"The Real America"

What I tell people from time to time is that I'm a city boy that grew up and moved to the suburbs, yet all along has played in the woods (rural). That is true.

So what does this have to do with ministry, leadership, and even Royal Rangers? Everything! And this isn't the first time I've spoken on this topic. The real America is its cities, town, suburbs, and rural areas, all of it. Each needs each other. And the beauty of America is that you can pick which part you call your home and your community.

So the latest political bashing has to do with labelling the small town and rural areas as the real America. I know plenty of people who live in rural areas that will somewhat agree with that sentiment. If anything, statically and historically rural areas have a more conservitive base of people with a more long term base of traditions and practices. What I just stated should be obvious about rural people in rual areas.

Then there are the more liberal and somewhat progressive people in the metropolitan (city) areas of the country. They are getting tagged in this political stereotype as not being "the real America". Of course you have dense populations in these metro areas, commerse centers, a mix of racial demographics with a large cluster of minorities, etc, etc. Put a bunch of people together, especially from a broad range of cultures, you tend to be more progressive, left leaning, and democratic-socialist left leaning. (Key word "tend").

Then there are the suburbs, part city, part rural, almost the best of both worlds. They are less densely populated that metropolitan areas, actually a part of the lifeblood of the city. Of course there tends to be a good mix of conservative and liberal points of view. It is likely you can own overpriced property, enough to use a small John Deer riding mover/tractor. People here love it because you are close enough, yet far enough away from everything. You can drive 20-30 miels and go on a farm hay ride, while the same distance the other way and take reservations at your favorite restaurants in the city.

Humor time...

I love taking city slickers camping, especially those from Philly and DC! I tend to become Indian Jones or Mick Dundee to them. It is extremely entertaining seeing city slickers setup tents, use camp equipment and do all that rookie camping stuff, like smores. I can get away with such fun being a city slicker myself, yet I was born camping, canoeing, hiking, biking, backpacking... But endless fun exposing city people to the wild. In the end most love it and live to do the weekend warrior thing.

What is more fun than taking city folk to the wild country is taking country folk to the city, especially big metropolitan areas. Hicks are scared of big cities, even just cities in general. I know many people from the hick lands of PA and when I mention that I am from the Philly suburbs, then tend to hear Philly and not suburbs, then make some point about crime in Philly.
Too fun zipping around the city with those hicks! I blend in well, even in NYC, where I get asked for direstions, even by people who live in Mnahatten. Imagine a hick... They stick out like a sore thumb!

PA Population Stuff...

In Pennsylvania (PA) there are 12.4 million people, where in the USA there are 300 million. 1.5 million (12.9%) of the population of PA lives in the city of Philadelphia. 0.3 million (2.4%) of the population of PA live in Pittsbrugh. And you figure there might be 2-3 other cities in PA that have populations around 100,000. So that around 18% of people live in sizable cities in PA.

How many cities then are between 25k-99k in PA, like New Castle, PA, the city I grew up in? Or the boroughs, like Phoenixville, which I live just outside? I'm not sure if those stats are included at this census link, but you can figure it is another 10-20% of PA's population.

So of that 18% of people that live in cities with populations of 100k or more in PA, then what about the suburban populations that circle these cities? You can maybe equal or double those numbers. So if you include Philly and its PA suburbs (there are suburbs in Del & Jersey, which don't count), you have an easy 3-3.5 million people, which is 25-33% of the state's population. So if that huge chunk of PA's population isn't "real America", then something is off.

Obviously I need more hard population stats when it comes to the population distribution of PA. Sure most of the land mass of PA is rural. But most of the people in PA live in or near Philly, Pittsburgh, Harrisburgh/Lancaster/York, Allentown/Bethlehem, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. They count as PA citizens and real Americans as much as anyone else does.

NYC has 8 million poeple. Philly has 1.5. You figure Boston, Jersey, Balitmore, and DC, have similuar population. Then match that with the other coast lines and merto spot throughout the country. A large percentage of America's live in these metro/suburban areas. I'd conclude that they are "real America", just not the "real stereotype" that certain political people are trying to appeal to.

So on the minstry side of things...

I've noticed that in the A/G and in Royal Rangers, it is hard to get churches and Royal Ranger outposts going and maintained in these population centers. You'd think that there would be a concentrated effort at least in Royal Rangers to develop outpost in and around Philly. My outpost is too the far far west of the Philly suburbs and the nearest outpost that is alive is a good 45 mintue drive away.

SCE section is the biggest in the Penn-Del District as it comes to Royal Rangers. They are mostly rural, with city spots spread out fairly evenly. That's good for them. But East Central and South East sections need to be the largest, since they are in the largest population centers.

