Comparing isnt ministry success

I was leading a round table for our denominational area youth worker gathering just recently and I discovered something very interesting. So interesting I had to blog about it. The plan was to have several youth workers, and those interested in youth ministry at the local church level have a general discussion over lunch.
I asked each person where they were as a youth group and where they wished they could be. It is a very good open ended question, but as the discussion progressed more and more floated to the surface. The real challenge was how do we compete with the church down the road as we save our whole community for Jesus.
So, why do so many churches fall into the compare game with those around them, or even those churches some where in the US that appear to have it all figured out?
I encouraged them, and encourage you to stop and ask yourself two questions.
1.) What do you do really well?
2.) What makes that thing special?
If we are honest we all fear not having something for every student who walks our halls and sit on our churches. It seems funny but true. We want to be all, for all, doing all so everyone gets all... I can't seem to find scripture that encourages us to do that. In fact, as Paul teaches on spiritual gifts, we are all gifted differently. Why doesn't this roll over to the ministries we oversee and love?
What would our world, community and churches be like if we began to focus on doing the things we do and doing them with excellence?
If you do worship well, Praise God. If you do small groups well, Praise God. If you do outreach well, Praise God. Then maybe we (the church) can get together with other churches and stop competing and begin working together to reach and minister to those in need of a Savior!
I know many churches out there are doing all the right things but for the average church, there are not enough resources, finances, volunteers and time to compete. So, stop competing and start doing what you can to reach people with excellence at what you do well at.
God will bless your efforts if you use the gifts and talents He has given you to reach His people.
Praise God for churches who do the work of Christ, without comparing and coveting the other churches in their communities.