Comments on: Quitting Big Events is the Ultimate Program Strengthener

By: Jamie Young

Jamie Young — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 21:58:42 +0000

Thanks for this great insight! Been struggling with the comparison game! We are a small church and it is hard sometimes to see the BIG churches doing BIG things. But my heart says strip down the program and offer the relationship. Now I don’t think Jesus would have turned down Go Karts in the parking lot as a way to show presence in the community. But I know he saw the value in a shared meal and conversation. Good stuff!

By: Shane Wilbanks

Shane Wilbanks — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 01:38:41 +0000

Hey Kurt great topic. Thx for sharing. What was your follow up plan with those 1,000’s if attenders or nor with the 100’s? And has the monthly thing got old and to norm to the teens? Were these past Big Events fir HS or only MS?
Thanks again for insight bro! I’m year 22 in Uth Min & still learning.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 21:54:23 +0000

In reply to Kurt j. Thanks for the reply. I am all for keeping things new and changed up!

By: Kurt j

Kurt j — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:15:32 +0000

Just to clarify: we still do the occasional big event….but it’s one or two per year instead of 10-12. Quality vs. Quantity.

By: Kurt j

Kurt j — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:13:50 +0000

In reply to Linda.

Linda,
The biggest struggle with ending it was the reality that even though we didn’t have instant measurable success, we knew we were planting seeds that somebody else might water etc…we believed in the long term investment, and that made the decision really hard.

Were kids disappointed? For sure. But the most vocal were church kids,so we took the time to explain our new “after church” strategy and why we thought it might be more effective,and eventually they got on board.

Decisions like this are fairly easy for me because I like change and I believe strongly in a “quit while you’re ahead” strategy.

By: Montie

Montie — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 22:52:10 +0000

Great article!
It is hard to keep the “Bigger and Better” game going. Early on in ministry someone said to me, “What you win them with is what you win them too”. Do we strive to see youth become authentic followers of Jesus or do we want them just drawn to a bunch of hype. And you know what? Following God’s plan is exciting!

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:49:08 +0000

That makes alot of sense. I have sometimes made myself this side of nutty trying to do something “big”. Yes, I felt that big things had to be planned, but after consifering this article, I will re-think what I have on the calendar. Thanks.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:11:27 +0000

I totally get this. It can be a lot of work and draining for the leaders and the church. At the same time it has identified your church as a place where people are welcome. You may not see immediate seeds now but who knows five years down the road when someone is in need of what the church offers (spiritual help and guidance) and winds up in your building because they remember the time when they were a kid and they came there for a fun night. It is so hard to measure trade offs like this in ministry. Out of curiosity did the youth at your church complain when you stopped? We used to do a “drop in” night on Friday nights, similar results, and we have since cancelled it because it is hardest on the volunteers who run it. I think it only works if the church has someone to lead it with the time to devote to it and the passion just to be open for the sake of serving the community.