Try This: Stopping Gossip in its Tracks
Here are a few gossip killers for your youth ministry:
1. Put the truth out there – knowledge kills gossip because the nature of gossip is to be 1/2 truths and secretive. If there’s gossip going on about your ministry, get the truth out there or at least dispel the myths.
2. Bring the parties together – if one person is gossiping about another, rather than allow it to go on, bring the gossiper to the subject of the gossip and clear the air. Setting this as the standard for your ministry and following through on it as often as it happens will change the culture of a gossip-laden youth group.
3. Teach your way through it – consider teaching a series on the love of Christ and the nature of love. When we genuinely love like Christ, there’s no place for gossip. Gossip tears down, while love looks out for the interests of others.
4. Hold a reconciliation event – if the problem has taken over your group, hold a reconciliation service. After a message on Christ’s love and healthy conflict resolution, have them share how gossip affects them. Allow them to confront the issues being gossiped about and commit to healing the group
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Filed under: Dealing with Conflict, Try This
