this question makes me grumpy. While it might be true of some churches and some Christians, I feel like there are many moving past this and getting involved outside the church. If you keep harping the church this, the church that, those in the church who are making it better get discouraged.
I agree with Steph that it is hard to know what to do outside the church. Churches could be better about aiding their members in serving in their communities, again though, some churches are really stepping it up here. And those who aren't, well they just need to come visit your little place here.:); May 31, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Thee FireWife said...: I don't know. Lately, I've been serving the community too much and have let my house get out of order. Not in a messy way, it's always messy. But in that my husband was neglected and our life together was ignored. So I quit today. I'm still open to helping people, but not so much through the organized efforts. Maybe that's bad. I'm not sure. But it's where I'm at now. Is this even within the topic? Is this thing on??; May 31, 2012 at 12:28 PM
living out His love said...: Wonderful question Amy. I do agree that it is possible for that to happen, and we have seen it firsthand. (I apologize in advance for the novel I have written!)

I can say with certainty that this was so true of our old church. Hubby and I were so over-involved there and beating our heads against the wall ... that well, we just got burned out. That church was inward-driven and not moving forward in many ways. Hubby and I had many late-night conversations about this problem and eventually left that church because we hungered to serve the community more. It was a difficult decision but we just felt that we weren't getting anywhere trying to enact change after the almost-8 years we spent there.

The new church we are attending (have been for about a year) is completely different. Although there are many wonderful church programs and a gazillion opportunities to serve the church (of which we only participate in a small amount), there are ALWAYS new opportunities available to serve the community. Always new projects - some short-term, some long-term. I am actually going to Mexico for a short-term Missions Trip at the end of June with our church to help build a church and also to do VBS. Also, I am working on getting an Orphan Sunday program off the ground there and really hope that God works His magic through that to develop an Orphan Care Ministry from it. There are so many wonderful things going on and both hubby and I know that we've found where we are supposed to be.

Also, joining a small group there has made a big impact. Not only have we developed great friendships and studied the Bible, we recently did a small service project together that did not involve the church at all. It only took an hour or so of our time and has been an awesome way to serve local homeless. Here's the link if you're interested: http://www.livingouthislove.com/2012/04/its-far-better-to-give.html

Ok, so I guess my really long answer is that YES, this can absolutely happen but it doesn't have to! There are plenty of service opportunities that can be sought out if the church isn't doing them, it sometimes just requires a little creativity.; May 31, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Katie said...: Ugh. We actually left our old church due to this exact reason. We felt they were only "feeding the flock" and not doing anything about the community. They even pretty much said "YEP!" when I asked about it. Makes me sad.

When looking for a church the next go around I made sure to ask that when we met with the pastor and so we have found a church that is very community minded. Unfortunately it was hard to find!

So the answer? True and false, depends where you are.; May 31, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Kristin Bridgman said...: I think it's true for some and not for others. My church is very mission minded BUT, I find the missions are mostly overseas which I feel that is very needed, but our community is also a place to reach out and serve and share. You know what I do ;) I'm hoping to start a homeless ministry within my church some day. Something I'm praying about and waiting for the guidance to come my way. In the mean time, I get out there and take my friends, and some of the college campus kids also go out with me.
I agree with what one of the commenters above said. . .most of the church work is done by a small group. If we would all pitch in and help in our own small way, I think it would make a big difference to them and maybe burn out would not happen so often.
Great question Amy!; May 31, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Gina @ Holding the Distaff said...: What a GREAT QUESTION Amy! I've been pondering it all day. In an ideal fellowship of believers, the two concepts of serving church and community shouldn't be mutually exclusive. In Acts 2:42-47, the disciples in the early church were devoted to one another, AND God added others to their number daily. The philosophy in our congregation has been to build great community and pull the rest of the "outside" community into it, simultaneously. There are a lot of ways to do this. Are we executing it perfectly? Far from it. We've gotten off track, people get burned out, we focus on the wrong things. But as long as we keep that mindset and focus on imitating what the apostles taught, I think we're headed in the right direction.