Can someone try to sell me that Royal Rangers isn't relevant in the city? I say hogwash, since I grew up in a city. Being a ghetto kid, the outdoors appealed to me and my friends a lot! Of course my church was outside the city and we had woods to play in. So I agree it is hard to do outdoors stuf in the city, but still doesn't stop Royal Rangers as a whole from happening. Most age groups spend a great deal of time in the church classrooms anyways.

Much more to say about all of this. In close, let's not excluse parts of America that are just as much part of America as the rest! And lets not be so dumb to include and exclude in the church world to. I think Jesus said go into all the world. So let's do that!

Labels: ministry, people, population, reflections

Why so panic?

Received an email today filled with words of panic, emergency, and other such urgency stuff. It disturbed me greatly, that there was such panic. I could have laughed and said "I told you so", yet instead I acted otherwise.

But first, a disclaimer...

This post might be a bot more religious-politically sensitive, yet I'll dab once again with stuff that has the potential to be very controversial. I do realize this rant can come back to bite me later. Yet hopefully for those who really know how to read, they will get the point I am trying to make, rather than seeing this as an attempt to bash people. I'm all for cooperation and unity within the church and usually anything that seems like a counter attempt is nothing more then a bunch of "weeding and yard work".

The Essence of the Email

The email was from my district DYD & assistant superint. I'd like to post the whole email here, yet won't. I'll be glad to forward it to whoever wants to read it, since it is a broadcasted email anyways.

In short, there was an explanation on how we are losing our teens after they graduate high school and go off to college. There was some explanation on how Penn State is the #3 party school, also the largest college on earth btw. And there was mention of an evangelistic campaign to connect them with Chi Alpha and other related evangelistic ministries. Seem to be use of tone of secular vs Christian colleges, which is a tangent I could go on, yet won't bother touching.

So the way I take it is that we have yet another case of people using computers, cars, or even ministry that just can't handle using any of those... And thus my rant on the ministry to young adults.

In my opinion the WW2 gen, Baby Boomers, and the older gen-X just drop the ball for the most part when it comes to ministry to either this particular age group and/or to the newer generations. Sure it is fun, family friendly, and all to minister to kids, even teens. Yet I'll argue that these adults from the past 20-30 years have done a poor job doing "complete ministry" to our children and youth, thus the so-called crisis that this disturbing email flashes in my face.

What really went wrong, if anything has gone wrong?

I will strongly argue to simultaneous and sorta opposing things: (1) nothing is wrong with our young adults; (2) our overall evangelical approach with kids-youth into young adults is for the most part way off.

Young Adults - You don't get it, do you?

How many young adults have come from a family home (or many dysfunctional representations of that) and finally reached the point where they venture off into adulthood, whether that be college, trade school, work force, or whatever. At a point shortly after finishing high school they gain freedom. And once they are on there own, to whatever degree that is, they start rediscovering the world, most likely discovering it their way. That means that they are no longer bound to their family's traditions, religion, politics, worldview.

Yes, that's the risky joy of entering into young adulthood!

So in this rediscovery of the world, they will encounter everything (or everything again), especially all those things that too many have sheltered and protected them from. I could list all the scary stuff they will be exposed to (likely again) like alcohol, sex, drugs, etc. They also will be exposed to other stuff like personal finances, work, school, relationships, etc. It all isn't negative, though it seems like it.

Now here is my question to all in ministry: How well have you equipped these youth to become young adults?

I'd say if the whole village of the church raised a child right to become a teen, then ultimately into a young adult, then we can rest assure that they will be grounded in God and God will be there with them when life does what life does to all adults.

For 12 year now as a young adult, now becoming just an adult, I have ministered to kids and teens, as well as to young adults from time to time. My focus has been on discipleship, less on focused attempts at soul winning. That has paid off for the most part, where I now see young men & women of God who once were kids/teens, now young adults. And for the most part, they turned out fine, after re-discovering the world as young adults. Sure, there have been stories that have broken my heart. Yet not once do I regret getting myself dirty in the trenches with any of them.

Why patch work and forcing the same old ineffectiveness won't work with young adults?

For one thing, they no longer need to be told what to do. And if you tell them what to do, they will laugh in your face. (I know I have throughout my 20's).

For one thing, young adult either are seeking out their future or have found it and are seeking out the means to reach that future. Some are focused on way more than they have the capacity to focus on, thus the classic young adult phrase, "I am busy". Seems like when young adults are not "busy", they are bored. And whether bored or busy, they want to explore the world they are surrounded by. Some of that exploration scares older adults, since they themselves either have been there themselves or they have seen it firsthand as an outsider.

We all need to relax.

Ministry to young adults: you don't get it!

First off, let me get something off my mind. Most churches don't do crap for the young adults. And when you do, it is lame stuff I try to avoid, like singles and young adults groups. To me, a lot of those groups seem like dating services. (4 years at a Christian bridal college is enough of that non-sense to me). Very very few churches do something for young adults that is real to young adults. And most of those ministries tend to be with progressive A/G churches or related independent churches that work outside the box.

