The Small Things

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We have about 160 days to go before we launch The Courageous Church on January 11, 2009.  After serving on the pastoral staff of a great church in suburban Atlanta for several years, my family wanted to visit other churches in our city and region before we launched.  After visiting around for a few weeks, my entire family loved Buckhead Church so much that we decided to stop being nomads and stay there until we launch.  I’ll be visiting a few other churches between now and then, but we’re learning so much where we are that we are confident we’ll launch much stronger because of our time there.

As I said yesterday, it hasn’t been the obvious things that have hooked us at Buckhead Church (although they help), but it has been the surprises that have really sealed the deal and taught us some major leadership lessons.

Buckhead Church does the SMALL THINGS that churches could easily look past or ignore, very, very well. Here are some of the small things that I have noticed that we’ll try to duplicate in our church.

• All of my children received unique, personalized hand-written postcards with very cool art on one side.  They have received follow up postcards as well and look forward to checking the mail with me because of it.  We now have these postcards hanging up on our refrigerator.  We’ve been branded and it onl

• When you drop the kids off for children’s ministry on Sunday morning, they have a volunteer waiting with a big bucket of Starbursts and the kids get to get a piece or two.  We’re not big on candy in our house, but this hooks the kids.

• Families with children get preferential parking.  With my big ‘ol family and a pregnant wife this courtesy means everything to us. 

• The church has a gazillion parking attendants (and volunteers inside the church) that make sure you always know where you are going and have what you need.

• The host and the speaker use language and illustrations that are very welcoming to guests and non-Christians.

• The entire facilities are meticulously clean.

• They run video announcements before the service time begins.  These often have humor and are very informative.  This also allows the service to flow better once it begins.

• Easy to read directional signs are everywhere (but so are helpful volunteers).

• No seat is a bad seat.  No seats behind poles, the sound board, etc.