This is a great story by someone who evidently goes to a church without Fellowship One. It is a story about The Church with the T-Rex in its lobby. Would someone attending your church have a similar experience?
Many times we are so familiar with our church and the experience that we have in it that we do not take into account the experience of others who may be trying to navigate our facilities and processes (or lack there of!) for the first time. I am reading First Impressions: Creating Wow Experiences in Your Church by one of our Granger brethren, Mark L. Waltz. It is a very good read for those who want some insight into how Granger does what they do so well. The one thing about a first impression, you never get another chance to make it!
Also check out CloseTheBackDoor.com and mouse over some of the people’s heads in the picture. Are they any different than the Holy Mama in the T-Rex story? Have you taken a fresh look at what people are experiencing at your church? Are you following up on their requests? How long does it take to check in their children? Are the facilities clean? Is it convenient to sign-up for an activity or do I have to send an e-mail to someone and wait for them to respond? Or worse, do I have to hang out in the lobby and wait in line to register for said activity? Is there the energy of inspired (in Spirit!) volunteers who are showing them where things are located? Or is it sort of drab, uninspiring, lacking energy? The God I worship is anything but drab and uninspiring!
Grace to you as you go out to find that T-Rex for your lobby,
Jhook
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