Jenga Anyone?
Sure, it’s no Play Station 3. And no, you can’t get your cardio in like you would with a Nintendo Wii game system. But truly, there are few games are more entertaining than Jenga. Yes, I said Jenga.
May seem a little old school, but after reading this, I guarantee you’ll be cleaning out that ministry storage closet looking for it. A little review: Jenga is a game that consist of 54 wooden blocks that are stacked on top of one another.
First Goal: Remove one block at a time all the while keeping the block-stacked tower from falling.
Second Goal: Place removed block on top of block-stacked tower all the while still keeping the tower from falling.
Those who know Jenga, know it’s not exactly a easy task. There’s nothing worse than the tower falling because of the block you removed, and later, replaced.
But to win the game, that’s what you have to do.
Remove. And Replace.
Have you taken a look at your church ministry listing lately? Is it stacked with some ministry blocks that need a little removing and replacing?
Are there any blocks in your church that if removed, would not cause your church tower to fall? If so, you may want to take a closer look at them.
They may be activities, not ministries.
Now don’t get me wrong, activities are great.
But nothing can keep a church unfocused and drained of resources than activities that look like ministry. Or worse, activity leaders that look like ministry staff. The difference becomes crystal clear over time. Sometimes painfully.
Refusing to remove and replace blocks from time to time can create a tower that no one wants to build. A monument. No movement. No change.
Sure, the tower may fall from time to time, but at least you made a choice. The game of Jenga does not end just because of one fall. By the way, did you know that the word Jenga is a Swahili word. You’ll never guess what it means…
…To Build.
The process of removing and replacing is the process of great church building.
Don’t fear it. Embrace it.
It really is a great game.
