Reaching Out to Young Families

I’ve responded to some questions from a church that I thought I would share here.

Our small church has struggled to attract families and has become a congregation with an aging demographic.  What would your approach be to reach out to families and younger people?

If the primary task of your pastor is shepherding the congregation with an aging demographic (see A Pastor’s Role) then outreach to families and younger people, who are not part of the congregation I imagine would lead to conflict. So my approach would be “careful”. ;)

I would be guided by always asking families and younger people in the congregation and without how the congregation was doing. Would you recommend us to your friends? Why?

I would seek out a relationship the school board and principal of the high school. This is where young families are. I volunteered as tutor and substitute teacher, putting myself under the school’s authority and helping them in their need, not my own. I got funding and a venue for a program the guidance counselor dreamed of providing, not my own program. (So, I was there when her husband left her. She ended up joining the church and becoming an elder.) When a High School football star was nearly killed I opened up the church for a healing service and provided a website for messages to him. (Over 100 young people came forward for anointing. The next day the web server crashed from overuse.) I would be at the football games and other events as a supporter not a competitor.

I would seek permission to add video to a participatory worship experience and work on the church’s social media friendliness. A change in worship would be a sacrifice from the good folks there now. A major part of this approach would be to reach out and work with the folks who like worship and church the way it is and to provide for them.

Christy Ramsey. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Growing a Small Church

I’ve responded to some questions from a church that I thought I would share here.

What have you learned in your current church that would help you to grow a small church?

I am part of a team that went from 700 out of 1100 in ratings to a Number 1 ranking of all Geek Squads in the nation. Our team leader did this by stressing our one job was to make sure that every client had a good experience at Best Buy.

Everyone we dealt with at Geek Squad was having a bad day; their computer was broken and they didn’t know what to do other than come to us for help. All were at a lost, most were sad, some were angry, a couple wanted to direct and correct me, Geek Squad, Microsoft or the laws of physics.  I did well, and was the go to person to convert a “detractor” to least to a “passive” or even a “promoter”.

1 Peter 4:9-10 tells us that Hospitality is rooted in God’s grace. It is a form of service to others. I would apply the attitude of customer service, hospitality, I lived at Geek Squad to the lost, sad, angry, and even demanding folks who come to service.

I would also prepare, execute, and follow up major events in the year. We had so much training for Black Friday to be ready for visitors. I would seek to prepare for church shoppers on our big days, not only Christmas and Easter but also Mother’s Day the third biggest day for church visiting. I would seek to have  faithful and fun follow ups to make the Sunday after these high holy days not be a let down.

Christy Ramsey. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Prompts for A Funeral Message

I have used these questions in talks with folks preparing funeral services for years. They are often helpful in bringing out memories that can be considered in preparing a sermon or eulogy.

I found these decades ago in a Ministry magazine, apologies to the original author. I included them here for my reference and other’s consideration and use.

1. What is one descriptive word you would use to describe him?
2. Did she have any particular loves or hobbies?
3. Did he enjoy any particular songs, poems, or Scriptures?
4. If you could name one value or lesson she wanted to teach the next generation, what would it be?
5. What is the one accomplishment that would make his face light up when you mentioned it?
6. What were some of her favorite phrases or sayings?
7. Did she ever put anything up on the wall — a picture, a motto, a clipping that expresses who she really was?
8. Did he like and use his first name? How did he introduce himself? What nicknames did he have?
9. Was there a cause or movement that she felt deeply about and supported with time and treasure? What was it?
10. If he could have me say one thing during the service, what do you think it would be?
11. Why is the world a little different because of her?
12. What will you miss most about him?

Change

My previous pastorate rented space to an active, for profit day care. When I arrived relations were strained. I worked on joint community programs like an Easter Bunny Breakfast, a Nativity learning activity in our Christmas decorated sanctuary, weekly book reading by church members, and coffee and rolls during winter for parents dropping off children (that the staff enjoyed as well!). Throughout my time we increased cooperation, communication, the sharing of equipment and expanded building use benefiting both the congregation and the day care along with the community. The partnership has continued in the time since I left and expanded.

Response to the Presbyterian Church’s Personal Information Form (PIF) question: Describe a time when you have led change.

A scanned copy of my PIF (references available on request)

Growing to Serve

Working in retail service and as a volunteer instead of a director in a non-profit, I have learned how to say “Yes” and what I can do for folks instead of focusing on the needs of the institution or my own preferences.

My team leader emphasizes that our job is to make sure every customer has a good experience at the store and to see ourselves as a trusted friend, not a salesperson.

At the non-profit, ComputerCorps, I am learning how to work with others when I am not one with authority. My service there is giving me a new perspective on church life and work and a model of how to work with volunteers when not supported by church tradition and common beliefs.

Response to the Presbyterian Church’s Personal Information Form (PIF) question: What areas of growth have you identified in yourself?

A scanned copy of my PIF (references available on request)