Forget about boxes, do something real with young adults. Don't put a leash on them. If you want to minister to young adults, start with their needs, since ministry always starts with their needs. And young adults are the neediest of all age groups, minus infants + new borns.

Meeting the needs of young adults is hard. Yet it takes a very real and personal approach. I won't list all the needs and methodologies, and such here + now.

Mistakes of Children's & Youth Ministries

There is an IT term that goes "garbage in, garbage out". I've witnessed for 21 years of my 29 year life a foolish evangelical ministry technique of using entertainment as a tool evangelize.

To me, "entertainment evangelism" is like freezing a thin surface of a lake, then sending people out on the ice. Eventually that ice is going to crack, until there is more thickness or substance to the ice on that lake. In other words, "entertainment evangelism" should be used very sparingly and we need to go full circle with all individuals. This means that there needs to be more of a discipleship effort, probably 4-10 times that of what we do in soul winning. (You'll find that "soul winning" will work better when there are more discipled people out there).

Royal Rangers has worked well, since it provides an opportunity to develop a boy full circle into a man of God. Of course, Royal Rangers alone can't do all the work in a boy's life, where I fully push for boys to be involved in the church as a whole. The church as a whole is that village that raises a child. And what joy is it for a functional church village to send off their young adults into the world and have peace that they will continue to live and serve God.

If you have doubts that such efforts are possible, I say you stop by my church and see the young men I've worked with since they were boys.

So in closing...

I am not knocking the effort the district is putting out to reach out to young adults in colleges, trying to connect them to churches and groups like Chi Alpha. We need to be providing open doors like that. So kudos. Yet what alarms me is that I am seeing patch work being done, because for the most part ministry hasn't come full circle with our children and teens who are now young adults. Many of us are to blame for such shallow faith in their lives.

I saw many of us in ministry need to rethink everything with ministry to our children and youth. How about we have more patience in ministry and work for the long term, rather than more immediate shallow results? How about we care about each person and do the discipleship thing? How about we truly teach them in the godly ways of living life so that on their own they make a choice on their own to serve God. How about we prepare our sons and daughters for real life, instead of over-sheltering them from what's out there? How about we stop the imbalance of "feel-goods" in our congregations and balance out our church villages? I think these wagons of micro techniques will truly minister to our young adults, even before they step outside our homes to head off for dorm life.

And having said all that, with much more to say, I'll end with, "We are Penn State!" I know, I went to VFCC, yet still, I am big time Penn State fan! Hopefully one day I'll go to grad school there. Who knows?

Labels: evangelism, ministry, people, strategy

I know, these subjects can lead to volumes of rants. I'm just stamping some ongoing thoughts in these areas, since I deal with them all the time, even stepping down from leadership for a time.

Sorry people, there are limitations in ministry to "Special Needs"...

But don't let those limitation stop ministry from happening to everyone, regardless of the irritating label of "special needs". Ministry for any person on this earth always, always, always starts with the person & their needs! If you thing not, there is one need everyone needs and that is God or you could also say "eternal life". (So take that doubters!)

Now "special needs" are, well "special". If you don't know anything about "special needs", maybe you should google it, as well as take a trip outside your own little bubble. Outside of physical disabilities, there seems to be a surge (of awareness) of other types of special needs. And after filtering out things, there really is a surge of special needs that need to be addressed accross the board, even outside the wall of church. Yes, they are being addressed, so the next move is action + implimentation, which are the problems we all deal with.

Before mentioning real life senerios, let me say that I am equally split on both sides of the issue.

Personally, as much as I want to meet "special needs", I often see the significant (in)direct effects it has on those generally classified as "normal". Reminds me of the older children in the family losing attention to the new baby. And feelings like "I'm not important any more", fill the minds of the "normal" ones. Special needs kids/people then end up being a crutch for normal kids and the normal kids don't get the attention they really do deserve. And yes, I've felt that way myself at times throughout my life.

Yet...

How alienated an emotionally neglected do "special needs" kids/people feel? Feelings aside, are their needs just rejected for whatever reasons, expecially budget and convenent feasability? We need to meet everyone's needs on both sides to the best of our ability, even go the extra mile for all at times. To outright neglect/reject anyone for any reason is just wrong.

Sorry, but this ministry is equipped to handle your special needs. :(

Let me briefly mention an issue that was brought to our attention on district RR staff in 2007. An autistic boy and his parents wants the boy to participate in various Royal Rangers events.

Let me pause on this particular situation to explain the ministry of Royal Rangers. Of course the forte of Royal Rangers is outdoors, especially camping. (Of course this is shifting to a broadening outside the realm of camping, yet that is a tangant topic). "Special needs" and the outdoors don't exactly match. For instance, if you can only get around on a wheel chair, backpacking is out for you. And general camping is a possibility, yet making it happen takes major shifts in gear, leadership support, etc, depending on the need.

