Willowcreek Stops Mid-week Service

Willowcreek Community Church is known for their “seeker-sensitive” approach to church services and evangelism. In recent years, Willowcreek felt it was time to take a hard look at this strategy. They surveyed over 57,000 church goers in 200 churches by asking them questions on their satisfaction with church. Most people responded that they are leaving the church because they’re not challenged enough. Wow! I thought they were leaving because they didn't like the Folgers coffee.

Greg Hawkins, who has spearheaded this massive research effort called REVEAL, is working to turn this “seeker-sensitive” ship in a new direction. This is not a small change. This is a major shift. This is like going from hymns to contemporary songs in a worship service. Click here to read the article in Christianity Today. (Tony Morgan also posted some thoughts on the REVEAL study here.) Here are some points from the article that I am still pondering:

• Their “strategy to reach seekers is now about focusing on the mature believers.”
• “Anonymity is not the driving value for seeker services anymore.”
• It was previously assumed that seekers didn’t want large doses of the Bible or deep worship music. This is not correct anymore.
• Willowcreek has loaded their services with worship music, prayer, Scripture readings, and more challenging teaching from the Bible.
• Willowcreek is ending their mid-week service in June and adding bible and theological classes in it’s place.
• Willowcreek has revamped everything from their services to their seeker strategy.
• Greg states “It would be malpractice for us to not do something with what we’re learning.”

In the larger REVEAL survey taken by 200 churches, people were asked what they want most from their church. The top three responses were:
1. Help me understand the Bible in greater depth
2. Help me develop a closer personal relationship with Christ
3. Challenge me to grow and take the next step in my faith

Think of this in terms of school. How do you teach 1st graders and high school students in the same classroom for only 1 hour per week? I don’t have the answer to this. What are your thoughts?

Does Your Church Have Style?

It is so easy to compare yourself to other churches. You hear an amazing success story about a church and you start making plans on implementing their programs and style in your church. Let me help you out. Don't do it! Copying other churches usually will come across as unauthentic. You are you...and the only you. Find out your strengths and focus to those. Be yourself.

Here's some good advice from Allen Ratta of Connection Power:

Celebrate Your Style
Once you have settled on your style, rejoice in it and embrace it. There are almost always some aspects of a church's style that give it a particular positive distinctive. Discover your strengths and celebrate them. This will increase congregational morale and help provide a consistency of message to visitors and the community.

Market Your Style
Take the time, resources and energy to define a compelling message that accurately reflects your style. It will do you no good to advertise in such a way that the wrong crowd comes to visit you. You are wasting their time and your resources. Drive the people who relate to your style to come and visit.

Each church will have it's unique personality. Find out what makes your unique personality attractive. Find out what you do best. Then be the best you can be. Life's too short to live someone else's dream.

Breakfast with Bill Hybels

Exciting news! On May 15, I’m having breakfast with Bill Hybels. He’s flying into Kansas City because he wants to talk about:

• Developing the leadership in church
• The inside scoop on the Leadership Summit
• How I can be an effective leader in the marketplace and the church

I feel really fortunate to be afforded this opportunity. The good news for you is that I’m allowed to extend the invitation to other people.

So the answer to your next question…yes, there will be many other KC church leaders there. Probably around 200. And no, Bill Hybels may not know I’m there, but I’m going to treat this opportunity as if he was coming to KC just for me. The breakfast will be at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS from 8am to 9:30am. Breakfast is $10. Hearing Bill Hybels speak…priceless. Click here to register.