First Time Visitor Survey

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 28^th 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 28^th 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

2013 MS 182 (Houston to Austin)

In a little over a week I will be joining my daughter, Kelli, for the 2013 edition of the MS 150 – which I love to point out is actually a 182 mile (we take the challenge route) two day bike ride from Houston to Austin and don’t be misled – there ARE hills in Texas and often lots of wind!

My first ride was on a borrowed bike in 2009 and I rode after receiving a dare/challenge from a friend!


Since 2009 I’ve ridden as an independent rider (with a friend), on a team for a Health Club and last year with Kelli and Team Texas Children’s Hospital (awesome jerseys).  Riding with Kelli makes the weekend even more special and something the two of us look forward each year.  This year Kelli’s small group from Ecclesia Church decided to ride for Team Saint Arnold’s (really cool jerseys and carb loading options). 

What began as a dare and a challenge to ride a bike 182 miles has become something more important.  Every year I meet someone else who is battling MS and every year I am reminded of the courage it takes to live with MS.  I think of that a lot along the ride – especially when my legs are a little tired and there’s one more hill to climb.  We definitely are riding for an important cause.  On a personal note being able to ride with Kelli and do this together has also become something important to me.

The MS Society organizes 100 rides nationwide. The funds they raise fuel research aimed at treating and eventually curing MS; they also provide crucial services for persons living with MS.  Each one of us who rides – and those who support us - are helping the National MS Society move forward toward a world without MS and making a difference in the lives of 400,000 Americans battling multiple sclerosis today!

On this year’s ride I will carry a bandana with the names of people with MS written on it (something I learned from past MS 150’s).  I would love to add the names of any friends or family members any of you know with multiple sclerosis.

AND Kelli and I would LOVE your prayers – the truth is we NEED your prayers.  No matter how well we train – 182 is a long couple of days and the long range weather forecasts are for a rainy weekend.  We always pray for safety, cool temps, clear skies and if possible a tailwind!  But just as in life we sometimes experience headwinds, heat and rain but God has protected us every year.  So please keep us in your prayers.

Finally if you’d like to financially support the MS Society and my ride  or just want to find our more information on the MS Society just click on 2013 MS 150

The medium is the message

"The medium is the message" is a phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan meaning (at least according to Wikipedia) that:

 “the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.”

I read that phrase as an architectural student in McLuhan’s book, The Medium is the Massage”(legend is “massage” was a typo that the author liked) and it began a fascination (obsession) with communications.

As an architect that fascination drew me toward “storytelling” architects that ranged from Gaudi to Venturi (Learning from Las Vegas remains one of my favorite books).  As a pastor – who gets to communicate every Sunday – I am constantly learning from gifted communicators both in the church world and the marketplace.

Experts in communication agree on the importance of simple, repeatable messages.  Andy Stanley would call it the big idea. Chip and Dan Heath tell us that is what will make "it" stick.  Seth Godin returns again and again to the power of word of marketing.  Kem Meyer is a proponent of less noise and less clutter (which actually is an outflow of another architect’s - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - who is the one who first said less is more  -van der Rohe is also the originator of God is in the details – there’s your architectural history lesson for the day)

But even when we attempt to keep it simple, communication is always a challenge.  George Bernard Shaw once remarked that the challenge of communication is the illusion that it has occurred.  And today the communication challenge is magnified by the constant changes in technology.

The rotary phone that sat on my dad’s desk (which is why we “dial” numbers and “hang up” from calls) bears little resemblance to the smart phone sitting next to me as I type this (and on which I am keeping track of the early scoring as play begins at The Masters).  Changes to technology and the increasing potential of social media continue to amaze me.  I now get most of my news, weather and sports via Twitter (though I am about ready to abandon Facebook which more and more feels like an exercise in egotistical voyeurism and a place to post political rants or pictures of cats with inspirational sayings).  

My latest fascination is with QR codes and the potential for using them to reduce noise and clutter.  For instance the QR code at the top of this blog links you to this page – I know you are already here, but imagine that you weren’t – where I could be giving you a list of upcoming events at Mountaintop (instead of rambling about communication).

Communication is changing – you just read a blog – and the medium is the message.  But in the end its all about telling stories and each week I get the privilege of telling the greatest story of all.

Maybe I should create a QR code as a link to the youversion of the Bible…..

I get to work at the best church in the world

Yesterday was my last Leadership Vestavia Hills class (we graduate next month) and the focus was education.  We had a fascinating conversations with State Superintendent, Thomas Bice, which gave me greater understanding of the news out of Montgomery that is making the headlines this week.  When then toured 4 schools in Vestavia Hills and I was reminded what an amazing community we serve.

Without question the highlight of the day was the tour of Pizitz Middle School led by the principal David Miles.  Since my dad was a middle school principal I am a little biased toward middle school principals and perhaps that’s part of why I instantly became a fan of Principal Miles.  As soon as he began to speak it was clear that he loves the school, he loves the kids, he’s devoted to the school’s success and (and this was the highlight) he is absolutely convinced that he is the principal of THE BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL IN AMERCIA.  In fact he made that statement over and over again and challenged us to “google it” and see if he’s right (mixed results when I did). He doesn’t take credit for being the best – he is quick to give credit to the teachers and the students – but there is no question that in his mind that when we walks through the doors each morning he is walking in THE BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL IN AMERICA and then he spends every bit of everything he has making sure it stays that way.

That’s inspiring.

Afterwards I began to wonder what if we approached everything we did or belonged to that way – our families, teams, jobs, and friendships, even churches.  What if everyone one of us woke up each morning with the attitude that I get to go (which is very different that I have to go) to work at THE BEST ______________________ IN THE WORLD and then devoted ourselves to making that attitude a reality in everything we do?  I convinced it would transform our families, teams, workplaces, relationship and even our churches.

I love the way Geoff Surratt describes that sort of church in his book Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing as he asks:

Does everything you do on a Sunday morning bring honor to God?  Would He be proud of the way your building looks when He drives into the parking lot?  Is your music something that brings joy to His heart if He was sitting on the front row?  What would He say about the sermon you preached last weekend? Would God say, “Wow, he really did everything he possibly could to build my reputation through that message.”  If God brought His friends to church, would He be proud to show them what you are doing to bring glory to His name?  Does God brag about your church to the angels?

Because he’s convinced that he serves THE BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL IN AMERICA Principal Miles brags about the school to anyone who will give him even half a chance.  I am convinced that I serve THE BEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD and with THE BEST STAFF EVER ASSEMBLED  – and I need to brag about that a bit more (so I am writing this post)!  I am committed to making sure that is always who we are at Mountaintop so that everything we do might bring glory to God and help people learn and share a better way to live!

So what would it look like it tomorrow morning you got to go to work at the best ______________ in the world?