So back to the "autistic" issue...

The boy only responds to her mother. So for the boy to go camping and participate in other outdoors events, the mother needs to be there and be involved. Ok, no problem yet.

In Royal Rangers USA, women have limitations in partipation, such as girls are in "Girls Clubs/Mpact" (formerly Missionettes), and women leaders are limited to weekly meetings in Ranger Kids, sometimes Discovery Rangers. As per Penn-Del district policy, there are strict guidelines regarding women at camping events. The big one, which I agree with, is that women can not camp with the Outposts and must have accomidations off site or in designated areas.

Now the problem is that the mother can't camp, even sleep in the same tent with his boy along with the Outpost. One solution is create a "leper colony", (yes I'll be bold enough to use that term), which alienates the boy from his Outpost. Another solution is have the outpost camp seperately, yet then again the woman is still camping with the boy, which is against policy.

The autism issue, as well as countless others imposes challenges in meeting "special needs". In most cases, policy needs adjusted, facilities adapted, budgets increased (if that is possible with shoe strings), additudes adjusted, etc. But...

At what point does all these tweaks to the ministry actually distract from the ministry's prime objectives? Or by these tweaks are we meeting them? Do we objectively and subjectively draw lines in gray areas to set limits on the machine that administers + run that ministry? Or do we keep rebuilding that ministry? Again, it depends on the ministry. Also depends on available resources. I do know in Royal Rangers we're often tapped dry for resources (people + stuff) for doing it for the general population.

Yes, many challenges to address!!!!!

Then there is the protection and unprotection of our kids and teens!

Hum... ... ... Yes, I thrive on dualisms and people get frustrated when I present contridictions. (Honestly, I love presenting contridictions and dualisms!)

I can't speak much for the girls, yet I can for the boys. There is a book my Senior Commander gave me late last year called "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge. (A must read for everyone that works with boys). Boys are truly "wild at heart". Not sure what it is, think the old ABC show "Home Improvements", Tim the toolman Taylor + his 3 boys. Boys these days (in America) live in a heavily feminized world. That's good for the women, to a degree, yet the boys suffer. And when they come of age, do they truly become men? As per reflextion of most ladies these days, I hear "there are no real/good men these days". That tells me that the "wild" that is in the nature of all boys is not fully released.

For boys, there is an "unprotection" that is needed to release boys into the wild. Hehehehe! That's where I come in! I jokingly say to some people that I "corrupt the boys", which isn't the case. I open up a world for boys to "be wild", not just in Royal Rangers, yet in all areas that I work with young boys + teen boys. Yes, if most of the parents knew some of the things we do on campouts and other events, they might have a cow. Of course as their man leader, I'm their safety net and protection as they roam in a sorta controlled wild. You can't control wild per sa, cause if you can, it wouldn't be wild? Get my point on this key aspect of "unprotection"?!

For boys, they are not always ready to run totally wild. Some boys progress faster than others. In general, in early grade school ages they are under the umbrella of mom and the ladies. They need that motherly and womanly stuff, like nurturing, etc at those ages. I'd say between 3-6 grade there is a transition to the father and men taking over.

Why?

Cause at beyond puberty, they now need (real) men to teach them how to become a man. And only true men can teach boys how to become a man. Sorry, but that's how God wired males/men. Without men in a boy's life, that's were they become femenized, gayed up, and/or turn into "guys". (I define a "guy" as an adult male who is not truly a man).

"Protection" must always blance out with "Unprotection"!

We can protect so much and so often that we put our kids, our teens, even our young adults into a bubble. And we all hear all the time of the stories and drama that comes from when kids, teens, and mainly young adults come out of the bubble and face real life full on. Protection and security comes at a great cost. Yes, protection is necessary, yet it has to be balanced. Yes, it takes risks. Yes, it costs personal security. If you don't pay the cost, then when in the midst of real life, you end up feeling "insecure".

Humm...

Parents and those that work with kids and teens, you got to realise some things. Kids and teens will explore the world. That's inevitable. They will be exposed to all kinds of stuff, even "that stuff". I know, I went to a ghetto public school and have been exposed to "you name it" before I was aged 18. (Btw, I came out fine!)

As parents, it is in your nature to protect, to provide, and to guide. God gave you that nature for a reason and do those things. Yet balance things out, don't go over board. Honestly I really hate dealing with you anal parents and you parents that are just too dang over protective. Ends up that I find your kids have lots more problems than the other kids and I'm fixing things here on the other side for ya.

Balance is key! Let me repeat, balance is key!

