It Hurts So Good!

Conflict sucks!

But I've found that unless you've got conflict (at least every now and then) you're not stretching your ministry.

So, here's what's going on. Our high school group has the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Belize this summer. Sounds great, doesn't it! And it is. But this "new thing" is causing all kinds of friction in our group. Some of the kids are fired up about it and can't wait! Some of the kids are ticked off about it and can't believe we're not doing our typical mission trip with Youthworks!

It's kinda funny actually. Last week, I had Howard Storm (who runs the organization Mission to Belize and also wrote the book, My Descent into Death) speak to our group about the trip. The feedback I got was that he actually turned some of the kids off to the trip! Ironic. On the other hand, some of the other kids got really excited about the trip.

Two nights ago, we had a follow-up meeting. And that's when it happened. The kids who were mad were either crying or scowling (depending on their gender). And the kids who were excited about the trip were frustrated with the kids who didn't want to go. (I heard later that the church choir practice--which meets was right after our high school group--was all tense because of this!)

So, here's what I'm thinking. I'm actually glad that I'm doing something that's causing conflict. If nothing I implemented ever caused discomfort and conflict, I wouldn't be stretching our ministry.

Stretchychurches will always have conflict. Growth involves conflict. Conflict is good because it means something is happening! The challenge, of course, is managing the conflict in a healthy way.

But we'll save that topic for another time.