When I started out in retail management, I worked for a Wal*Mart store in Richmond, VA. The next closest store was in Mechanicsville, about 20 miles away. The 'suits' in Bentonville decided to build a brand new Wal*Mart about 2 miles from our store. We were doing about $40 million a year in sales, and were quite distraught that a new store would be opening so close, 'stealing' all of our customers. Wal*Mart's philosophy was simple - if store A does $40 million a year in sales, we're limited to that. But if we build store B and generate $30 million in sales, and store A then does $10 million less than the previous year but still does $30 million, then Wal*Mart Corporation gets $60 million between store A and B, instead of only $40 million just from store A. They built the new store, and it affected our sales a little bit, but overall, we knew the company was doing better as a result of the new store.
At Bethany UMC, we're looking into starting a second service on Sunday mornings. Some folks are concerned that it will split the church into 2 groups who will no longer know each other, or that our 'main' worship service will lose people and we'll be smaller. But most people seem to be enthused about the idea and are hopeful that it will be a good thing for our church. They understand Wal*Mart's principle of growth, and are willing to sacrifice a bit of their familiarity for the prospect of reaching new people with the gospel. We're not growing like we think we can, so we are looking to try some new things to generate growth and reach more people.
9 comments:
Maybe if you put "We Sell for Less" on church signs, you'll attract a few more attendees!
Seriously, Jeffrey, "worship wars" always involve controversy and I applaud your boldness and willingness to deal with that. We're dealing with it here at Bakerstown, too, but I agree that it's worth it if overall we bring more people into God's presence and facilitate and experience of His grace.
Jeffrey
First of all, great leadership. Secondly, great analogy for starting a second service. That will preach!
Great analogy, Jeff. Tell me...will you be ahnding out yellow smiley face stickers at your new service? (heh..heh). You know me just trying to be funny.
Ditto - awesome analogy. Hope you're preaching that one.
Randy - you'd be surprised at all of the stuff I've handed out at services, but never the yellow smiley face stickers yet! Maybe I'll have to get those for a handout someday.
Greg - I'll be preaching it if/when we get closer to starting a second service. Hopefully this Spring.
Jeff,
Great post. If worship A meets worship B, and the two work out, then more people will be nourished by worship period.
At Baldwin, we just added (Sept 9) the first alternative service in the church's history. Since adding the fourth service, our numbers dropped off at the 11 a.m. traditional, but overall, have increased weekly attendance by 20-30%. Believe it or not, that percentage grows weekly! Be bold brother, in a short amount of time, people will thank God that there are many new faces coming.
God's Grace,
Jeff S.
I hear ya brother and we're trying it too so I'll be in prayer for you all.
It's October now, Jeff.
To quote Pink Floyd: "hello (hello, hello) is there anybody in there? Just blog if you can hear me..."
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