Protecting our Children Youth

The ministry aspect of this side keep us leaders busy all the time in all kinds of ways. While someone like me in Royal Rangers is exposing your boys to fire, critter, mud, and all things wild in nature, I'm always on security detail. For every hour at an event with your kids/teens, on my/our end (as leaders) I/we spend 2-100 times as much time planning and preparing. And safety is always the top/first/primary/core concern. On a camp out us leaders are out to make sure your boy is dry when it is wet, warm when it is cold, cool when it is hot, fed when they are hungry, given first aid when injured/sick, peace + harmony when boys are together interacting... The list goes on and on and on. And we have this broad safety net there to allow the boys to explore "their wild" so they can learn from us men how to become "men of God".

I see problems all the time with protection and the leadership that helps provide it. First problem is there is not enough men to help out as servant leaders. This is even before I get picky about the quality of the men in servant leadership.

Yet regardless of the quality, one safety aspect that is the starting point, that I mention all the time, is are they cleared? I mean is their record clear from child abuse, abuse, crime? Beyond that, what is their background and what is their story? I know it is too too easy to throw a warm body into a group that despirately needs servant leadership. Yet I see all the time issues in regards to HR and clearance, less on the clearance side (thankfully). You can refer to my last post on those issues.

So let's say we now have a ministry team in place, all cleared, all trained, all ready to minister in all kinds of ways to our children and kids. What other protection issues are there? I did mention already event hassards. Of course I didn't mention issues when both genders are together, which then requires the fine art of chaperoning. What about ministry external, like drugs, sex, relationships, abuse, neglect, gossip, dysfunctions, family problems, school, friends... How can we minister and how can we protect? Better yet, how can we also while ministering needs plus protecting also provide proactive solutions to kids and teens to help them inthe now and future? That's right, in ministry, how can we equip them?

Equipping: Key in Protection & Unprotection

On a campout, I can cook, clean, build the fire, set everything up, and do whatever else needs doing. I know I can do that well, being a Royal Ranger GMA. Yet that, doing it all for them, is the greatest sin and diservice of any leader. If I or you do it all for them, they don't have the opportunity to try. Who cares if they fail. Often failure is the road to success. Besides, it is ok to fail, unlike what American society foolishly fills out heads with.

True leaders create leaders, not followers. True men build up other men. True servants serve the servants, who in turn they mentored to servanthood. See the pattern? It all starts with us, then transfers to them, progressively + continiously!

I love cycling!

My Trek bike doesn't have training wheel. Heck, it doesn't even have a kick stand. Maybe for laughs when I get a new road bike, I'll put training wheels and a kick stand on, while sporting all things road cyclist have. I'm sure I'll get both laughs and insults thrown my way by disgusted Philly cyclists.

Recently I thanked my dad for teaching me all this outdoors stuff, cause in reality it was my dad, not Royal Rangers, that got me into camping, cycling, backpacking, canoeing, etc. With cycling, it was my dad and mom that got me my first bike. Even came with training wheels.

Like all city kids I rode my bike with my training wheel everywhere I could. One day my dad started talking about taking the training wheels off. I both wanted to be a "big boy", yet wanted my training wheels on, do to fear I would fall off my bike. Eventually my father took the risk and took my wheels off to teach me balance on a bike. I hated it! My dad then took me on the alley and held my seat. He let go and I crashed... alot! But eventually I crashed less and less.

So today I tell my dad about all the cycling I did and as usual he is impress, since it is more than he could ever do. It makes my dad happy to know that he exposed me to my first bike, taught me balance, taught me how to wear a helmet, got me through the experience of crashing, taught me how to fix bikes, taught me how to fix a flat, got me on the trails, got me on the road, got me to the point I could bike as I do today. Now I have the joy of telling my cycling stories, even teaching him a thing or two about advanced cycling.

And one day I look forward to my sons and daughters experiencing all this cycling joy on their own, through all the protection and unprotection.

The Point

In ministry we need to meet needs of all sorts, types, and kinds. In ministry to kids and teens we need to both protect them and unprotect them. We fail if we don't meet needs. We fail them if we don't let them fail. We fail them if we don't provide that safety net. We fail them if we don't continiously try, be, and do for them.

Lastly, let me address a concern I didn't address. As parents or leaders do you think, even feel that a point in time will come when you are no longer needed? When you can't minister to needs? Or protect? Or unprotect?

Maybe you'll pass reach a point you won't dominate any more in their lives. Yet there could always be the next set of kids or teens, whether in church new ones moving on up, or as parents the opportunity to be a grandparent. Yes, grandparents have the opportunity to mentor their sons and daughers in parenthood. And also as grandparents they can be, well grandparents to the grandkids, which does not mean parent or sub-parenting. (I'm not a parent yet, so don't ask me of such things).

The world is full of sons and daughters that are under-fathered and under-mothered, who can use a "second father" or "second mother". I have both a dad and mom, both still married, both still alive. Yet I have had and still have a handful of second fathers and second mothers, which is nice with 19 hours seperating me from my parents. And though I am not a father yet, I am a father to many fatherless and under-fathered. And I'll be that same man and father figure all my life, even when I become old as dirt. You and I will never be left for dust in minstry unless we let it happen. Guess someone who might read this needed to hear that.

