Archive for the 'Community' Category

Journeying with Jesus often takes the road less traveled.

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on September 1, 2009
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Communication, Community, Connection, Contribution, Street to the Seat and Top 10 Things
. 0 Comments

Over the summer months Stephanie and I have been on a ministry growth journey with the Christ Fellowship team, our mentors, our coaches, and family about life and ministry.

We have come to a place in resent days where we believe God is leading us to transition from our position as Director of Adult Ministries at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens Florida.

As we pray through our next steps in ministry we ask that you join us for an adventure with Jesus.  We are so excited about our next steps… even when we can’t see them clearly.  Dependency is a great place to live.

Street to the Seat (STS) has been close to our hearts for the past several years so we will continue this ministry as we move forward. Please click on the Services tab to see how we can better serve you, your denomination, association, and/or church.

Please CONTACT US to begin a conversation.

Street to the Seat
17172 Brian Way
Jupiter, Florida 33478
561-972-4316
kerry@streettotheseat.com

A week in review while vacationing at the Hyatt Coconut Plantation

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on June 15, 2009
in Communication, Community, Connection and Contribution
. 0 Comments

This past week Stephanie, the boys and I, as well as Stephanie’s parents spent 5 days relaxing near Fort Myers, Florida.  I am continually impressed by how important Customer Relations are in the resort community.  It seems they do not miss a thing from the time you step on the premises until the moment you leave or at least they try.

Makes me ask the question why we do not take first impressions and customer relations more seriously in the local church.

Over the past 13 years in the local church several questions continue to surface in my mind, especially with my recent experience.

  • How can we help the church take a more significant role in customer relations with those who are our guests? (concierge at the condo)
  • What communication tools are we using and are they the correct ones to help meet their perceived needs? (oral, print, broadcast, digital media tools - quick reference guide at the condo)
  • What are we providing guests that creates connection within minutes of their arrival? (guest dessert with staff on evening of arrival, free breakfast in the foyer, etc…)
  • How do we help persons feel like they are making a contribution? (all guests were asked to hang their towels for multiple days to assist with being ‘green’, also asked to keep the grounds clean, etc…)
  • How are we helping persons feel like they are part of the community as quickly as possible? (the resort shared a listing of all the benefits available.)

Just a couple of thoughts I was having this week.

Thank you Hyatt Coconut Plantation for a GREAT experience while being your guest.  You made a GREAT first impression and provided GREAT customer relations.

The backside of Easter

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on April 25, 2009
in Communication and Community
. 0 Comments

long time… no talk…

The backside of Easter is always a busy time for us first impression and assimilation guys/gals.  All the hard work that is put into making the experience one that will break down all the barriers of someone who only attends a church once to twice a year is crucial.

The back end of the experience is just as crucial.  This year was a great year where I serve.  We saw 1275 families engage one of our campuses with 312 persons choosing to follow Jesus and 204 persons saying they desire to return to the teachings of Jesus.  Wow… Praise God for such a wonderful Easter experience…27,000 on one of our 5 campuses and 16,000 joining us online.

We have spent the the past two weeks being very intentional about how we follow up with our guests.

Here are a few things we’ve done that you might find helpful:

NewComer:

  • FREE CD at the Welcome Centers with a coupon for a FREE coffee and/or meal on us.
  • Email response w/n 24 hours of them completing a response card
  • Automated phone call from our executive pastor w/n 48 hours
  • Personal phone call from a ministry partner and/or pastor from the campus they attended w/n 72 hours
  • Letter in the mail from Senior Pastor w/n 3 days - specifically asking them to join us for the next weekends launch of a new series

New to Jesus

  • Email w/n 24 hours
  • Personal phone call from a ministry partner and/or pastor from the campus they attended w/n 72 hours
  • Letter in the mail from Director of Adult Ministries w/n 3 days - specifically asking them to join us for the next weekends launch of a new series AND to invite them to “New Beginnings” a class specifically designed for them to answer their questions and give them next steps.

Coming back to Jesus

  • Email w/n 24 hours
  • Personal phone call from a ministry partner and/or pastor from the campus they attended w/n 72 hours
  • Letter in the mail from Director of Adult Ministries w/n 3 days - specifically asking them to join us for the next weekends launch of a new series AND to invite them to “Foundations” a class specifically designed for them address the basics doctrines of the faith and give them next steps.

In addition, we have asked each of our campus teams to personally call these folks weekly for the first month just to check on them, see how they are doing, answer any questions, they may have, and encourage them to connect with us each week on some level… weekend service, life group, life study, etc…

Hope these few suggestions are helpful…

iMAX tool launches at Christ Fellowship this weekend. GREAT next step tool for assimilating new folks into small group community leveraging the weekend experience and teaching time as a springboard for community/belonging.

