OK - I have an important question for you to ponder, and then based upon your answers, to help me with:
*What is a person's first impressions of The Journey?
What I mean is -
*What is someone's first impression when they drive into our parking lot?
*What is someone's first impression when they walk into our main building?
*What is someone's first impression when they walk into our kid's education building?
*What is someone's first impression of our services?
Also included - our landscaping, our bathroom, our atmosphere, our nursery, our worship team, our pastor and associate pastors and wives, etc.
I ask this with the hopes that if you know of some things we can improve that you will not just tell me what's wrong but give me ways to make things right - maybe even help us make things right. I want people's experiences at The Journey to be great from the moment they drive into our parking lot. Let's be creative and think of better ways to do things or ways to improve things...and then let's do them!
I heard a great quote yesterday from a great church leader - "Always act like where you're going, not where you are!"
For more on this, check out this article from www.pastors.com.
I would love to hear some thoughts. As always, thanks.
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3 comments:
I think in order to do this effectively we should use a survey like the one from
Off the map We could ask indivduals we meet in the community to come and critique us and we will pay them for thier time.($10) This would be done selectively to give us a crosssection of our community. The purpose of this would be to get some fresh eyes. We may end up attracting some new members but that is would only be a perk. It is simply to allow us to know how we are percived by our community. Any thoughts?
DIFFERENT
I think this one word describes the Journey, it's facilities and the message and how it's delivered. Different?? We're no different from all the other churches you say. I think different is a good thing.
Exterior- We don't look like a church from the exterior. I hope that as we grow the new building is unique as well. Curiosity killed the cat as the saying goes and curiousity will also draw in additional members.
Interior- Again a first time attendee(I was one less than 6 months ago) is struck that this is not your "normal, stuffy church" It may be disconcerting to try and weave your way through the throng of people mulling around the coffee and food but that is quickly overcome by the friendly conversation and banter that is happening before and after the service.
I hope the informal atmosphere continues- I am not impressed with pipe organs, mahogany pews(uncomfortable as well)physical ornamentation.
I come to the Journey for the discussion, to understand how God works, hear real people talking about joys and troubles and how God has helped them get through a tough time.
As a (extremely) small business owner, with no true office other than my partner's bedroom, and my bedroom we face the challenge every day of trying to convince the public that we are the better choice than the 30 person company down the street with a 10,000 sq. foot office building. Why do they choose my company over the company that has a large office building? They choose my company because of my partner and I and how we conduct ourselves. I'm not saying the look of the building is not important but it's more important how we as members conduct ourselves both in church as well as outside church.
As Rob has said, being a christian does not end at 10:30 or 12:30 on Sunday. People will attend/not attend because of the people attending.
If we show no false pretences and be ourselves we will attract people that want the same thing- to know and understand God and his teachings.
Hope this helps
Rod-
I love your suggestion, again trying something different (heck, almost heresy!! Bringing a business class model into a "non-business" entity like the church)
Dave, I think you said something extremely important...it's how we conduct ourselves outside and inside the church...people will attend or not attend because of the people attending! How true that is! So many times when people find out I go to church, they ask me where I go. When I tell them, their first question usually is, "Do you like it?" How is it going to sound if I were to say NO!? My immediate response should be, "I love it, and this is why..." Most new attendees will come to church for the first time simply by being invited.
I also agree that different is a good thing. I, like Dave, was raised Catholic and associate church with organ music, wooden pews, and oppression. How joyful it was to discover the Journey and be able to sing as loud as I can, hear the true word of God, meet enthusiastic loving believers, and learn about the endless love of Christ? If someone had said to me long ago, Hey, I go to this really great church that's different than what you're used to...why don't you come and try it out -- I'd have gone!
Down to the nitty gritty...I too was a first time attender not long ago -- my first impressions were:
1. This church is bright and non-threatening.
2. There are cars filling the parking lot -- people must love coming here.
3. They have kid's artwork hanging in the kid area -- that's how it should be.
4. The music is awesome!!!
5. The people who greeted me were so friendly and warm.
6. I wonder who the pastor's wife is? ( I wasn't sure at first...)
7. Why is the food right in front -- I can't get in the door!
Probably the only thing I would suggest changing is the location of the snack area -- it creates a bottleneck. What about coffee before each service and snacks only in between? Even if we have no visitors, it's hard to get in the front door...Most churches I've attended have coffee hour after the service. There's something to be said for preparing yourself for worship -- I'm not sure that involves donuts! Sorry kids!
Hope this 2 cents is worth something!!!
Kim
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