We just returned from the Venture Fall Retreat. As a reminder for those who went, and to let the people who did not go on the retreat know about it, I would like to make a few posts over the next couple of weeks to summarize what was talked about and discussed. It was a great weekend. More spcifically, it was a challenging weekend. We were challenged to create a culture of service within the Venture ministry that helps us to grow together in Christ and to love and serve the world around us. The topic of today’s post is actually a question. It is a question that was raised on the retreat to help us start thinking about having a culture of service. The question is: does Venture have a culture of service right now?
The answer to that question, I think, is “not really.” We have pockets of service here and there, and we have a few people who really understand it and get it. Overall, however, I think we have a long way to go. (I think this became very clear when we discussed what a culture of service actually looks like. We’ll get to that a few posts from now.) And as I said on the retreat, it’s really my fault. As pastor of this group, I have done a poor job of emphasizing the need and importance of it. And when I have talked about it, I have not done a good job of following up with it. That is why we made creating a culture of service the topic of our retreat.
And I began the weekend by giving everyone the following list of questions to help them think through their own attutude and posture towards service. Please take a minute to carefully read through these questions, and ask God to search your heart about your own attitude towards service. Just as a hint, you should know that almost all of these answers are bad and do not reflect a culture of service.
What statement best describes your present posture towards Venture?
1. It is a place designed by IBC for me and people my age so that we can grow spiritually and have a community.
2. It is place for me to meet friends and people I can spend time with.
3. It is the place where I can serve Christ and love people.
4. I’m not sure.
5. Why do I care? When is the next fun event?
How do you feel when you are asked or challenged to serve in some way? What is your gut/first response?
1. Why are they asking me to do their job?
2. I can’t do that. I don’t have that gift.
3. AGAIN!?! Why can’t you find someone else?
4. I don’t have time. I’m too busy.
5. I’ve paid my dues. I’ve done enough serving for this ministry. It’s time for me to relax and enjoy.
6. I need to be investing my time in school, my marriage, my job, etc.
7. I need to grow more spiritually before I can do this.
Assuming that you would want to serve, how do you know where to serve?
1. I’ll just wait until someone tells me what to do.
2. I’ll do what I’m good and gifted at.
3. I’ll do what I enjoy most.
4. Whatever. Sign me up.
5. I will do what I can do when I have some time.
6. I will serve only where it’s easy for me. If it is hard, I should not have to be serving there.
What would you think/say if asked to take leadership or ownership in something in Venture where you would have to recruit and/or serve with others?
1. That’s too much of a commitment for me.
2. I can do this, but lead it? Nope.
3. I don’t want to contact or reach out to people I don’t know because it is hard.
4. I’m too busy with work.
5. That’s the job of the Venture staff.
6. I’m not qualified to lead in this way. I need experience.
7. I don’t want to. Stop bugging me. I don’t care enough.
In the next post, I will talk a bit about why it is important that we have a culture of service in Venture. Is it because I want to do less work or because I want other people to do my job? Or is there a greater reason?