ICB's Identity
I've been trying to recruit Sunday school teachers for the children's classes for the upcoming year and it is a frustrating process. Everyone is too busy. Or they could assist, but don't think they can teach. So many of our members are new to faith or are newly back to faith that they just don't feel ready. Recruiting Sunday school teachers is NOT my favorite thing to do. I hate the rejection. But it's important because the Christian education of our children is important.
There is an upside to this pain though. It is actually a symptom of something I am proud of and God alerted me to it this afternoon.
One of the great problems in our city is that there are a ton of people who are attracted to the kind of person Jesus was, but who don't know him at all. They rejected Jesus about the time they gave up on Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. And they aren't going to give him another change. They are uncomfortable in church the way they've seen it done. Too much condescending language about people who aren't Christians. Too much ideology, not enough love or compassion for people.
And yet, ICB does well with just this kind of disillusioned person. And one of the reasons is that we are a church that breaks a lot of the negative stereotypes. We pride ourselves on being a "safe" place to inquire. We pride ourselves on being non-judgmental. We pride ourselves on being a place of good news for mature Christians (if there really is such a thing), for immature Christians (most of us) AND for people who are not Christians at all.
People who have been away from Christianity for awhile find they can come back and check things out without being judged. People who are unsure about God or Jesus can come and investigate without being subjected to a glut of insider language and condescending or patronizing remarks.
The bottom line for recruiting season is that it is a bit harder to find people with the confidence necessary to teach Jesus to our four year olds. The upside is we have a very vibrant ministry with people who otherwise might not try Christianity at all to learn about or get to know God. I'll take the hardship.
There is an upside to this pain though. It is actually a symptom of something I am proud of and God alerted me to it this afternoon.
One of the great problems in our city is that there are a ton of people who are attracted to the kind of person Jesus was, but who don't know him at all. They rejected Jesus about the time they gave up on Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. And they aren't going to give him another change. They are uncomfortable in church the way they've seen it done. Too much condescending language about people who aren't Christians. Too much ideology, not enough love or compassion for people.
And yet, ICB does well with just this kind of disillusioned person. And one of the reasons is that we are a church that breaks a lot of the negative stereotypes. We pride ourselves on being a "safe" place to inquire. We pride ourselves on being non-judgmental. We pride ourselves on being a place of good news for mature Christians (if there really is such a thing), for immature Christians (most of us) AND for people who are not Christians at all.
People who have been away from Christianity for awhile find they can come back and check things out without being judged. People who are unsure about God or Jesus can come and investigate without being subjected to a glut of insider language and condescending or patronizing remarks.
The bottom line for recruiting season is that it is a bit harder to find people with the confidence necessary to teach Jesus to our four year olds. The upside is we have a very vibrant ministry with people who otherwise might not try Christianity at all to learn about or get to know God. I'll take the hardship.
