At yesterday’s staff meeting I used this photo of a recently received visitors survey as a reminder of some
important lessons. The answers provide us a “target” for a successful
Sunday.
How did you hear about Mountaintop
Community Church?
Friend
People join churches – and more
importantly are introduced to Jesus and a better way of life – when friends
invite them. In all of our ministries we need to be constantly reminding,
encouraging and equipping those who are here to invite their friends. Found
people find people – it’s just that simple.
Based on your experience today, how likely
are you to return to Mountaintop?
very likely
Our goal is that the Sunday morning
experience would make someone want to come back (and when people come back they
bring their friends). That’s true across our campus. In a recent
new member class a single mom shared with me that she was joining Mountaintop
because of all the churches she visited ours was the only one where her 5-year
old daughter doesn’t cry when dropped off in Children’s Ministry. That
matches what another couple told me. They’ve quit “church shopping”
because their elementary age kids want to come here. Another single mom,
who unfortunately has to work most Sunday mornings, told me this week that her
9-year old son never wants to miss a Sunday so she has to arrange rides for him
on the days she works. Our Children’s Ministry is rocking!
What did you enjoy most about the service?
Music and down to earth message
The survey was filled out following our
April 28th service. That was the Sunday that we overloaded a
circuit and lost power to all of our screens. We were as low-tech as we
have been in a long time. For the most part there were no words for songs
and at one service no scriptures on the screens. The music selection that
Sunday was entirely worship songs ranging from old hymns (I Need Thee Every
Hour) to the latest Passion songs (Burning in My Soul – which
ironically has the line: there is power in this hour). There was
no secular song, no drama and for my message I didn’t use videos or clever
gadgets or props (and oh how I love props). I did use 22 different
passages from Scripture (on the heavy side since it was an introduction to
Proverbs). And without power and without “seeker targeted” elements or
message what the guest enjoyed most was the music and the down to earth message
(which is really my communication goal).
There are so many lessons here but perhaps
the most significant one is simply this – “seekers” (if that’s still the right
word to use) want authenticity. They want to see what church is and
why we believe what we believe. As long as we don’t make them feel
uncomfortable they actually are okay coming to church.
What suggestions would you make?
Cannot think of any
We’d actually welcome suggestions – and no
worries, we receive plenty of suggestions each week!
How often do you attend church services?
It’s been years
This is my favorite answer. This is
why I am convinced Mountaintop exists. We are a church for people who
haven’t been to church in years. We want people to feel welcome and safe.
We want their kids to love the kids programs, we want them to want to
come back and to bring their friends. We need to maintain our heart for
those who will answer “it’s been years” so that we might show them that we
are a community of people who are learning and sharing a better way to live in
Jesus.
One last lesson.
I posted this photo on Facebook and one of
my observant Facebook friends quickly spotted a typo in the form.
Apparently we’ve been inviting first time guests to complete a “Fist Time
Visitor Survey.” When that was posted as a comment to the picture my
first reaction was to become defensive and suggest that we actually “fist-bump”
every guest (I guess my first reaction was a fist reaction)! The truth is
we make mistakes – we move too quickly and make typos and let things fall
through the cracks. We are works in progress and we have lots of work to
do. That’s actually a whole lot more fun that imagining that we have
already “arrived!” But we have to be more attentive to details. And
just so you know that typo has been corrected.
Not every survey is as affirming and not
every Sunday is what we hope it might be but this survey from the 28th
sets a great target for us in ministry:
People who attend Mountaintop will invite
their friends, especially friends who haven’t attended church in years (if ever).
When their friends come they will feel
like welcomed guests.
Guest will enjoy the music and the message
and will want to come back and will want to tell their friends (who have attended church in years)
And that's how we will learn and share a
better way to live!
To the glory of God!
T Doug
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