I spent my Independence Day in my hometown of Savannah, GA with my extended family. Wow, it really was amazing. While I had spent time with these same people I had known all my life, something seemed apparent that this gathering was different from all those previous. This year as we gathered together for the purpose of having fun and visiting with one another, we were all decked out in our matching family reunion style t-shirts. Was that some of the excitement I was feeling, that we were calling it a “Family Reunion”, hence the matching t-shirts. This year was also different because we decided to get into the mix of things. Previous years we had just enjoyed the fireworks from our strategic vantage point at our home, avoiding the traffic, jaywalkers and crowds of families all making their way to an up- close and personal firework experience. Was this change in venue cause for my excitement? This year we planned as our culminating event – a group trip to River Street in downtown Savannah, to enjoy the fireworks. Even the excursion itself was exciting. Yes there was the anticipated bumper to bumper traffic, hordes of jaywalkers, and multitudes of families all headed to witness a series of colorful loud mid-air gunpowder triggered explosions. In the midst of all of this my heart was racing; and I was just as giddy as my “3 almost 4 year old” nephew, as he would readily tell anyone brave enough to ask his age. Again I wondered why after years of witnessing fireworks and years of experiencing my family, why am I just as excited as ever; and perhaps even more so? I mean I have been to downtown Savannah before, seen fireworks before and spent time with my family before. Did I perhaps expect some new dazzling firework display? And then it hit me! My excitement wasn’t because it was my first experience. My excitement was a contagion I had contracted from those amongst us who “were” experiencing all this for the first time! I was so excited because excitement is contagious and I had caught it! Although I wasn’t new to the experience, there were several among us who were. My cousins immediate families had expanded over the years as had mine. And I found myself caught up in the wonder that they were about to experience. Newcomers have that affect. Newcomers can make the routine and mundane as exciting and explosive as a Fourth of July celebration, simply because they’ve never seen it or heard it before. The excitement of a newcomer is contagious. Could this be an answer for those finding their ministry or business in a rut? Consider inviting someone new into your organization. Newcomers can make the familiar and routine, exciting and new!
Posts Tagged ‘expand your reach’
Soar don’t settle
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
I hope you got a chance to enjoy some BBQ, baked beans, just plain, good ole fashion grillin’ as my uncle would say. Memorial Day, traditionally, marks the beginning of a season of family fun in the sun: beaches, vacations, time with family and friends.
While for many this time of year commences an influx of road trips, summer camps, and much needed family get-a-ways, for most churches it often represents a season of stark decline. Decreased attendance, sporadic giving and lack of participation in church activities are on an all-time rise now that summer is almost here.
It doesn’t have to be this way! Your ministry CAN have different results. How? It’s simple. Change the game! Here are 5 game changing ways to soar into this summer season:
- Take stock – Evaluate what’s going on in your church or ministry today. What is the current participation level? What’s the mood of your current parishioners? Are you seeing consistent number of visitors? Before you look to “change the game” you need to assess what you are already doing.
- Include everyone – Ask, seek, knock. You can find out a lot about people if you take time to talk to them. What exactly are the summer plans of your current members? What does your ministry offer during the summer months that are of interest and relevance to your current audience?
- Be proactive – You know summer is quickly approaching; actually it comes every year around this same time. Why sit back and wait for things to decrease and decline? Launch out! Begin seeking ways NOW to engage your current audience and attract new people BEFORE you get deep into the summer months.
- Take Action – Once you have heard back from your loyal, local church members, – take action. If necessary, change things, do something different, use what you learn from your members to make your church the place to be this summer.
- Have FUN! – Did you know that “summer” is defined as a period of greatest happiness, success, or fulfillment? Does what you offer in the form of activities, programs, and ministry contribute to one’s happiness? Do your ministry’s programs or activities include a strong “fun-factor”? If, not do something different! If happiness is the order of the day, be sure to include it in your ministry efforts.
Summer is swiftly approaching, what will you do differently? Will your ministry soar or will it settle?
“Um…WAIT, let me check just one more thing.”
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010You have been selected to run in the most important race of your entire athletic career. Your country is calling you to represent it in the 2010 Summer Olympics. What a tremendous opportunity that now awaits you. You have been preparing for such a task your entire life. You ran in many marathons, trained with the best athletes, as a matter of fact you were selected by your peers as the most likely to win All- American track and field. Though, you would never admit it publicly, even with all that training and practice you never really expected to run in a race THIS big. But why not? Why didn’t you expect it?
I’ll tell you why. You have to tweak just one more thing. You have one more stride you need to perfect. One more set of lunges to prepare your quads. One more run around the track to make sure your breathing is paced. I mean, let’s face it, if you are going to do it, you better do it right! Right? It’s precisely this sort of thinking that keeps many of us stifled in our progress, hindered in our pursuits, stuck in our tracks. Stagnation is the lifestyle a serial perfectionist. Don’t allow your quest for perfection to cause you to miss the most important moment of your life…NOW. Live, pursue, embrace your now. Tell me, what is your NOW? How are living it?
