No matter what field you are in, you probably find yourself contemplating ideas to help improve your organization. These ideas may come from you or from others on your team. Regardless of whether it was yours or not, it is a great feeling to see something go from a concept or idea thrown out in a meeting to something you can see or experience – especially if the idea works!
Dr. Garland Owensby continues his discussion on how the church can use the Experience Economy. In Part I of this series, he discussed how Gen-Z is much more interested in collecting experiences than material possession. Because the Experience Economy traffics in memories, he challenged readers to engage people with biblical experiences which will connect them more closely to Christ and others in the church.
Ministry practices are facing a great challenge during this time of uncertainty. One thing that has remained certain is that students need to hear the hope of the Gospel, be discipled, and experience Christian community. Dr. Garland Owensby, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Youth & Student Ministries Coordinator, spent time communicating with some SAGU Youth & Student Ministries alumni about how they are interacting and ministering to students during this time.
When markets become volatile or we lose a job or lose business revenue unexpectedly, the human response is to allow fear to overtake us. Multiple questions begin to plague our minds such as, “How will I pay my bills or make payroll?”, “Will this ever turn around?”, and “How will I reach my retirement or other financial goals?” Additionally, our well-meaning friends and loved ones begin to ask us “So, what are you going to do?”….repeatedly!
Have you ever done something that was exhilarating, unique, or maybe a bit scary? Maybe an experience that changed your life? Perhaps you have skydived, eaten exotic food, swam with dolphins, rode a rollercoaster, or traveled to a dream destination. If you have done something like that and the only thing you could take home was a memory, then you have been part of the Experience Economy. In this article, Dr. Garland Owensby shows how Gen-Z is pursuing the Experience Economy and how the church can use this desire to reach them.
Teenagers. The word has the power to cause strong people to grow faint, teachers to ponder resignation, and initiated migraines among parents. Curiously the word missions or missionary has a similar effect on people. One has to look no further than the story of Jonah to see the extent to which some people will go to avoid the call of God. Imagine for a moment the two concepts tied together—a missionary to teenagers! Most of us reading this article have an idea of what ministry to youth looks like. However, what does youth ministry overseas look like? And specifically, how about youth ministry in Europe?
Lately, there has been an increased focus on knowing one’s personality type. I have heard conversations about the popular Enneagram test and peoples’ “numbers” and what they mean. I think this is great! The Enneagram and other popular personality tests offer their own unique insights to help us identify what makes us tick. In light of this phenomenon, I believe understanding our conflict management style can help us in this pursuit.
Unfortunately, there are people who fill leadership roles in many churches who lack the character, discipleship development, or simple maturity to fill such a role. These folks, often chosen because of business expertise or family connection, become entrenched in such roles, much to the frustration of the other leaders on the team. So, how should you respond?