tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post6711360441910048095..comments2023-07-01T07:00:39.337-04:00Comments on A Journeyman's Catalog: Growing Pains: Part IMatt Lipanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17528815536523518798noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-74345331007340101242011-05-26T12:08:18.354-04:002011-05-26T12:08:18.354-04:00PJ Zeilstra: thanks for the read and comment.
isn...<b>PJ Zeilstra:</b> thanks for the read and comment.<br /><br />isn't it interesting how "membership perks" trickle down within families? you bring up a really interesting point that happens all the time, especially in smaller churches. <br /><br />i wonder if platinum members truly understood their call to serve if that might eliminate the idea of membership levels altogether? i wonder what the Church might look like if we could achieve that sort of desire to serve one another.<br /><br />thanks for sharing!Matt Lipanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528815536523518798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-40516436169508912372011-05-26T11:57:54.304-04:002011-05-26T11:57:54.304-04:00Anonymous #2: thanks for reading and commenting.
...<b>Anonymous #2:</b> thanks for reading and commenting.<br /><br />i really appreciated hearing your experience of being on the different levels of membership within the same church. has that shaped the way in which you engage others, especially new people?<br /><br />it's sad that we frustrate people within the Church to the point of having them not want to make attempts to connect. <br /><br />thanks again for sharing!Matt Lipanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528815536523518798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-66441122277118464412011-05-26T11:52:51.000-04:002011-05-26T11:52:51.000-04:00Anonymous #1: thanks for the read and comment.
i...<b>Anonymous #1:</b> thanks for the read and comment. <br /><br />i agree and can feel the struggle of the "forgotten group." the Church as a whole has struggled to connect with that demographic, hopefully not forgotten about them but i'm sure it feels that way when it seems like everyone else already has their "place" as you mentioned. <br /><br />question, how can the Church do a better job of creating a "place" for the early-mid 20's?<br /><br />thanks for being willing to share.Matt Lipanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528815536523518798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-43344799194904976332011-05-26T11:49:24.500-04:002011-05-26T11:49:24.500-04:00Holly Anderson: thanks for the read and comment.
...<b>Holly Anderson:</b> thanks for the read and comment.<br /><br />glad to hear you are enjoying your church. one of the differences i think between your church and the church i was thinking about was the size, though i believe these types of levels still exist even in large churches. perhaps just harder to notice. <br /><br />thanks for sharing!Matt Lipanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528815536523518798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-73089780508004010582011-05-25T00:25:41.386-04:002011-05-25T00:25:41.386-04:00Growing up, I was in a church where my parents and...Growing up, I was in a church where my parents and I had attented for over a decade (my parents are working on 30 years now). I can see how the platinum level benifits my parents had even trickled down to me as I got older. I knew everyone and had access to know and do things that others didn't. I don't know if it is a bad thing to have levels, it is good to have people who are dedicated and you can count on. The rub is making sure that these are godly people who don't let the "power" go to their head. They need to realize that they are servants of the church and the congregation. The best case scenario is that these people also actively recuit new people so that there is always "new blood" in each area. This would help to prevent the building of walls in the church and also make new people feel more welcome.PJ Zeilstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07939389170682882204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-45012015730014004272011-05-12T11:50:58.591-04:002011-05-12T11:50:58.591-04:00I've been on both ends of the levels of member...I've been on both ends of the levels of membership in the same church which has helped me be more aware that it does happen. Some of our programs are more open than others. Our mission committee welcomes numerous volunteers because there is so much to be done we can't do it all ourselves. We've had a lot of success in helping people find a niche that works for them. Other groups aren't nearly so welcoming - it's so hard to get involved that it's just not worth the time and frustration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-86599907992338170582011-05-11T23:04:31.150-04:002011-05-11T23:04:31.150-04:00I've definitely run into that. It's tough ...I've definitely run into that. It's tough because there doesn't seem to be many groups out there for people in their early-mid 20's - I like to call it the 'forgotten group' because almost anywhere you go there are groups for children, teens, singles, divorced, widowed, etc. It's hard to jump in somewhere when you don't know anyone and everyone already has their own 'place' in the church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19077083.post-71972327169364882252011-05-11T18:01:11.891-04:002011-05-11T18:01:11.891-04:00I have not run into this at WRCC. We are a large c...I have not run into this at WRCC. We are a large church who really strives to get people involved from the very beginning - we expect it, actually. <br /><br />If there are *levels* of membership like you spoke of at my church (that we've attended for almost 6 years), I've never run into them! And I'm fairly involved in several ministries. <br /><br />One of the many reasons I love our church home and family!Holly Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389360959621223506noreply@blogger.com