Behind the Curtain

In theory, what you would see behind a ministry curtain, should not be dramatically different from the platform. But is that the reality?

I have met and worked with probably hundreds of different ministries from New Zealand and around the world. And I can honestly say to the best of my knowledge, that the majority are who you would hope they would be. Similar on stage to behind the curtain.

But, and a big BUT, some are not who you think they are and who I hoped they were.

These comments are not to just expose for clicks and likes.

My agenda here is super simple. I want the Church to grow up.

And sometimes the growing process requires honest review and reflection.

In one of Church roles I had  I was asked to rescue a long planned conference. The leader who was supposed to be managing it became too ill to continue.

Within only a matter of a few months I somehow managed to arrange everything.

Still not sure how. 

Maybe my naivety helped me not realise the scope and complexity.

The conference happened. 

Hundreds attended and went away happy as far as I know.

The upshot was in every conceivable way, what the speakers showed from the platform, didn’t remotely match the behind the curtain experience.

We discovered after the conference when the hotel bill arrived, that it appeared that they hosted parties in their accommodation and spent thousands and thousands on every item available from room-service including bottles of wines and cocktails.

These same people refused to talk to attendee’s after their presentations and went off back to party. 

In fact each speaker didn’t want to engage with us at all.

It was a cold function only filled experience that I have never forgotten or spoken about in a public forum.

These people and ministries are considered to be well respected (well at least used to be) around the world and my statements would shock their supporters.

As a little guy in the Christian world, I have never felt comfortable talking about it. I didn’t want to talk about what I wrestled with knowing it could be seen as slanderous by them and those who blindly support their ministry.

Trust me, this is the short version of the story.

I am not perfect at all!

But what I strive to do is be me and person God has designed me to be. My hope is the person I am in front and behind the scenes matches.

We throw around the word transparency a lot these days.

Hypocrisy is always seen as a negative trait, no matter the circumstance.

Let's be people who behind the curtain match our presentation persona.

I think that should be every Christians personal goal.

Something to think about…