daveingland.com   about church relevance, culture, life, community, & transformational faith

Saw a post over at Kem Meyer’s blog about a very interesting marketing statement. It’s from Stephen Denny’s blog and it reads:

Note to CMO: Starbucks is just like you.

For those of you not familiar with the corporate world, a CMO is a Chief Marketing Officer. They are generally in charge of branding and consumer awareness, advertising campaigns, etc.

Now, the point of all of this is that Starbucks could have said something like, “We now serve only 2% milk” or they could have just changed to 2% milk and made it any body’s guess as to what happened. However, in presenting their message in just the right way they develop a commonality with those that walk through the door. The intent being that most people want lighter fare and so does Starbucks, however if you are happy drinking full-fat milk, or prefer non-fat milk, they have that too.

Imagine what it would be like if instead of the church holding the rights to the only truth according to God and forcing it on to others, what if we as the church were saying that we seek to find the truth just like they do. However, if you don’t agree with what we believe to be the truth you have the freedom to seek it somewhere else or to just not seek it at all.

I believe firmly in the truth that Jesus died on the cross 2,000 years ago in order that I could be declared righteous and forgiven in the eyes of my Heavenly Father. I believe that not only did Jesus die, but that he was resurrected in body back up to heaven where he exists today. I trust that Jesus is how he is described in the Bible and that without him there is no true life. With that said, I also believe that there are people out there that do not agree. Is it up to me to make them believe what I believe just because I am adamant about it and I have proof? We all know the answer to that question. Just as I believe in Jesus, I also believe that it is God and not me that can make someone want to accept him as truth. All I can do is live out my life the way I feel I should based on my convictions and my willingness to serve my God and others.

While there are some churches that understand the necessity of harmony and unity without giving in to conforming to the world, I think we need to go a long way in order to see real change and relevance within our communities.

While it would be great is a Sunday morning service and Starbucks had great coffee in common, but I think it is more important for the church and Starbucks to seek a connection with those in the community as their point of continuity. The church is not a corporation, but they both are involved in marketing to the people and therefore I believe the church can take some lessons from Starbucks on how to be more relevant within the community.

When I have had the opportunity to share the vision I believe God gave me for starting a new ministry here in Sacramento, I have received some mixed responses. Some people say that it sounds good and people have tried it in the past, but if I try to reach younger people for Christ, it’s a tough sell and the church will probably fail. Others think it is a ministry whose time has come and I had one pastor describe the vision as radical.

The name Revolution Church is something that I think really evokes some reaction. It’s the kind of name that makes people stop and think about it. Some think it is like revolutionary as in going against the system, but it is not. It has made for a great topic of conversation and leaves people excited or scratching their heads. I explain all about it at the website (www.revsacramento.com) so I won’t go into that here. However, of all the things I think about when I consider the name, radical isn’t really one of them. For me it really stirs up a passion I have for seeing people’s lives change by the power of salvation that comes from knowing Christ. It makes me get really excited in a way that no other ministry work has yet to do. I truly feel as if this new ministry is the fulfillment of what God created me to do.

When I think of a church being radical, it would have to be something on par with what Devin Hudson at Grace Point Church in Las Vegas did about a year ago. They had a sermon series called Tattoo and they concluded that series with two people being tattooed on stage while Pastor Devin gave the message. Now that my friends is radical! Actually, it is genius! To put something out there like that in the city of Las Vegas must have really hit people over the head like a ton of bricks. To know that there is a ministry that would choose to be relevant to those outside the church more so than speaking to those that regularly plant themselves in a seat every week believing they are going to heaven anyway is a remarkable act of faith. Learn how Pastor Hudson described the series in his blog at: http://graceisthepoint.blogspot.com/2007/02/tattoo.html

I wish more leaders in the church would make the effort to be vehicles that God will use for transformation. With this being the year of change, may it be so and may more people that have been left out of the sacred club of Christianity be welcomed back into a fellowship of love for others and a union with our Savior & Lord Jesus Christ. One love for all people is what I believe Jesus wants us to be about. After all, it’s what He is about.

I’ve come to realize that there are (at least) two kinds of Christian service: One is when people serve because they are asked to and they feel as if eyes are on them, and the second kind of service is rooted in an attitude of love and worship.

Having served in a leadership capacity within two churches I have noticed a bit of both examples of service. It is not my place to judge others and I have no interest in doing so, but there is definitely a different environment when around those that serve for some greater reward or acknowledgment and those that serve because it is a part of who they are.

It is my hope that the church will continue to make opportunities available for those that want to serve, but to do so in ways that do not glorify the server. Too often the service of man brings attention to the person or the church and not enough attention to Jesus. When others in the community that harbor some negative connotations of Christians have nothing left to point their fingers at I think we can finally start to realize a sense of unity and caring for one another, Christian or not.

Service should be an attitude and a natural reflection of the loving heart of the one that serves. It should be in continuity with the one love Christ has for all and therefore reflect Christ in the world today. If less money and time was spent on trying to convince some in the church to serve, and that time and money was put to use in helping others, I think that is when we can best reflect the light of Jesus as we practice our discipleship.