Kyle Blake was born and raised in Houston, TX. Kyle attended Concordia University in Seward, NE, where he received a B.A. in Theology and his Director of Christian Education certification. After his internship, Kyle was called to California and has yet to leave. He has served congregations in both Northern and Southern California. He is currently the Director of Youth Ministry at Salem Lutheran Church in Orange, CA. In the fall of 2009, he enrolled in the Cross Cultural Ministry Center at Concordia University in Irvine, CA, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Theology and Culture. Kyle believes that the church is more than just four walls, but it is the people of God reaching out, as they are guided by the Holy Spirit, to those around them with the Gospel through any and all means. Kyle and his wife, Kendell, have one son, Asher. Kyle Blake was born and raised in Houston, TX. Kyle attended Concordia University in Seward, NE, where he received a B.A. in Theology and his Director of Christian Education certification. After his internship, Kyle was called to California and has yet to leave. He has served congregations in both Northern and Southern California. He is currently the Director of Youth Ministry at Salem Lutheran Church in Orange, CA. In the fall of 2009, he enrolled in the Cross Cultural Ministry Center at Concordia University in Irvine, CA, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Theology and Culture. Kyle believes that the church is more than just four walls, but it is the people of God reaching out, as they are guided by the Holy Spirit, to those around them with the Gospel through any and all means. Kyle and his wife, Kendell, have one son, Asher. I want to face reality. I believe there are some church workers who feel over worked, not appreciated, and very alone in it all. Granted, there are two sides to every story of a congregation and a church worker, but to help one might at least spend some time talking with the worker, offering some suggestions to lessen the load, and praying with them.
Recently, I visited with a hurting church worker, and I know that he is not the only one in this situation. I have known many church workers, especially those who are DCEs and teachers, who have left the professional ministry because of some of the same reasons.
Is there an education for congregations on how to work with, support, and bless, their church workers, whether paid or volunteer? Do we teach or train pastors on how to support, develop, and fight for their staff? Do we instruct workers on what it means to set up healthy boundaries? Can we do a better job teaching people how to do conflict/resolution and speak the truth in love?
God is the one who calls, equips, and strengthens; and that gives me great comfort. There is the spiritual reality of the attacks of Satan on workers and their families, and many are giving into the attacks. How can we better teach workers to take up their armor, Ephesians 6, before they head off to work every day?
My strong desire for the LCMS is to face the reality of what is happening and be proactive rather than reactive, and I know What a Way is a leap in that direction. I would love to be a part of the continued discussion, and even the solution. Let me know how you think you and I can help. I know the blog is a start, we can talk about it here, but we need to face reality and do something. What do you suggest? Leave me your comments.
Recently, I visited with a hurting church worker, and I know that he is not the only one in this situation. I have known many church workers, especially those who are DCEs and teachers, who have left the professional ministry because of some of the same reasons.
Is there an education for congregations on how to work with, support, and bless, their church workers, whether paid or volunteer? Do we teach or train pastors on how to support, develop, and fight for their staff? Do we instruct workers on what it means to set up healthy boundaries? Can we do a better job teaching people how to do conflict/resolution and speak the truth in love?
God is the one who calls, equips, and strengthens; and that gives me great comfort. There is the spiritual reality of the attacks of Satan on workers and their families, and many are giving into the attacks. How can we better teach workers to take up their armor, Ephesians 6, before they head off to work every day?
My strong desire for the LCMS is to face the reality of what is happening and be proactive rather than reactive, and I know What a Way is a leap in that direction. I would love to be a part of the continued discussion, and even the solution. Let me know how you think you and I can help. I know the blog is a start, we can talk about it here, but we need to face reality and do something. What do you suggest? Leave me your comments.
I have been reading the book The Gathered and Scattered Church by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. Though I don’t agree with everything in the book, there was one paragraph that really made me think:
There’s more than one reason we’re to blame for this lack of laborers, but whenever there’s a shortage of leaders, the blame must ultimately fall on the present leadership. Maybe we’ve not recognized how many more we need. More than likely we ourselves have never been taught the value of leadership development, and we simply don’t know how to mentor the next generation. Maybe we’ve lost sight of the younger generations because we’ve been in a constant state of desperation just trying to survive ourselves. Maybe we think we actually have nothing to give them. Maybe we have forgotten that it’s God who builds the church – not us – and we just haven’t learned to step aside and get out of the way.
As I think about the next generation of leaders, this paragraph really hits home for me. Are we, as professional church workers, taking the time to develop the people that God brings into our offices and lives each and everyday? Do we even know where to start the process?
What are your thoughts on the matter?
There’s more than one reason we’re to blame for this lack of laborers, but whenever there’s a shortage of leaders, the blame must ultimately fall on the present leadership. Maybe we’ve not recognized how many more we need. More than likely we ourselves have never been taught the value of leadership development, and we simply don’t know how to mentor the next generation. Maybe we’ve lost sight of the younger generations because we’ve been in a constant state of desperation just trying to survive ourselves. Maybe we think we actually have nothing to give them. Maybe we have forgotten that it’s God who builds the church – not us – and we just haven’t learned to step aside and get out of the way.
As I think about the next generation of leaders, this paragraph really hits home for me. Are we, as professional church workers, taking the time to develop the people that God brings into our offices and lives each and everyday? Do we even know where to start the process?
What are your thoughts on the matter?
Recently, I was asked why I became a Director of Christian Education, or DCE, by a student at Orange Lutheran. The easy answer was to simply say, “God told me to.” However, the more interesting story was how He revealed to me the plan He had for my life.
As a junior in high school, I had high hopes to become a tax attorney. I had my plan set. I was going to attend one prestigious Texas University and receive my undergrad degree in accounting. I was then going to attend another prestigious Texas University for law school. However, God had a very different plan in mind.
It was in the same junior year that my DCE suggested I consider a career in church work. He then spent the next year encouraging me, praying with me, reading Scripture with me, and helping me to discern God’s will for my life. It was through his mentorship and encouragement; I made the decision to apply to Concordia University in Seward, NE. The rest, as they say, is history.
God used my DCE to help point me in the direction that He wanted me to go.
How about you, is there someone in your life who is mentoring or encouraging you? Have you taken the time to ask Him where he would have you serve? Are you listening to those around you? Is God calling you to a career in church work?
If you are a church worker, are you taking the time to invest in the young people around you and help them to discern God’s calling on their lives? If you are, what does that look like in your context? Why not comment and offer suggestions to help others do the same?
As a junior in high school, I had high hopes to become a tax attorney. I had my plan set. I was going to attend one prestigious Texas University and receive my undergrad degree in accounting. I was then going to attend another prestigious Texas University for law school. However, God had a very different plan in mind.
It was in the same junior year that my DCE suggested I consider a career in church work. He then spent the next year encouraging me, praying with me, reading Scripture with me, and helping me to discern God’s will for my life. It was through his mentorship and encouragement; I made the decision to apply to Concordia University in Seward, NE. The rest, as they say, is history.
God used my DCE to help point me in the direction that He wanted me to go.
How about you, is there someone in your life who is mentoring or encouraging you? Have you taken the time to ask Him where he would have you serve? Are you listening to those around you? Is God calling you to a career in church work?
If you are a church worker, are you taking the time to invest in the young people around you and help them to discern God’s calling on their lives? If you are, what does that look like in your context? Why not comment and offer suggestions to help others do the same?
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