By Benton Heisler, WMC Director of Connectional Ministries
Same location, same function and most of the same employees, but a new sign and a new spirit is present. I am greeted at the door with:
“Hi! How are you today?” / Hospitality
“May we help you?” / Service
“Did you find what you were looking for? / Compassion
“Thanks for your business Benton!” / Gratitude
“You have a great day!” / Praise
It didn’t always go that way before. The new hospitality seems to have replaced complacency.
Optimism has overcome the sense of obligation I used to experience.
Personal attention is the new priority instead of the previous attitude that I was intruding.
They even gave me a coupon to share with a friend if I would invite them to come and do business at this location. / Evangelism
Such a transformation in one secular business has me wondering what the church might learn from the very world we believe we are called to transform!
Hospitality, compassion, gratitude, praise, evangelism/invitation; those are “our” biblical models. I return to this business because I find a value in what they provide and how they provide it.
Take a look around your congregation and the way you approach its ministry.
Does it need a new sign and “employee enhancement program’? Are people greeted warmly and personally? What intentional ways do you strive to serve the persons you encounter? How do you go about inviting them to participate in the ministries you provide so church becomes more of a verb instead of a noun?
Is there a sense of, “Have a great day!” that pervades all that transpires?
You see, this is the unique gift we have to offer to persons — hope.
No matter what the circumstances, we know God is present, sees it all and desires the “good answer” in our lives. We believe God is willing to sustain us as we journey toward such a blessing.
This summer people will move to your community or simply “check out” your worship experience, VBS, and community service project. Will your congregation lapse into a quiet dormancy for the next few months or be anticipating the “new customer” and then receive them graciously?
What “marketing” techniques will you implement to spread the word about the hope, hospitality, healing and “home” that will be experienced in your congregation?
Throughout this edition of the Reporter are ideas for re-thinking our efforts for welcoming and inviting others.
The West Michigan Annual Conference, June 3-6 at Calvin College has the theme of “Making Spaces for New Faces.” I invite you to take the ideas you encounter there, or read here, or receive elsewhere and give them an intentional attempt at new implementations.
I noticed at the business I mentioned that some of the employees are not there anymore. I realized they were the same ones that I had experienced as inattentive, unwelcoming and seemingly uninformed.
I guess some changes were made by the leadership to remove who and /or what wasn’t working in order to grow forward. I pray each of us can make the necessary changes to improve our efforts at making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Well, I’ve got to go.
I need something at that business and the last thing I remember hearing as I left was ”Come again soon. We look forward to serving you again.”
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