Yesterday as I was scrolling Twitter I ran across an article by Business Insider titled "4 Reasons Buffalo Wild Wings Business Is On Fire"...I immediately clicked, and as I read I saw 4 things the church could learn from one of my favorite restaurants. 4 things that would absolutely transform and help introduce more people to the life God intended. Maybe you're one of those "entertainment in church is a sin" people... and that's cool. I just want to talk about what we can do to ensure we are giving our best to God and His children.
1. They Pay Attention To The Calendar
Business Insider says that BWW sales rose 6% in the 3rd quarter when much bigger and more branded restaurants are struggling for business. They say one major reason is that BWW pays attention to the calendar. They leverage sporting events that they can promote, build promotions around, and draw people into their doors. In fact, sometimes, they will discount their food in order to get people in the door for the event, because if they can get them there, they will spend money! Around here in Columbia, last football season if the Gamecocks football team scored at least 3 TDs (i think that's right) you could get a free snack size wings! My son and I got free lunch a couple of times...but I always spent more when there!
What if the church looked at the calendar and leveraged our days, services, and promotions around that? Sure, we plan for Easter and Christmas but what about Mother's Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, or even Super Bowl Sunday and NCAA March Madness? What if we could leverage the days we can't change and turned them around for the Gospel?
2. They Are Always Improving The Experience
Now this is where some pastors and church leaders always check out. Why SHOULDN'T we improve the experience of church services? Why shouldn't we keep up with the culture, utilize it's strong points, and create a service that makes people want to get out of bed rather than stay in them? BWW is installing tableside tablets for games and pay at your table options. Why can't the church create fun places to socialize, play loud, fun music? Why can't we do more than that, and just let our imagination roam with creativity? I suggest that we can, that we should, and that even Jesus would want us to! Sure, maybe some people will come for the experience of the service, not out of a genuine love for God...but from my experience, it was the experience at BWW that made me come back time and time again, which then turned into a genuine love for the product. Can't Jesus do the same?
3. They Are Utilizing Technology
I recently had a friend tell me that the board at his church was arguing over whether or not to include WiFi in the main sanctuary. All because some believed it was beneficial, others believed people didn't need to be on their phones/tablets in service. Here's the reality: people WILL be on their phones one way or another; you might as well utilize technology to help them connect with the Gospel your teaching! Youversion.com makes this INCREDIBLY simple through their "Live Events" section of their app. You can go in and add poll questions, prayer requests, thoughts people can share on Social Media with just a click, and scriptures they can pull up with just their thumb. There's other ways to utilize media (ie: video, Facebook conversations, Twitter shareables, etc.). The goal isn't to be the most creative with it, it's to improve the experience by utilizing, rather than isolating, technology. Use it to your advantage!
4. They Focus On Their Strengths
When deer hunting it's beneficial to have a scope on your rifle because it blocks out all the side noise, and helps your focus in on one spot...what's between the cross hairs! BE WHO YOU ARE...as a church and an individual. If you're traditional and that's who you are, be that and own it! If you're ultra contemporary, be that and own it! Don't try to be the next Perry Noble, Andy Stanley, or Steven Furtick if you aren't...just be who God created you to be and set the cross hairs on your strengths and your vision and shoot! As a church, who you are is often determined by the vision birthed within the leader. Own it, put it in the cross hairs and pull the trigger! Don't wish to be something God never intended you to be in the first place. Don't try to recreate ministries that others in your community are already doing well, just support those and then do what you do well!
The reality is this: there's a lot we can learn from the corporate world when it comes to leadership, but there's a lot the world needs to hear from the church with the Gospel. What if we decided to stop isolating and started marrying the two to make a greater impact for the Kingdom?
What are you and your church doing to make an impact? Are there any other business ideas the church could learn from?
