Everything Speaks
This is part three in the Five Plumb Lines series. Jump to the other posts at the bottom of the page.
Everything Speaks.
We no longer live in a world where people expect (and even embrace!) mediocrity in the local church. Gone are the days when a soloist could stumble her way through a song in the name of “making a joyful noise.” We’re past the point where our hallways can still sport posters of VBS ’04.
No, we are now in a society where details really do matter, and where our guests notice more inconsistencies than ever before. That doesn’t mean that every church building in America needs to look like the Crystal Cathedral or that we have to run a slickly-produced show week in and week out. (As a matter of fact, plenty of churches with little to no facilities or production budget could teach megachurches a thing or three about authenticity in worship and hospitality on the weekends!)
It’s not always the big things that throw off a good first experience. Often, it’s the tiny, unnoticed-by-us details. That’s why plumbline #3 is derived from one of my favorite Walt Disney quotes: Everything speaks.
Disney believed in this principle so much that his parks were designed to the last detail…even transitions in the pavement beneath your feet. As churches, we have to grasp the fact that our guests see things that we’ve long since forgotten to see. The cluttered walkway leading to the entrance? They’ve spotted that. The flickering fluorescent light in the auditorium? You’ve tuned it out, but it’s giving them the start of an epileptic seizure. The surly usher who growls out a “good morning” to everyone entering? You know that’s just his salty personality, but to a guest, he represents your entire church.
Take a look around your facility, your volunteer team, your systems and processes. What are those things saying that you don’t necessarily intend for them to say?
Check out the rest of the Plumb Lines series:
- The Gospel is Offensive. Nothing Else Should Be.
- The Why is More Important than the What.
- Everything Speaks.
- Make it Personal.
- The First Visit Should Set Up the Second Visit.
Get the Plumb Lines series as a free pdf download (fill out the form below) or order bulk copies for your team.
Really good words there Danny. I have also noticed a “cliquish” attitude among some of our groups. If I speak to them I get a response but if not, I can even walk very close to them and not even a good morning or hello. If you aren’t part of their dept, group, gang, whatever, ya get the ole snub. Not all but some. I’m sure it gets carried over to the crowd and guest. Lets all make it a point to make everyone, even summit family, feel special. Thanks for all you do. mark