Blessings in the joys of ministry!

P.S. - Once again, forgive me for my poor spelling & grammar. Too many corrections to make!

Labels: ministry, needs, protection, safety

Ministry, Human Resources, & the "Non-Profit/Volenteer" stuff
Yes, this is a touchy and potentially very controversial issue. Definitely an arena of issues in servant leadership you can't ignore. And I will not hold back much at all on the controversial side.

Let's start out with "Firing Volenteers"

Yes you can fire a volenteer. And too often I see volenteers that need to be fired or re-assigned that are not fired or re-assigned. You can guess reason why. But it is perfectly ok to fire or re-assign a volenteer, as long as you know how to. Just way too many volenteers out there that are hinderances, for whatever reason, in this world that does not have enough volenteers. Yes, it is true, good help is hard to come by these days!

I have fired both employees and volenteers. I hate doing either, yet firing an employee is easier than firing a volenteer. I bet we all can make a long list of reason why firing a volenteer is hard. I'll skip making my own list and will drive right into a classic example I use.

Example of Trimming Down the Team: Gideon

In the book of Judges we read many accounts of Gideon. Those who have heard of the movie "300" would know something about how 300 Spartans battled the Persians in Thermopylae in 480 B.C. Yes, an impressive battle. But this is not the only story in history of 300 soldiers triumping against the enemy.

Judges 7 gives the account of Gideon trimming an army from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300. That last trimming from 10,000 to 300 came when Gideon picked those who rant water, while keeping alert, drinking with their heads up. All the other soldiers put their head/mouth right into the water to drink, unable to see the enemy come.

Of course the story ends with a nice "almost battle scene" where the army of 300 was amplified by both sound and sight in the mountains near the enemy's camp, intimidating the Midianites to flee and bringing the army of Israel victory.

How Gideon's 300 applies to "Firing Volenteers"

A force of 300 is hardly at all a match against an army of thousands or even tens of thousands. Yet thinking back to the Spartan's, an army of 300 prime soldiers was an extremely formitable match against the international Persian army that numbered in countless thousands. It all comes down to strategy, effectiveness, training, follow through, and determination. Both forces of 300 had the wits of a warrior and a soldier. They were alert, intelligent, skilled, etc. The flip side would be delussional, foolish, unprepared, and untrained.

Now the original 32,000/10,000 all had a chace to make the cut for Gideon's prime & trim army. But of course 22,000 just left, didn't even try. And 10,000 just didn't have the simple stuff it took to make the final cut. What remained were the true warriors.

Now in Royal Rangers, as well as other ministires, we always seem in great need of help. It seems so wrong and backwards to turn down and fire volenteers. Yet I've seen ministry teams be null in effectiveness, even take too many steps backwards in ministry but having the wrong people in place. Now of course we can't turn down those who are called and are answering that call. That's another area I'll cover later with training and discipleship.

Yet to those who have the basics down, maybe more training and experience in a particular ministry, there comes a point you need to cut off the defective and unproductive people. Yet it is foolish to just go hacking away, without knowing if it is the people or the methedology that the people are using are ineffective. Once you know it is the people, the use tact.

I once had two commenders that I needed in my Outpost that I wanted to let go...

One was giving all he had to help out on Wednesday nights, which is more than most men at my church give to the boys. Yet he couldn't get out to training, which he needed. As a result in lack of RR training, he relied on his on limited methodologies, which was ok as far as coordinating games and activities in the meeting, yet he lacked the leading for the Bible study and merit portions of the meeting.

I did address my concerns to the first commander in person and in written form. I thanked him for his service and acknowleged both his service and his situation. I also addresssed my concerns too. And I didn't put the leader down, rather addressed the man in a respectable manner. I didn't fire that commander, yet gave him both an opportunity to rise up in his service for the Outpost or leave the Outpost. Eventually he left, yet because I and others did not scourge him, he later came back as a commander and was a part of the leadership team that helped to take that age group to a whole new level.

Another commander was an experience, even a GMA. He had to do things his way and very often challenged my direction, guidence, and leadership as the Senior Commander. I know sometimes it is hard to be so seasoned and have your own ideas + methodology, while the leadership above you has their vision, goals, and plans. I know over the years I've struggled like that being the one under the Senior Commander, Sectional Commander, even District Commander with all my ideas, methodologies, etc, along with my credentuals, yet have to submit to authority.

In this tale of two GMA's, one adapted and another did not. Of course my church (as well as section and district) trusted my servant leadership and appointed me to Senior Commander (and other roles on other levels). There were reasons why the other GMA was asked just to be an age group commander, which in my opinion is a role I rather be in than Senior Commander. Eventually the other GMA went to another church and moved on to other ministries. I ended up resigning and reassigning myself to his role. As a result, we have 5, soon to be 8 GMA's and our attendence in that age group has steadily risen over a 10 year period.

