For years I’ve been conducting church Mystery Visits. Some call it a secret shopper but ultimately I’m walking into churches across the country with church culture knowledge coupled with the community’s demographic research. This formula produces definitive steps to helping churches become relevant while removing barriers to those entering for the first...
Most church properties have things that tells the community it’s a gathering place for worship. A steeple, a sign, stained glass windows, architecture, and, of course, a parking lot. What does your parking area say to your community? Is it full looking? Tidy? Always empty? Is it welcoming? Could it be a barrier...
Churches love to talk to themselves. We create internal groups, names, and acronyms that try to sound clever but no one outside of our church would ever know their meanings. This isn’t a good way to communicate! Recognize any of these Internal Acronyms? FROG = Forever Relying On God DIVAS = Divine Inspired Victory Against...
I was out running errands the other day and realized I needed to stop for gas. I reached for my wallet and discovered that I must of left it at home. I pushed my hands into my pockets hoping I’d find some stray dollar bills. Nothing. I had money, just not when...
It's true. I was caught with a cookie at my local grocery store. An ugly scene. The grocery store close to our old office; regularly had their manager handing out cookies. They had a clear glass cookie jar and little wax paper "picker-uppers" so we could sample. I felt loved. To be honest, I...
I drove down a busy street in Dallas this week and glanced at a forlorn transit shelter. You know, the kind that has glowing advertising on either side. At 35 mph I didn’t have much time to see it. The plastic ad was smashed so I could see the exposed fluorescent lights...
I was recently visiting a church to teach a Ministry Leadership Workshop. It was my 1st time there, and I walked through the doors of the main entrance, not really sure where I was supposed to find the main worship area. I glanced around for a sign. Any sign. And the largest,...
When we first came to the US about a decade ago, we noticed that the signage is so much better here. Highway signs are everywhere. If you miss a sign, wait a few seconds, and you'll drive by another one. Sometimes the redundancy is humorous. Unless you actually need the second or...
