Monthly Archive for July, 2007

StS Award of Excellence: Green Acres Baptist Tyler, Texas

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 15, 2007
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

Happened to be in Tyler, Texas on Friday and stopped by to Green Acres Baptist to see their campus. Way to go guys, great job on everything you have done and are doing to reach Tyler and surrounding areas for Christ.

I look forward to stopping in one weekend to see you guys.

Love the new signage package around the campus. The monument directional signs from the street are exceptionally done, visible to persons driving by, professionally appealing, and communicate very well.

Love the new facility.

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

StS Award of Excellence: First Baptist Gladewater, Texas

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 12, 2007
in Street to the Seat
. 1 Comment

Hello North East Texas!

I’m in the area over the next couple of weeks and thought I give a couple of shout outs to churches as I am in the area.

Happened to pass by the newly remodeled First Baptist Church of Gladewater, Texas and boy was I impressed. Way to go guys. The remodel looks awesome! But the thing that was most helpful to me was the new signage that tells me about what you have going on.

I noticed that from every direction around the campus there are new “Welcome” signs with basic information about the church. (times, locations, phone, email, web, etc…) I even noticed that on several of the signs it let me know in “red text” that the main entrance was on the north side of building with an arrow in the direction I needed to go.

These were very helpful as I checked all the entrances to the multiple parking lots around the campus and across the street and each one had a “welcome” sign with information for me.

Quick, easy, and very nicely done.

Way to go guys!

We celebrate your “Street to the Seat” love of people with clear and accurate information for persons seeking Christ!

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

Submit your Ideas & Photos

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 12, 2007
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

Hey Gang!

I’m looking for your ideas and photos for StS.

EMAIL ME

Communication Ideas

  • photos/.pdf docs of your communication pieces, signage around your campus, kiosks, tv screens,displays, information centers, etc…

Connection Ideas

  • photos of your target audience, volunteers serving around the campus as greeters, ushers, traffic, information centers, campus cleaning, etc…

Consistency Ideas

  • photos of persons serving in first impressions that you’d like to spotlight and why you think we should spotlight them on our blog.

Classification Ideas

  • photos/.pdf docs of what you are doing for new believers, membership classes, communion, small groups, service, evangelism and spiritual growth steps.

Send us your photos and ideas and we’ll begin highlighting your church for everyone to celebrate with you in what you are doing.

Remember to include your name, church name, city, state, and your position on staff or in the church. Your web address would be great to have as well.

Creating a “coaching network” if you will. Learning together to make a difference in the world.

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

1st Impressions Team Overview

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 2, 2007
in Connection
. 0 Comments

Several of you have requested a basic overview of our 1st impressions team. Here you go. We call them our Campus Ministry Team.

Traffic – This is the ministry for people of Saddleback,who want to serve God, by safely guiding and facilitating the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Join the other 75 Traffic Ministry Volunteers in this vital ministry, serving before and after scheduled weekend services and at other special events where traffic control is needed. Click here to view the video

Ushering – Ushers serve at the worship service of their choice by helping with the following opportunities: Greeting attendees as they enter the venues and handing out bulletins, taking the offering, praying for members and guests, assisting with any problems members or guests may have. The 300+ Ushers currently serving would love to welcome you, to fellowship with them in this ministry. Click here to view the video

Campus Cleaning – The Campus Cleaning Ministry helps to care for the buildings on Saddleback’s campus. The 50 volunteers in this ministry serve the Lord by serving others through their care for our place of worship. Our goal is to provide a positive, refreshing experience to everyone who attends or visits Saddleback Church, by maintaining clean worship venues, restrooms,and offices. Click here to view the video

Greeters – A warm smile and a friendly handshake can do wonders for a person’s state of mind. Greeters are often the first people that seekers, attendees and members see once they get to campus and the goal of the 200 volunteers currently in this ministry is to prepare the hearts of these people for the message they are about to hear. A softened heart is an open heart and Greeters serve God by helping these people receive His Word. Click here to view the video

Health care – The spiritually based environment for the 50 health care professionals within this ministry allows fellowship and networking while serving the church and community with their professional knowledge and ability. This Ministry qualifies and trains health care professionals to serve God as first aid providers at all worship services and major events. These volunteers provide medical assistance and “compassion care“ to anyone who becomes ill or injured at Saddleback Church, providing a valuable service to both the patient and their family until additional help arrives.

Information Center – This area becomes the hub of activity on the patio, before and after weekend services as the 50 volunteers serving in the ministry provide visitors and members with general information regarding Saddleback Church. Attendees can find out about upcoming events, ask spiritually based questions or just get directions. Volunteers serving in this ministry will also have the opportunity to speak to visiting pastors about Saddleback.

