I started reading a book today called “Killing Cockroaches” by Tony Morgan, and in the forward by Andy Stanley I read something that hit really close to home for me due to my current circumstances. It is an amazing insight to ministry, and It is something every ministry leader needs to hear.

*”Whether it’s our approach to service programming or discipleship or teaching or any number of ministry functions, leaders must constantly battle the status quo. We have to challenge the existing process and identify new methods for fulfilling our mission. Yes, the message is the same, but we live in an ever-changing world. The language that we used in the past doesn’t always translate in today’s culture. And what works today likely won’t work tomorrow. We can’t let the church get complacent.

There’s also the temptation to do church for those who are already going to heaven. You know what I’m talking about. If we’re not careful, we’ll begin to make decisions about programming and teaching to keep those who are already here at the expense of those who need to hear. That’s not God’s design. He wants us to communicate the fact that people matter to him. He wants us to talk that way and act that way and worship that way. It’s counter to how we’ve always done church, though. It’s also not easy. In fact, ministry to reach the unchurched is downright messy.”

* Andy Stanley – Forward to Killing Cockroaches by Tony Morgan

Wow, that truly inspired me to stay faithful to my calling to reach out to the teens in this dying generation.  The Gospel will be my guide, and innovation will be my tool.  Ministry is a dirty job, so lets get messy.