I have made a decision I am going to do something that many successful church planters have done like Rick Warren, Craig Groschel, and Bill Hybels among others.
I am going to visit 500-1,000 homes on the weekends and simply ask the community what they think a church should be doing to make S. Florida a better place.
Hi my name is___________ we are taking an opinion poll of our
community. I’m not here to sell you anything or sign you up for anything.
I’d just like to ask you five questions. There is no right or wrong answer,
and it will only take about two minutes.
1. What do you think is the greatest need in this area?
2. Are you actively attending any church?
3. Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
4. If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things
would you look for?
What could I do for you?
What advice can you give to someone who really wants to be helpful to
people?
I have made a decision I am going to do something that many successful church planters have done like Rick Warren, Craig Groschel, and Bill Hybels among others.
I am going to visit 500-1,000 homes on the weekends and simply ask the community what they think a church should be doing to make S. Florida a better place.
Hi my name is___________ we are taking an opinion poll of our
community. I’m not here to sell you anything or sign you up for anything.
I’d just like to ask you five questions. There is no right or wrong answer,
and it will only take about two minutes.
1. What do you think is the greatest need in this area?
2. Are you actively attending any church?
3. Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
4. If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things
would you look for?
What could I do for you?
What advice can you give to someone who really wants to be helpful to
people?
Tough question......are you willing to adjust your church habits in response to what you hear? Or maybe I should ask, to what extent, if any, are you willing to change what you do in response to what you hear?
__________________ You know you miss me
Last edited by notofworks; 05-26-2010 at 07:26 PM.
I have made a decision I am going to do something that many successful church planters have done like Rick Warren, Craig Groschel, and Bill Hybels among others.
I am going to visit 500-1,000 homes on the weekends and simply ask the community what they think a church should be doing to make S. Florida a better place.
Hi my name is___________ we are taking an opinion poll of our
community. I’m not here to sell you anything or sign you up for anything.
I’d just like to ask you five questions. There is no right or wrong answer,
and it will only take about two minutes.
1. What do you think is the greatest need in this area?
2. Are you actively attending any church?
3. Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
4. If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things
would you look for?
What could I do for you?
What advice can you give to someone who really wants to be helpful to
people?
Tough question......are you willing to adjust your church habits in response to what you hear? Or maybe I should ask, to what extent, if any, are you willing to change what you do in response to what you hear?
I've been visiting a wide selection of churches on Sundays, everything from Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale which runs 13,000 to a old AOG church which runs about 100 ... trying to understand what reaches folks and break out of my box.
I've been visiting a wide selection of churches on Sundays, everything from Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale which runs 13,000 to a old AOG church which runs about 100 ... trying to understand what reaches folks and break out of my box.
Donuts and coffee.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I've been visiting a wide selection of churches on Sundays, everything from Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale which runs 13,000 to a old AOG church which runs about 100 ... trying to understand what reaches folks and break out of my box.
Andy Stanley did a similar thing before he started NorthPoint. He said after visiting 6 churches, "Man, this is gonna be easier than I thought." He said it in the context of feeling completely lost in other churches and their blatant lack of concern for him and his family. He said, "They all knew what was going on but we had no idea...and the worst thing was, they didn't care." He said if he could simply leap the hurdle of making new people feel comfortable and included, he'd be off to a great start.
Andy Stanley did a similar thing before he started NorthPoint. He said after visiting 6 churches, "Man, this is gonna be easier than I thought." He said it in the context of feeling completely lost in other churches and their blatant lack of concern for him and his family. He said, "They all knew what was going on but we had no idea...and the worst thing was, they didn't care." He said if he could simply leap the hurdle of making new people feel comfortable and included, he'd be off to a great start.
You just basically read my mail by posting this.
I'll give you a example.. not to be mean.. but try looking at it from a newcomers point of view. There is a progressive AOG church near me... their calendar has events like Oxygen and Firewall... without giving places or explanations of what they are. http://www.ournewhope.com/page10/page10.html
Out of about 20 churches I have visited, two of them asked/gave me visitor cards. I filled out both fully with phone, email, mailing address.. I got one letter from the pastor that was obviously a form letter... nothing from the other.
I really contrasts what I have seen in some of the megachurches like Saddleback and Stanleys church (have been to both) where EVERYONE fills out a card every week and uses it as a form of prayer request, contact me pastor, new visitor, or im enjoying service kind of feedback mechanism... usually with a free gift for the new visitors who bring it back to the guest table.
I have been putting alot of thought into it... if someone is gonna get up, get organized, and get to the church... isnt it my responsibility to at least get their info for followup, make a phone call and invite every first and second time guest over to dinner at my house on Friday night, and try to get them plugged into a small midweek group at that Dinner with Pastor?
The level of "customer service" in churches of all types is terrible. If they were a real business that had to carry a inventory with high overhead instead of selling oxygen with a high revenue margin... most American churches would be dead meat.
I'll give you a example.. not to be mean.. but try looking at it from a newcomers point of view. There is a progressive AOG church near me... their calendar has events like Oxygen and Firewall... without giving places or explanations of what they are. http://www.ournewhope.com/page10/page10.html
Out of about 20 churches I have visited, two of them asked/gave me visitor cards. I filled out both fully with phone, email, mailing address.. I got one letter from the pastor that was obviously a form letter... nothing from the other.
I really contrasts what I have seen in some of the megachurches like Saddleback and Stanleys church (have been to both) where EVERYONE fills out a card every week and uses it as a form of prayer request, contact me pastor, new visitor, or im enjoying service kind of feedback mechanism... usually with a free gift for the new visitors who bring it back to the guest table.
I have been putting alot of thought into it... if someone is gonna get up, get organized, and get to the church... isnt it my responsibility to at least get their info for followup, make a phone call and invite every first and second time guest over to dinner at my house on Friday night, and try to get them plugged into a small midweek group at that Dinner with Pastor?
The level of "customer service" in churches of all types is terrible. If they were a real business that had to carry a inventory with high overhead instead of selling oxygen with a high revenue margin... most American churches would be dead meat.
Very well said!! Would you agree with this that I've noticed.....it seems that often two mistakes are made, 1) Not studying what others have done and not researching what it takes, and saying seemingly spiritual things like, "We're just gonna follow God and do what he tells us! We don't need no stinkin' research!!; and 2) Studying and researching and then doing everything verbatim a successful church does without framing it to the local culture.
I think what you're doing is GREAT!!! I'm guessing a lot of us would like the chance to start again and do what you're doing.
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