Ministry in a shifting culture. Winter 1997

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InClicking, Faith Popcorn writes about sixteen trends. Here are four of her trends with implications for ministry.

"The core of Anchoring is taking comfort in what was safe and secure from the past in order to get ready for the future. … Spirituality is at the very heart and soul of the Anchoring Trend."

Takeaway : Given our culture's present insatiable spiritual thirst, pastors will need more than ever to train new followers of Christ in "church." For example, that the church is not an it-doesn't-matter-what-I-believe sort of place.

"Clanning hitches us up with those who share our interests. . . . [It] is the Trend that asserts, 'I'm a part of a group, and proud of it. I belong.'"

Takeaway : This identifies the deep need of humans to be part of something larger than themselves. The payoffs of service are the relationships and identity it provides.

"Me, myself, and I are the driving forces behind Egonomics. 'Me' wants customization; 'myself' is a name, not a number; and 'I' demand personal service. If you Click into the Trend of Egonomics, it's one of the most effective ways to reach customers, by appealing to their individuality, the singular part of them that says, 'There is no one out there quite like me.' "

Takeaway : This reinforces the idea that people desire their service in the church to be customized to fit their specific gifts and abilities.

Many people-especially white-collar folks-feel underemployed at work; the church has an opportunity to customize church ministry in a way that provides eternal significance.

"For millions of Americans, the feeling of being overscheduled, overcommitted, and always-on-the-run is a fundamental part of our high-tech life."

Takeaway:This only ...

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