If you are a Starbucks fan, you may remember a few weeks ago all the Starbucks across North America closed shop for three and half hours in the evening.
Why? To hear from Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz via video about the companies need to get back to it's original vision. Next, the store managers spoke about several strategic changes that the stores would make to give the customer better and more personalized service. And the evening ended by re-training everyone at that Starbucks store. one comment I read about was a 19 year old barista saying, "It's really weird, I know that I really work at a fast food chain, but they made me believe that it really matters."
So here is my question: If we were to close all the churches across North America for three and half hours some Sunday morning, and we had the chance to vision-cast and re-train every Christ Follower, what would need to be said and what would you do?
I think we need to be reminded about all the ways to serve and reach out. Too often everyone's mindset is "what's in it for me?" instead of "how can I help?". We see the hurdles, but not the finish line. Even those who are the most active sometimes shoot down and idea (or worse, let it die a slow painful death by committee) because they see it as someone asking them to do it. Instead we need to find a way to grow our ideas to make things happen. Don't assume that because we aren't personally interested in that ministry that others won't be either, or that it isn't needed in the community.
ReplyDeleteSure we don't do the Angel Food Ministry and someone else in town does. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be successful in our church, nor does it mean that we couldn't do more with it than another church does. (And are we going to do this one? I'm pretty excited about this as a ministry possibility.)
I just think that we too often look at church as a job or another requirement. "What are they gonna want this time?" We need to find ways to energize ourselves and look at every situation as an opportunity to do more for the Lord. And i think we need to recognize those that are serving more often. I know service is not about recognition, but there is no reason that the church cannot express gratitude to those in the trenches. The higher levels are often acknowledged, but the grunts are overlooked. I felt bad when Jenny asked for nursery workers on Sunday, but I really cannot find joy serving there any more. I worked in our nursery for over 16 years (which at the time was over half my life), but in the end was made to feel unwelcome and unappreciated. Some very hurtful things were said to and about my husband and I. So I see that role differently now. I think this happens a lot. Most believers don't want a parade in their honor, but they don't want to be punished or pushed out because of politics or human emotions. I don't think that the church should be like the government, whenever there is a change of leadership (whatever the level) the underlings shouldn't be cleared out to make room for cronies or people who adore the new leader. We shouldn't work against someone just because they are new either.
Sorry this went on for so long, but I still get upset when I think over what happened. I seriously contemplated leaving the church. And I feel like I have struggled to find my place ever since then. And it was all due to only a couple of people, I bet hardly anyone else knew about it.