Relational Ministry

At a camp meeting recently one of my colleagues made the statement that 90% of Youth Ministry was relational. While I do not disagree, I think this can be said of all ministry. For a pastor to effectively love and serve a congregation, we have to know you: who you are, your values, what you are passionate about, major life experiences…the ups and the downs. For an elder to effectively shepherd their flock, they have to know their sheep, those same things a pastor must learn.

I read an interview with Eugene Peterson, author of The Message Bible. He tells of his early years in ministry and how he wore himself out because all he did was ‘go fetch.’ He tells of a story of a successful capitol campaign his congregation took on and how attendance was strong, but after the campaign was over attendance just dwindled. When he spoke with his presiding bishop about his dilemma, he was advised to do another capitol campaign. The bishop’s logic was that today’s culture is one of reaching for goals and so the church always needed a goal. Peterson noticed that as the bishop spoke, the words he used to measure the success of a church were the same words used to measure successes of the world: adding numbers and impressive budgets.

When he left his bishop’s office, he chose to ignore the advice…and he never regretted it. He said he had to learn a new outlook on ministry. Instead of ‘go fetch’ all the time, he had to learn how to ‘sit and stay.’ He realized that while the world might measure the success of his church with church attendance, programs, activities and impressive budgets, the true success should be in the depth of the community: the congregation’s relationship with God and with one another. His logic stems from his understanding of the Trinity…where the essence of God is relational, and that we must be as well. When his congregation opened themselves to more intimate relationships with one another, attendance was stronger. They wanted to see one another, spend time together, worship together. The article did not focus on church growth, but I cannot help imagining that if they were open to welcoming others into their community, receptive to an ever-expanding circle, that growth was a natural outcome.

We are made in God’s image. We are meant to live in community, to be relational. For a congregation to remain strong and healthy, it must get to know and care deeply about one another. For a congregation to grow and thrive, it must allow others join these same relationship and must expand the circle of caring. For us to love and care for one another within a community of faith, we must nurture our relationships with God.

It is so good to love and learn, care and grow with you!
Blessings,
Tracy