Note the usage of the term "experience." This is a code word in the purpose driven landscape. It is no longer hip to call it church. Nope. Instead it is a "worship experience." No thanks, I will stick to what God called it and leave the world of human wisdom to the experts like Tony Morgan. I know this is anathema to most who attend seeker driven churches but as long as the Gospel is preached, I do not care much about the experience the visitor might have to a given church.
"1. The Guest Services area is staffed with people who don't engage with newcomers. The church feels like a private club. Guest service team members are more engaged with one another than with newcomers. Guest services are the "first" in "first impressions." If this team is off, my visit is off within minutes." -- Tony Morgan
Now, I have always found the welcome staff at evangelical churches to be positively gushing to meet new people, so I am unsure where Morgan has been visiting. I will agree the object is not to be rude however the truth continues to elude Mr. Morgan. It is a private club. The Gospel is exclusive which is why so many in the world hate Jesus. He is not one way to heaven -- He is the only way. So I agree people would be friendly but the only thing that matters to the first time visitor is that they heard the Gospel.
"2. The church didn't welcome me and help me know what to expect. There's a general lack of guiding visitors through the worship experience and explaining what to do in the different elements of the services, like singing, offering, etc. Specifically welcoming new people is frequently missed. Someone yells "welcome" and then all of a sudden people start standing up, and then they sing. The only place I sing is in my car or in my shower. Guide me a little more. Invite me to sing, but give me permission to just take it in." -- Tony Morgan
Ugh. You have to be kidding me. These are not children. I remember my first Pentecostal church service. I was confused at first but I could see what others were doing. This is recurring theme throughout a purpose driven church. Everything is about the goats often at the expense of the sheep. You're being nice to them, and giving them more direction cannot save them.
"3. People on stage don't reflect the church's target "customer." The people on the platform should non-verbally communicate this is a safe place, a normal place, to the people you are trying to reach" just by being who they are. Many times the platform presence doesn't reflect that. A lot of churches miss the "75% rule"--having 75% of people on the platform in the same age range (or below) as the people you are trying to reach." -- Tony Morgan
Are you insane? First of all there are no "customers." If there are customers then everything has become transactional. Our Lord and Savior become a product to market and sell. I have seen mega church pastors implore the lost to "try Jesus out" like He was a used car. Give Him a test drive! The Bible says that we are a peculiar people -- not a safe space. The platform presence should be people filled with the Holy Spirit who walk according to the Bible. Their age is completely irrelevant. While we are on the subject, pastors please stop trying to dress like your youth. There is nothing more condescending to young people then listening to a 50 year old man in skinny jeans, a plaid shirt and hipster glasses.
"4. The service order feels like an assembly of separate parts, rather than a cohesive experience. Stop"start"stop"start" Nothing makes me check my watch more than a herky-jerky service. We sing two songs, there's a video announcement, there are live announcements, we have a song for offering, message, another song, communion, closing announcement, benediction" An unchurched person will be thinking, "Get me out. Land the plane."' -- Tony Morgan
