The FaithX Project

Strategic Missional Consulting

Church Redevelopment: Bloom where you are planted!

By Steve Matthews, Senior Associate Consultant for FaithX

Isn’t that a beautiful picture?  Daffodils springing forth every year give me hope.  I love their reliability and consistency (not to mention that brilliant yellow color and sweet fragrance).  In these uncertain times reliability and consistency are things that matter to many of us.  The Episcopal Church in this photo is in my hometown.   Located in the mid-Atlantic/“Bible Belt,” it has provided reliable and consistent liturgy and outreach services for over 150 years.  Its church building and liturgy and music program are beautiful and uplifting to those who attend.  They have numerous outreach ministries.

Beautiful. Reliable. Consistent.  What could go wrong?  We used to think that redeveloping a congregation was something churches in decline or danger of closing engaged, or perhaps faith communities in the midst of rapid change saw the need to redevelop.  Anxiety often drove the response to the question, “What needs to change?”  As we think about redevelopment in 2022, perhaps we should re-evaluate our approach to the future of our faith communities.   The “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” model is not exactly the best motivation for faithfulness as our communities around us rapidly change, and being motivated by love in our response is always better than an anxiety-based motivation.

[Read more…]

Ten Things Churches Could Learn from Starbucks (Hint: It’s not about making coffee)

Editor’s Note:
This article on what churches can learn from Starbucks was written at the Kingsview Village Starbucks.

By Ken Howard

Churches could learn a few things from Starbucks…

Starbucks is one of those places that, even if you don’t go there, you know it’s the place to go.

It’s the number one coffee shop in the United States, maybe even in the world. It’s almost like Starbucks was selling something addictive…

They are, of course. Starbucks sells coffee, which contains the drug caffeine. But as far as we know, Starbucks coffee contains no more of the drug than the coffee sold at it’s two biggest coffee competitors, McDonalds or Dunkin’ Donuts. Starbucks doesn’t even sell better coffee, regularly coming in #3 behind McD and DD in blind taste tests.

It’s not about advertising, either. Starbucks hardly does any, compared to its competitors. You won’t find the Starbucks mermaid popping up on your TV next to the words “I’m lovin’ it.” Nor will you find a single billboard proclaiming, “America runs on Starbucks.”

So if it’s not about better coffee, stronger caffeine, or better advertising, what is it? Why are so many people addicted to Starbucks? If you ask the Starbucks CEO, he’ll tell you. It’s not about making better coffee but about the Starbuck’s experience. Starbucks knows how to create an experience and provide a sense of community that fill a deep-down need.

So let’s ask the real question, “Why are so many people addicted to the Starbuck’s experience?”

[Read more…]