So why fire a volenteer? Or have them go back into the "dugout"?

Safety first is the #1 reason. Churches are to screen their leadership with a criminal background and child workers clearence. A particular man or woman might be the best at doing Bible studies, teaching other stuff, leading in activities, organization/adminsitration, etc. Never ever risk putting a leader in there that has a criminal and/or abuse record. And even if a leader has a clean record, if there is any reports or suspiscion of criminal or abusive behavor from your leadership, take it seriously and handle appropriately, with the minor's safety being the main concern. Also always practice proper confidentuality. Take a leader out of service until the situation is cleared and if not clear, then firing the leader is a must.

If you have no clue how to screen leaders, class room safety, etc, then there are a lot of worships, training courses, and documentation out there both in and outside of Royal Rangers. Feel free to even contact me and I'll point you out to these resources.

I say fire "title hogs" who have a title and really don't do anything. There are some leaders out there that are all about having a title and position of leadership. Could be that they want to feel important. Could also be that they are power hungry. Could also be that they feel that they need to vindicate themselves by being in a role of importance. All of that is one issue that they need discipled in with character developement. Regardless of whether any of that is the case or not, if they do nothing or a do a whole lot of stuff that is nothing but ineffective, then I say fire them and use wise tact.

I've come across a lot of people that are "title hogs". And I know a lot of them do have lists of stuff they did in their role, such as completing the minimum they were told they have to do, activities that totally miss the target, or are jus not doing anything at all. What grind my gear greatly, a top pet pieve, are those that have endless excuses why they are so ineffective, always passing the buck. To me the "buck passer" are slackers and are not willing to do what it takes to develop the ministry and/or area of ministry they lead.

I say give servant leaders a chance, yet fire them or re-assign the ones that can not build leadership teams. I do acknowledge that team building is not a leadership gift that all possess. If you are in senior/head leadership at any level, you need to be a team builder and learn the leadership art of facilitation and deligation. Maybe the senior/head leader is not a team builder, yet a master at organization and administration. Fine. Then have a deputy in place that has that team building gift and fully enpower that person to build the team. Otherwise, the head leader or deputy needs to be reassigned roles, title, or possition. It is better that they are supporting leaders under a head leader than the head leader who doesn't do what a head leader is meant to be. And if they possess that leadership gifting and are not using it for whatever lame reason, fire that leader or at least put them in the dug-out for a while until they get their act together.

Yes, there are more reason to fire some one, yet even more reason to focus on team building and training to make effective use of the trim leadership pole you probably have.

Team Building and Training: The Key to Ministry HR Success!!!!!!!

I won't get into leadership structure in this post, which is something your ministry's training program needs to address.

If you are a head leader in your ministry organization on whatever level, you need to know how to build a team, team dynamics, organization, and administration. As a head leader, you need to lead and enpower your leaders. Think of each leader in your team as an extra set of hands and feet. Also think of them as a force of knights, ninjas, sameri, or whatever skilled servant leadership force that is specialized in training and experience to do the task and role they have been assigned. If you find yourself needing to do a whole lot of "this and that" which takes you away from being the head facilitating leader, then you need another trained/experienced person in place to handle that. And again, you responisbility as the head leader is to empower your leadership team.

Let me address head leadership again. Before you go out firing and hiring other people, you have to get your organizational and administrative act together. This takes both training and planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Yes, I quote that often from Ranger Basics and it is 100% true. Yet just because you plan doesn't save you and your team from failure and ineffectiveness. You need wise and educated planning. A lot of that comes from training. Yet a lot of that also comes from research + development. You might need to assemble your team or a special task force from your team to do the research + development. This way your planning is effective and your are hitting your target in all your team does.

Trained servant leaders are significantly more effective than and other servant leaders. And just because a person is a natural at what they do doesn't bi-pass them from the need of training and refresher courses. Even I needed, need, and will need training throughout my life. And I'm a GMA, LTA, CI, have a bachelors degree in Pastoral Ministry (trained in church ministries), and have other church trainings too... Even if you "know it all", there is always more to learn. If you hate learning, well welcome to life! Be trained. Get you new leaders their basic training. Get all your leaders continiously involved in training. A trained leader is highly likely to be an effective leader!


The Tact of Hiring and Firing Leaders

Sorry, but I won't give out the answer here, nor really any tips. This is an area where a head leader or HR leader needs to get trained and gain experience. This is also an area that a person needs to be mentored/discipled. Trust me, even with the best tact, since your dealing with people, there is a guarentee for slip ups. You will step on people's toes, people will get offended, people will ignore your attempts to recruit or dismiss them, etc, etc.