I'll also add a lesson I'm continuing to learn: don't compartmentalize my faith. Evangelism, service, personal walk with God, discipleship, etc - these are not items to simply check off a list in a Pharisaic way. No. To truly imitate Jesus and his way of life, everything I "do" boils down to the greatest commandment: loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, which naturally leads me to love my neighbor as myself. When I'm focused like this, I tend to "burn out" much less.; May 31, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Melody said...: I love this conversation you have started. And thanks for sending the flowers. I think we have all enjoyed the personal delivery of them. Ha!
"Reaching the Community" can be defined in so many ways.And as members of the Body of Christ we should be reaching our community in various forms. I think it's important for churches to organize and encourage community outreach projects but even more important is teaching and training our people to have a heart for others - for the poor, the lost, the lonely, the sick, the single Mom who is heavy hearted - many of which are our neighbors and coworkers. Our community. And a neighbor reaching a neighbor; a neighbor visiting their neighbor in the hospitial, a Christ following coworker sharing the love of Jesus through the gift of service or presence can be way more effective than a church community outreach event. I think when we try to live our lives with a constant awareness of loving others the way Jesus loves - sometimes it involves meeting physical needs, sharing truth in love and willing to go on their "turf" then we are reaching our community. And while it takes a group effort to accomplish some community outreach things many times it's right in front of us personally and we just miss it. And I guess there are several reasons we miss it: lack of training and vision casting from our church leadership; a strong commitment to the local church at the detriment of our neighborhoods and community or lets just face it: selfishness. I'd much rather go shopping for cute shoes than make money to spend on somebody else in my community who has a legitimate need.
Sorry this got long.; May 31, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Flower Patch Farmgirl said...: Oh girl. Here's where I'm at: I just don't care to do nursery duty or sign up for this program or that one. I'm bugged with the self-serve mentality and I'm having trouble figuring out if the problem is me or "the church" or or or... I'm just starting to feel like church was never meant to be this. It's supposed to be grittier and not so scheduled and sign-up-listed. I can't say that I'm "too busy" serving within the church, because I've mostly quit a lot of that stuff. Still, I have these nagging feelings that I'm having trouble cataloging. :) You ask a great question here and it's something that's been on my heart for quite some time.
PS - You've read Barefoot Church by Brandon Hatmaker, right??? It's fantastic.; May 31, 2012 at 9:34 PM
Alicia said...: Okay, I'll take some chocolate now- because YES, I'm feeling way too vulnerable and a bit grumpy. I think that quote you've posted is rather true, yet I have seen so many beautiful ways that churches ARE embracing the community. So I guess maybe I should say more honestly, that quote might be true for me. By the time I finish serving in women's ministry, doing my duties in nursery, Sunday School, youth group, etc (with 5 kids plugged into church the volunteer requirements never end!), I AM tired and sometimes just to weary to "look out" instead of in. I am convicted. Need to get off of this screen and start praying. Love the way you challenge me to grow- and take off my blinders. Thank you, friend.; May 31, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Alida said...: As missionaries our goal is to be a part of the community where we are serving. And I also take my turn leading the Women's Bible study at our church. When we lived in the states we were active in church and community as well...I think it is important to reach out beyond the walls of the church!; June 1, 2012 at 2:18 AM
Jen said...: Amy - Such a great question! Yes, I believe churches in part have been known for being click-ish, or people being trapped in their holy bubble. We all get caught in gravitating towards those things and people that are comfortable and/or safe to us. However, (at least in my corner of the United States) we are seeing a dramatic shift in the focus of most churches. With books such as "Radical" & "The Hole in Our Gospel" communities and the world at large are being brought to the attention of the the local church. Adoption ministries are rising up, homeless feeding programs are being established, & so many other ministries that reach outside the four walls of a building are, in a new way, touching a broken & desperate world. So, yes, myself included, we tend to revolve ourselves around the church. However, it seems a new season is coming where God is specifically calling His church outside the Upper Room and into a broken and dying world....for His glorious name's sake! And it is a beautiful, a very beautiful thing! :); June 1, 2012 at 2:39 AM
Jenilee said...: yes, we have spend the last two years training and discipling our church people to understand service outside the church. it has been going well and people are beginning to embrace reaching our community. great question!; June 1, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Stephanie said...: Tough question. Flowers make it better:) It's tough because it creates tension (or makes us aware of the tension already in us on this issue!) - yes we get burned out on church service, on feeding the flock, inward service. But at the same time we don't want to bash the church. One commenter mentioned the quote, an inward focused church will die.....I've heard it before and it's so true (I've served so much in the church and feel like a tumbleweed most of the time). Jen Hatmaker called it blessing the blessed. This is not the church in Acts, its not the way its suppose to be!

In response to this tension, I have stepped away from some of the inward church activities (but not completely) and have taken hold of outward, community ones. Do I have it figured out? Not a chance, but its a step in the right direction.....
Great question!; June 2, 2012 at 6:54 AM
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