Have you ever experienced the awkwardness of presenting a “God inspired” new ministry idea to a group of people who are older, more educated, more experienced and in general more set in their ways than you are? It’s like leading a session at the University of Dare Me. You know the crowd, the dare me folks who say “Dare me to like it” or “dare me to think differently” and more than likely “dare me to believe that God could be speaking through you”. Jesus ran into the dare me crowd throughout most of His ministry. Here’s 3 tips from St. Francis De Sales to help you to deal with this crowd…

Three Tips from St. Francis De Sales on Dealing With the Dare Me Crowd:

1. Let Peace Remain -

St. Francis De Sales once said – “Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset”.

Basically, don’t freak out, get annoyed or lose your cool. The only way I know to maintain peace is for me to “stay prayed up” or in other words to be living in a daily rhythm of prayer. It’s the equivalent of playing a sport without ever practicing or working out. If you have spent the time preparing your body to perform, you are more confident, and by the way more peaceful about what sport you are about to participate in. The same holds true with praying and being fully prayed up when we are asked to present.

2. Don’t Do More Than God is Asking You To Do -

St. Francis De Sales said – “God requires a faithful fulfillment of the merest trifle given us to do, rather than the most ardent aspiration to things to which we are not called”.

A big mistake is feeling like whatever God is asking us to do needs to be improved upon. We are called to simply do what He is asking and be confident that it is enough. The problem with our adding to the message is that it often becomes the dare me crowds point of contention. Stick to the main thing and be confident.

3. Fight the Desire for Acceptance -

St. Francis De Sales goes on to say this – “Do not wish to be anything but what you are”.

The problem with being intimidated by a group of people is getting wrapped up in the need for acceptance. The thought that somehow your amazing talk or conversation will give you a level of acceptance or dare say a more equal status as the dare me crowd. Simply put – we should try to only be who and what we are and trust that God knows what He is doing having us be included even in the smallest way with the message.

If you are leading a ministry or organization you are going to run into the dare me crowd in your journey. The next time you are faced with a situation like this – ask for the intercession of St. Frances De Sales and apply these 3 tips – it just might move ministry along.