"Get plugged in" is a phrase used by assorted pastoral staff to encourage church involvement. The youth pastor especially desires for you to get plugged in. He is the most frequent user of this phrase. Close behind him in rate of saying "get plugged in" are small-group leaders, singles pastors, the young adults leader, and the director of the parking ministry. (The parking ministry is a special phenomenon exclusive to very large churches and will be discussed further in a future post.)
The phrase "getting plugged in" is not used in relation to the senior adults ministry. It does not appeal to their demographic.
17 comments:
Can't leave out the 'Set up/Tear down ministry'. Always room to get plugged in there! Ministry least likely to be suggesting you get plugged-in.... "Worship Team". They are a tight knit club, like their name suggests... a TEAM.
getting plugged = murdered by the mob
getting plugged up = painful bowel trouble
getting plugged in = joyful church ministry
Wow. I googled "parking ministry" and saw for myself how it actually exists... in abundance! Definitely looking forward to that post.
plugged in for Jesus, that's me!!!
NOW - will someone flick the switch so I can receive a little power? ... I don't just want to be plugged in ... I want to be switched on.
I agree with the other Anonymous. Parking ministry, that's just...wow. Looking forward to it!
-L.
I laughed aloud when I read this. We totally use this at Challenge, my campus ministry: getting "plugged in" to a small group bible study.
We could use a parking ministry, actually. Our parking lot needs Jesus badly.
I read your entire blog today and wrote to my friend Steven Rosa just now:
"It was actually... lately, I've been finding articulation difficult, and in response swelling up around me are waves of people articulating vague yet strong tensions I feel, and her writing did that.
Because I find myself toeing the edge of Christianity. I kept pulling back and also feeling guilty. I would ask myself, "Why you draw back? Why do you leave church feeling desolated?"
I kept feeling accused that I didn't believe in the essence of the faith but it's the culture that is so repellent, and I resist joining that culture... but I also felt like I was crazy and imagining a culture that didn't exist... that if you truly followed the faith, you would just become like this.
But she blatantly put out there what I'd been vaguely resisting.
There is a Christian culture that has nothing to do with the faith. So basically I felt affirmed."
Thank you for writing this!
Is the idea of getting plugged suppose to indicate that the ministry is current and part of the tech savvy present and future? Like you get involved in church related stuff much like you are involved with computers by means of a plug?
Heh, heh...do I get some extra credit for reminding you of "Parking Ministry" in the Megachurch comment thread below ? ;)
You do! David Huff gets credit for the forthcoming parking ministry post!
ummmm ... could I volunteer for a 'parking ministry' role? I've got my own safety, glow in the dark vest with a badge depicting a smiley face.
Oh good! I was afraid a "thanks for writing this" comment might come across as trite.
I'm from Houston, specifically Pearland... I think we hail from pretty much opposite parts, eh?
It is really hilarious that you critique 'Christian' culture in ways that demonstrate how they try to mimic the world around them yet you mimic a blog that already was doing the same thing.
http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/
Your blog used to be enjoyable to read, now it just comes across as arrogant, as though everyone should just think and like what you like.
Anonymous, just so you know - if you'll look on the side of my blog near the top you'll see I linked Stuff Christians Like and put "He thought of it first" and I also link "Stuff White People Like," which is where I initially got the idea from. I linked the Stuff White People Like from the very first post of doing this, and then a few entries later found Stuff Christians Like and I so I put that link there too. Also along with my disclaimer that I've done everything I talk about here on my blog, for whatever that's worth.
I've emailed with the guy who does Stuff Christians Like and he's really nice, a really great guy.
In high school the megachurch in town called their youth group "The Outlet" and every Wednesday all the faithful wore their "Outlet" t-shirt that said "Plugged in Yet?" on the back.
And here I thought they were the only ones to have had such a remarkable insight...
I've always winced at the sound of church-speak. Stephy, can you please broach the subject of "unspoken" prayer requests? Those drive me crazy.
It's sort of like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JYIJPjpCFc
But... you know, people, not pickles.
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