My leadership style is very blunt, very effectiveness and results driven, though it is not numbers driven, rather quality over quantity, also function over form. I tend to be very blunt. Thus the need for me over the years and still now to develop tact. Some people have a natural nack with people, which is awesome in my books! I'd want that person on my team to be the one networking with people and assisting me with team building.

Sometimes there is the way you want to say and do things, like when you are free to let all your defenses down. Here is a recent example that applies to me with the whole website issues I've had for 2 months.

Someone could say, "Why the freaking heck can't Shawn get things right with the website? He's always having problems with the website! We need someone who knows what they are doing so we can have a website that freaking works! ..." In that case you can let loose your anger and frustration in the fact that what I was responsible for doing as the district webmaster for Penn-Del RR.

The other way could be, "Shawn, what kind of issues are we having with the website being down and not updated in the past 2 months? Are there any alternative solutions? How can we help and support you through these issues?"

I'm sure both sets of attitudes have been displayed both before me and behind my back about the very real website issues I've been dealing with the past 2 months. Obviously the situation was beyond my control and my boss, the district commander, knew what I was doing to resolve these issues. He also knew my limitations. And he also shared my frustrations on all sides. Cmdr Greg did not fire me, tell me what to do, breath down my neck, rather he came to me regularly to find out the status of the crisis and even offered his help. I'm sure he was frustrated with me, yet understood that the root of the issue was beyond me. If the issue was me, as it had been in rare occasions, he had and will continue to address me personally with those issues.

Mistakes to avoid when hiring volenteers

1. Neglecting to put safety first is wrong. Protect your kids and teen, as well as adults too! Refer back to what I previously mentioned on this.

1. Avoid throwing warm bodies into voids in the leadership team. Short term solutions can destroy your leadership team in the long run.

2. Avoid over extending your servant leaders. In other words, don't have them do too much, rather have them focus on one or two things only. Big pet pieve and personal struggle of mine. When your over worked leader burns out, you now "have a hole in the damn, flooding the valley". I get on leaders cases all the time about this.

3. Neglecting to deal with personal issues between team members and/or individually is a cancer to your team. Root out the cancer or resolve the conflict. Sit down and talk things out when needed. Give time off when necessary to have team members resolve personal issues.

4. Don't keep a team member in place when they are just occupying space just to avoid hurting their feelings. Pet pieve of mine with Christianity, where we throw out that fake compassion towards people too often. Yes, we need to include everyone in God's kingdom, as Paul taught us in his letters to the churches. I believe that Walmart greeters give certain people a job to do, yet we ought not to make ineffective use of people like that, when we can reassign them to other things that they can truly make a difference. I call this stepping to the side, not stepping down, for leaders that once were giants and now are not effective in their roles. And for those who are willing yet not exactly able, we need to be good HR leaders and find a place for them. There is always a place for them and it is rarely a "Walmart greeter", then again, sometimes it is.

5. Once again, we need trained leaders and need to guide them in a mentorship process towards effective experience. Neglecting this is a cancer to your leadership team and you doom your mininstry.

6. If you neglect to address problems with leadership, such as inactivity, ineffectiveness, lack of training, poor planning, poor development, etc, you just allowed a cancer in your organization and leadership team grow. And that cancer will ultimately bring death to the ministry.

7. Give people a chance and give them grace. People are not perfect and everyone needs a starting point. This is the great opportunity of mentorship and discipleship. I remember a man from New Castle, named Joe, gave me most of my first chances at leadership. He was my safety net when I failed or when circumstances just failed on their own. He guided me through. And Joe even connected me with other mentors and disciplers who taught me things he just could not teach me on his own.

8. Take risks, yet not retarded risks. This is with people, planning, organization, administration. I am not saying always take risk, since there has always got to be a stable base to work off of. I am saying that every now and then you need to let yourself and your people think outside the box and take risks. Some risks I have been a part of in the past 10 years has resulted in some great things. There are clusters of examples with Junior Leadership Training Academy, District Powwow, and Expedition Rangers.

9. Don't be an island of leadership in and of yourself! I know too many leaders, even myself in my early 20's, who could do it all themselves and did do it all themselves. Unfortunatley most of these people got burned out and are no longer in minstry or at least not in their original ministry. Being a team is crucial! Sharing leadership with others is key. Deligation is key. Limiting yourself and what others do is key. Taking risks on others is key. Failure happens and is ok. Being a control freak is often worse than failure and that island disapears when you do.

10. Mentorship is key! Be mentored. At the same time mentor someone. Train your replacement. Make sure your replacement will do the same. Pass the torch every now and then to encourage others to step up to the role, to ensure a secured and effective future in the ministiry leadership team! Btw, you can substitue disciple for mentor here!

Endless other tips to share. In the end be part of the team of servant leaders, striving for excellence and effectiveness in ministry!

Labels: help, hr, leadership, ministry, servanthood, volenteers