Bright Lights and Bugs

When I was in seminary, I worked at a big church in the Twin Cities. It wasn’t just a great place to learn about ministry—it was a place where I got to see how it’s done in real life. It was the perfect complement to all the stuff I was learning in class.

Funny enough, some of the most memorable moments from that time weren’t the big events or even the week-long college ministry houseboat trip to Lake of the Woods (although that was pretty unforgettable). What really stuck with me were the weekly staff meetings. They offered this behind-the-scenes look at how a large church really works—not just in terms of operations, but also the genuine care and concern that was so evident. When we planned or reviewed events and ministries, everything was filtered through the church’s mission, purpose, and values. Every staff member gave a report, and there was a real spirit of teamwork and support. And even in a big church, we took time to share the needs of individuals in the congregation and cover them in prayer. We celebrated with those who were celebrating, and we grieved with those who were grieving.

As a young seminarian, I found the wisdom and insight in those meetings to be pure gold. And there was plenty of laughter too.

One of the staff members was Ken, our pastoral care pastor. He was probably the oldest person on the team, which made sense given his role. He didn’t speak a lot, but when he did, everyone paid attention.

I remember one particular staff meeting where we spent more time than usual talking about “EGR” people—those folks who are Extra Grace Required. You know the type. They’re the 20% of your congregation that take up 80% of your time. The ones you see on your caller ID and hesitate before picking up...or maybe just let it go to voicemail. The conversation was full of stories about people who were constantly complaining, griping, or just never satisfied.

That’s when Ken leaned back in his chair, locked his fingers behind his head, and said, “Well, you know, the brighter the light, the more bugs you attract.”

I’ve thought about that a lot over the years. That little nugget of wisdom has given me some much-needed perspective when dealing with EGR people. It’s made me think more deeply about why they’re drawn to the ministry in the first place and what they really need.

Ken probably wasn’t thinking of Proverbs 14 when he said that. His observation reflects what is found in verse 4.

“Where there are no oxen, the stable is clean,
But an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.” —Proverbs 14:4

It’s no secret that ministry can get messy. Just like how dealing with oxen can be a pain for a farmer—the daily grind of taking care of them might seem like it’s getting in the way of the harvest. But Proverbs 14:4 reminds us that the hard work, the messiness, is necessary for the abundant harvest.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize: If your ministry is going to attract bugs—and it will—let it be because your ministry is a bright light aiming for an abundant harvest. And if your stable is going to get messy, make sure it’s because you’ve got some strong oxen who are working hard toward that harvest.

A great place to find encouragement and inspiration as you deal with EGR people (aka the bugs and messy oxen) is in your Regional Teams. These teams can be a safe space where you can share your challenges and frustrations with others who really get it. But they’re also a place where you can find encouragement—where those who’ve been through similar experiences can offer their wisdom and advice.

If you haven’t been a part of your regional team yet, now’s a great time to start. If you’re not sure who your regional team leader is, just shoot me an email at jnelson@convergenorthcentral.org, and I’ll connect you. And as Wick mentioned earlier, with some of the recent transitions and turnover, not every area of CNC has a regional team leader right now. If you’re interested in learning more about what it means to be a regional leader, I’d love to chat with you about it.