Bulletin Assembly – Each week we need more than 20,000 bulletins stuffed with the sermon outline and other inserts. The 50+ volunteers in this ministry meet in the Worship Center at 2:00pm every Saturday to get these done for the weekend services and enjoy fellowship and friendship in the process. At times, additional projects are completed by this ministry in the Green Room on Friday mornings and/or Ministry Center Monday mornings.

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

Another Small Win

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 2, 2007
in Contribution
. 0 Comments

With the opening of our new entrance, road, pedestrian bridge, and parking lots we are putting our first impressions team (traffic, greeters, ushers, etc…) in new ETV shirts for opening weekend, July 7th. ETV stands for Extending the Vision.

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

Small Wins

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 2, 2007
in Contribution
. 0 Comments

Question?

What are the small wins we have identified that help build momentum? (in various areas and strategies)

Here are some of my thoughts. I’d love to here yours. Shoot me and email.

1. Lead Time - communicating with ones congregation and community far enough in advance that it allows for them to plan for participation.

2. The Right Information - communicating what is most important at the right time to engage persons to action. Too much information isn’t always the best strategy. The right information at the right time is the best strategy.

3. Volunteer Appreciation - saying thank you to persons on the front lines of first impressions. (cards, emails, appreciation dinner, cookout, etc…)

4. The Ministry of Walking Around - walking the campus every service, every weekend to say thank you to our volunteers who faithfully serve in traffic, greeters, ushers, health care, campus cleaning, ministry tables, welcome center, etc…

5. Welcome Center - a simple place where guests can find pertinent information (maps of the campus, brochures, information on upcoming events, hosts to help them get to where they are going) Don’t overwhelm them…put only the most pertinent information for immediate connection. You can send them follow-up information upon their request. And don’t make the Welcome Center a hard place to find. Put it where they can see it and train every volunteer to drive persons to it.

6. Take Aways - something tangible they can leave the service with that triggers them to act during the following week. (business card reminder for their wallet, magnet, sticker, tattoo, etc…have fun with it.)

7. Fresh Start Kit - a simple kit for persons who choose Christ during your service. (Bible, brochure on how to have a devotional, message from your pastor on DVD/CD, What On Earth Am I Hear For pamphlet, etc…)

8. Soft-side Information Card - providing members/guests and opportunity to give you information and submit questions. Might even be something you could harvest digitally with an online response card.

9. Baptism Frequency - providing an opportunity for persons to be baptized immediately following your services weekly.

10. Hang Time - allowing time and safe places for persons to hang with each other while on the campus. This is key to building community with members/guests. (Consider garden areas, recreational walks, coffee shop atmospheres, lounge areas, bookstores, commons area, etc…)

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

The Bible in Web 2.0

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 1, 2007
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

You know me…if I think it will help you and your church then I’ll test it. Here is a church that is taking innovation to a whole new level. The creative minds at LifeChurch have create YouVersion the Bible in Web 2.0 format.

“YouVersion is a free online Bible that allows users to associate video, audio, images, text, tags, and links to other websites with any verse or series of verses in the Bible. Each piece of contributed content can be labeled as public or private, so the application can be used both as a personal study tool and a public expression of user-generated commentary. In addition to contributing content, Scripture can be organized by assigning user-defined “tags” to any verse of the Bible.”

Now that is innovation.

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved

"Just Hanging Out" this 4th of July

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on July 1, 2007
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

My spirit has been heavy these past couple of weeks and I’ve been thinking about all we do to help someone move from “street to the seat” as we help them B.E.L.O.N.G.. I’ve been listening to your comments, what is working for you, what’s not, what we still have to learn and what we can teach others to help churches be more successful at helping persons choose Christ and belong to the church family.

The lesson I learned today is one of not forgetting simple pleasures. My oldest son Caleb reminded us this afternoon of the simple pleasures of just hanging out. We’ve spent a lazy southern California afternoon in the backyard watching our boys; Caleb (7), Josiah (2), and Levi (4 mths) play on the swing and sit in the bouncer seat. Just a few minutes ago we made smores in the fire pit as Caleb says these words, “This is the best day of my life.” We asked him what made this that kind of day. He says, “Because we are just hanging out.”

Those words caught my attention so I went directly to my computer and began typing this post. “This is the best day of my life.” What have we done today differently than any other Sunday afternoon in the past couple of years. I get home around 2:00 p.m. after the 4th of 6 services and we have a mid afternoon snack, take a nap, or if they are up to it we play in the backyard before heading back for the last 2 services at 4:30/6:30 p.m.. Today, the difference is the recognition that the entire family is in the backyard together just hanging out. We are sabbathing and even a 7 year old can recognize the theology of “just hanging out”.

I think there is a simple lesson for us here. Some times the best strategy for helping someone move from the street to the seat and belong is a ton easier than 3 points, 2 hymns, and a story. It is as my son Caleb is teaching us today that before you can move someone from their street you need to just hang out. It will be the best day of your life and there’s too.

So on this 4th of July don’t ask your folks for more. Encourage them to “Just Hang Out”.

© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved