The Classic Youth Ministry Overpromise

Josh on November 9th, 2009

Kem Meyer has a great article today on overpromising in the church – something that I think I might not be alone in in youth ministry. Here’s a clip, worth the read and the evaluation of what you’re promising:

“Come experience a community of grace.”
Again, nice goal, but you can’t control the outcome. I had promised a “community of grace” for a friend of mine and she finally joined me for a weekend service. During the message, her cell phone went off. A man sitting behind us scolded her for being rude and selfish. He even asked her not to come back if she couldn’t have the decency to turn her phone off during church. True story. Yes, it’s a distraction for others when a cell phone goes off. Obviously. However, what isn’t obvious is that my friend was taking a gigantic step by attending church for the first time in years. My friend didn’t look at the man as an individual, she looked at him as the church. And, I had not delivered on my promise.

  • Are we making statements as if they were facts, when in reality they are subjective and left to personal interpretation?
  • Are we promising something we can’t deliver on?
  • Are we baiting people with exaggerated benefits?

    • JG

    Comments (2)

    scott at 12:50pm November 10

    what CAN you promise?

    Paul G at 4:56pm November 10

    Great post. Very thought provoking and to the point. Too many times in ministry, we (I’ve done it, and I’m sure many others have as well) come up with a vision or a purpose statement that sounds phenomenal on paper (or in electronic print) but is very unrealistic to offer to students in real life. I agree that we need to be more careful with the promises we make. Thanks for sharing this…it really got me thinking!

    - paulg
    http://123paulg.wordpress.com