When I make a trip to Home Depot, I have this silly fear of looking clueless in a store where real men know the difference between U-brackets and C-clamps and say things like, “Dude, the torque on that auger kills, bruh; get the 90 horsepower with solar super charge and brushless kit.”
So when I have a leaking toilet in my home, my man-pride watches a YouTube video about how to fix it. Then I strut as confidently as possible through the plumbing aisle, pretending that I know what I’m doing. I find 4 different options for O-rings, get confused, try to find another YouTube video on my phone, and lose hope. A Home Depot associate comes with gentle, knowledgeable mercy and says, “Can I help you?” Oh, the wave of relief, even rescue. I’m gonna make it. I’m not lost.
One more thing I noticed at Home Depot. In January the Christmas decorations disappeared, and now the spring planting and gardening supplies have appeared. Home Depot is on their mission. They connect people to life’s needs.
Is this how it feels for a first-time guest at church? I’ve been a first-time guest at other churches when I’m on vacation, and it feels very much like my trip to Home Depot. So, if Home Depot has their act together, yet it’s completely an earthbound organization that will eventually pass away, shouldn’t the church have our act together even more? Shouldn’t we connect people to life’s greatest needs of forgiveness and fulfillment, hope and joy, identity and community and eternity?
I went to Chick-fil-A on Saturday. Chick-fil-A is on their mission. They go out of their way to care for customers and it shows. You can tell they care about caring because it’s organized, like a well oiled machine, yet still personal. It was raining when I entered the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A. Clear signage directed me to a single drive thru lane. Already, I got the impression that they were preparing for me. Then, the drive thru attendant standing outside in a rain poncho approached my window, looked at me and greeted me, “Good morning, welcome to Chick-fil-A. What can we prepare for you today?”
It was raining, kinda windy, and she was more interested in my needs than her own. I ordered, and was probably the only car in 100 that day that wanted to pay with cash. She knew exactly what to do, and instructed me to drive to the pickup window where they’d take my cash. I did, and they did. They even knew my name. And, again, it wasn’t just a drive thru window person behind glass, but a drive thru attendant standing outside the window and helping me. I got a little wet in the rain. She got a lot wet. But she was joyful and happy to help me. She made me so appreciative that I tipped her, and she gasped and kinda giggled like it was the first time that had happened.
I’ll sum it all up this way. Chick-fil-A is on their mission. They connect people to organized care, and by doing so, they convince me that I want to return.
Hey church fam! Let’s organize and care more and better on Jesus’ mission, connecting people to life’s needs!
PRAYER: Jesus, sometimes because we’re the church, we think we can neglect the importance of wise management. You’ve given us so many good gifts. Forgive our neglect, overcome our assumptions, and build our faith and passion to care about people more and better. Amen.
EVANGELISM ACTION: What are 3 things that Home Depot or Chick-fil-A do well that your ministry of welcome on Sundays could replicate?