“We used to do that”

It is in the tone of voice.

When I ask people about whether or not they are engaged in some form of ministry, or whether their church is engaged in a particular ministry I often get the reply ‘I used to that’ or ‘we used to do that’. The response doesn’t matter as much as how it is said. 

I know I am now going to over-simplify, but these are my perceptions.

One tone suggests that the reply isn’t completed. There is something more to be said. The conversation goes something like ‘we used to do that, but found a better way of reaching people was to do…’ or ‘we used to do that, but our resources were so thinly stretched that we consolidated in order to have a bigger impact’.

I love that tone. It is the tone of a person or a congregation that is willing to push the boundaries in serving Jesus, and yet are willing to assess how the task is going, and then are willing to change to minster best with the resources God has given them. Even though things have changed, this tone hardly ever has a hint of regret about having engaged in the ministry.

The other tone usually comes with drooped shoulders or pleasant warm memories. ‘I used to do that in the good old days when I had plenty of time and fewer pressures’ or ‘I used to do that but despite all the effort nothing much came of it’.

This is so often the tone of resignation. It is the tone of I couldn’t keep it up because my circumstances have changed but I would have loved to continue with the same passion I once had, or the resignation that suggests that I tried it before and I am now too tired or burned to try it again.

I am aware that life and ministries change, and the pressures upon us are always in flux. This is why it is important to keep assessing what we are doing. But how do we avoid the resignation tone?

For Individuals

It is a common reality that between the ages from early 20s to late 40s many demands fall upon people: jobs, family, economics. This is the age where we stop being actively involved and speak of the good old days of ministry.

My suggestion is that we must never give up ministering, and ministering at an intensity that we once had. That said, the breadth of ministry we can do narrows due to pressures, so I suggest you pick one ministry, as narrow and specific as you think appropriate, and commit yourself wholeheartedly to it. This may mean that you cease leading a Bible study group, but meet with one person at the same level that you did when you led many. It may mean you led the youth ministry, but now you commit to coordinating the twice yearly Scripture seminars that your church conducts in schools.

The key is to always be ministering. This will make it easier to minister again when the pressures begin to lift.

For churches

I want to commend churches for giving initiatives ‘a go’ and for working hard to keep difficult ministries going.

But we must assess the resources and growth that God is giving in the variety of ministries in which we are engaged. If you assess a ministry, and think the God given resources can be better used elsewhere then think about what you have learnt through the conduct of this ministry. What have individuals learnt about themselves and God?, what has the group learnt about working together and organization?, what have we learnt about those we seek to minister to?

We can then ask the question about how can we best minister having learnt these things. This way of thinking helps us to move from what did not succeed to thinking about how to minister better next time.

We used to

There is nothing wrong with changing what we do as times change, but we must beware of consciously or unconsciously using change as an opportunity to pull back from ministry as a natural part of life.