May 02, 2019

I have found that many churches hold an event once a year and feel like they must have the next event on the same level or even surpass it. Some church leaders even sit around brainstorming how they can top last year’s extravaganza. I've seen some wanting to do this with Vacation Bible School in the summer. They want to be the church that has the biggest and most elaborate Vacation Bible School. They will bring in bounce houses, climbing walls, circus acts, and just some crazy things to be the main show.

Many women's leaders involve themselves in this behavior. I know this because they come to me wanting help with something they know they can't pull off either because of budget, number of workers, time, and all those things involved. They want to know what to do, and if I advise scaling back, then this is the response I get. I can't tell you how many times I've heard this line from women's ministry leaders...

But they will expect it.

They make the argument that their ladies will expect what they get every year in a retreat or event or expect more. I really think that it isn't true. I think our women are much smarter than we give them credit for having. If someone cares that you didn't put quite as much in a goodie bag or that you don't have a favor, well that woman has spiritual problems. You've got bigger issues than sitting around thinking of your ladies' expectations. Your ladies might need some discipleship.

We have to get away from that "but they will expect it" kind of thinking. No. You don't have to do what people expect or not expect. And you certainly shouldn't create an environment that you leave people expecting more and more.

If you have a full meal one year at a retreat, that doesn't mean you have to serve a full meal at the next. If you have a skit or drama presentation at a retreat one year, that doesn't mean you have to have a skit or drama presentation the next year.

If you want your church people to expect something. Allow them to expect a well-executed event, not an overdone, overly decorated, or overly jam-packed event.

Allow your event attendees the surprise of something fresh. Let them expect new things. Let them expect new ways of doing things. That will get them eager to come, not becoming mundane in how we do things, and certainly not in trying to top what we have already done in the past. Surely we don't want to encourage our women to have unrealistic expectations.

The “but they will expect it” mentality is not one we want to have as church leaders. It is so wasteful not only in budget, but time, and priority as well. It works the church people till they are drained. Usually, the same ones who always show up to work end up doing everything and draining themselves.

Churches are expecting more and more not only for its people to be at an overwhelming number of events, but also to work themselves to the bone in planning and executing those events. Besides wearing our church members out, it creates an atmosphere that can stir up embers of greed. It works on people’s emotions to make them crave more and more.

We have to remember that when we plan and execute an event through our churches that we are using the Lord’s resources and the talent, time, and money of His people. We have to use those resources wisely.

I feel that again it all goes back to that simplicity of what is important. People.

Copyright ©2019 Julia Bettencourt

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