Friday, February 11, 2005
growth questions
We are ringing people around church at the moment, asking them;
In what ways do you see people your age grow/develop/change for the better?
Are their any other ways people your age can grow/develop/change for the better?
Age range?
Posted by steve at 09:57 AM
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Heard a sad story from a church just the other day about a guy, serving as a musician at church who’d left his wife and was running off with another woman and the church was giving strict orders that this guy should be cut off etc.
Dunno the full details but the sad thing that occured to me was: how long was this situation bubbling, in all probability un-noticed? How much pain and hopelessness was nurtured by neglect and the guy was right there in a place where the opposite should be happening?
I had an aquaintance who had been coming to church for maybe 15 years who said she “still didn’t know what it was about” – she was “just trying to be a good person”
I wonder how many people feel really disconnected from Jesus – all alone in a room full of people who claim to know Him – and terrified to admit it.
I think there can’t be growth without there first being an accepting honesty – how many men could say “I’m thinking of leaving my wife” and still be accepted? Who would dare to?
Honest, open, accepting connection to other souls is needed as one of the components IMHO
Comment by Randall — February 11, 2005 @ 4:55 pm
My instinct is to let them define their own age range. At the end of the questions, you may want to ask them how they would group ages. That might give you good information on how your congregation is perceiving themselves in relation to others in the congregation. I would guess that if they are cohesive, the age range perception would be almost non-existent.
Comment by Lisa — February 15, 2005 @ 9:23 am
I’m 29, and I’m single. I think that as a single, I am looking for a genuine community where I can grow. To me a community could be a small group of individuals committed to one another’s growth and well being whether that be by encouraging, supporting, strengthening, correcting in love, etc. I wish that there were more true communities within the church instead of greet and meet Sundays or weekly Bible studies.. where is the true conversation? Where are the groups where we let our hearts out and are real with one another. I think that this is a way the church could grow… honesty in our weaknesses.. honesty in our triumphs.
Comment by christina — February 15, 2005 @ 10:38 am