Leading Distracted People

5 ways to de-clutter ministry without losing impact.

In the 1990s, I was introduced to a new technology that only required my attention every three days or so: the Internet. I would plug the phone cord into my computer and sit through a sequence of bings, bongs, and white noise until I heard those three exciting words, "You've got mail!" I was instantly connected to the world through my desktop, and the possibilities were endless and fun. Then something changed. Today the Internet is not so fun. It mostly represents work and obligation and distraction, as attested by my return from a recent vacation, when I was greeted by more than 700 messages. The thought of more email now makes me cringe.

Like most church leaders, I try to maintain the crumbling margins in my life against a world of Facebook posts, phone calls, tweets, text messages, 24/7 news coverage, and constant connection.

Analysis of this colossal shift in culture is not new. Thousands of articles, books, and blogs have been written on how the pace at which we are living is chipping away at our already thin boundaries. A recent New York Times article states that 20 percent of Americans are taking some type of psychological drug to cope with the pressures of our brave new world. Our stress and inability to disconnect for rest and reflection is leading us to early graves.

How has constant connection and endless distraction changed the church's task? How are we to advance our ministries without compounding the problem? How do we shepherd overwhelmed sheep? Read more