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on March 15, 2009
in Community
. 0 Comments

You want to talk about tools for building Community.  Check out the new tool we launched this weekend at Christ Fellowship.  The iMAX Guide is a great next step tool.

__________

Maximize the Message (iMax)

The IMAX Guide is designed to bring your faith to life! You can use it individually, as a family devotional, or in a group with your friends. It’s up to you! These guides will help you take the message to the max so you can Grow to Go!

Each week, there will be a new guide based on the most recent weekend message. You can download your copy or pick it up at Life Group Central right after the service you attend.

Ways you can use this tool:

  • Meet with friends after the service you attend to unpack the message together
  • Gather with a friend or family at a local café to talk about how the message impacted you
  • Use during your personal devotional times throughout the week • Initiate spiritual conversations with your family about the message
  • Use the guides as the curriculum in your life group
  • Ask a couple friends to go through a message series with you so you can discover, develop, and deploy God’s Word in your lives
  • Tips for Life Group Discussion

Share Your Story

How has God touched your life during your time spent using these guides? We’d love to know so that we can pray for you and encourage others in their faith. Let us know how has helped you in your group by using our online contact form.

Intentional Assimilation

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on March 12, 2009
in Communication, Community, Connection and Contribution
. 0 Comments

I was dialoging several thoughts with my Rockbridge Seminary class in the past few days when someone asked if I’d give them a thirty thousand foot view of how I might see “intentional assimilation”.  I wrote this little ‘ditty’ in 10 minutes so I’m sure it has room for improvement; however, see what you might learn from it that will help your church.

___________________________

Intentional Assimilation begins long before the weekend experience and goes on for days, weeks, and months after the initial encounter.  Consider what it might mean to your church if you looked at the following areas of assimilation and how would it change what you currently do.

1.    Communication

Assimilation for new comers begins with a communication strategy that includes oral, print, broadcast, and digital media.  Rex Miller writes a great book on Millennium Matrix.  A must read for leverage every platform available to communicate who we are and how you can belong here.  This begins with members of the congregation engaging their community personally telling life-changing stories.

2.    Connection

Touch points are huge!  These are the “street to the seat” type issues from signage packages around your campuses to, traffic volunteers, greeters, Welcome Center hosts, ushers, EMS teams, Security, etc…  Leveraging every opportunity to take someone by the hand through his or her entire first impression experience.

This might also include welcome packets, new believer kits, brochures about ministries, coffees, luncheons, etc…

3.    Contribution

Although not talked about enough the key to retention of guests is retention of good volunteers (ministry partners) in strategic touch points.  John C. Maxwell reminded me the other day of one of his old sayings, “make sure you have people with the ‘gift of ush’… ushering”.  What he means is make sure you have your best people on the front lines of engaging your folks from the curb to the cushion, the parking lot to the pew, the street to the seat…

4.    Community

Building a “Grow to Go” discipleship platform will produce huge dividends in the long term.  Develop a plan to have crawl, walk, and run steps for people.  I call this “discover, develop, deploy”.  People need to see that you have a plan for them and their families.  More to come on “Grow to Go”… a life work in the making.

Here are some ideas:
•    Response Card – ‘guest card’
o    Ask persons to complete during every service
o    Provide cards at every Welcome Center
•    Next Step Process
o    Follow-up, say the same thing and direct consistently… if multi-site, be ALIGNED…
•    101 – 2 hr orientation on fellowship (membership class – HUGE)
•    201 – 2 hr orientation on becoming like Christ – “Grow to Go”
•    301 – 2 hr orientation on how God has SHAPEd you to serve the church (Only U Can B U)
•    401 – 2 hr orientation telling your story personally, locally, and globally
•    501 – 2 hr orientation on full life surrender.
•    Small Groups – intentional growth groups meeting throughout the week
o    Truly where long term care happens

“Single most influential change in my spiritual journey 12 years ago with Daryl Eldridge.”

•    Studies – centralized and decentralized discipleship classes (life studies) that meet one of the five purposes and meet one of the three levels of learning (discover, develop, deploy)

Toss some of these ideas around in discussion and see what else you can dream up.

Fish or Cut Bait - “Good News Fishing Ministry” chooses to fish

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on February 21, 2009
in Community
. 0 Comments

You’ve heard the old saying, “fish or cut bait.  WELL, Good News Fishing Minisry chooses to fish.  My boys and I were treated today to 4 hours of pure joy on the water thanks to Captain Don and Captain Tony of Good News Fishing Ministry.

When I speak of the heart of Street to the Seat and helping persons choose Christ and the Church, well Good News Fishing Ministry gets it to the core.  These guys are all about breaking down the walks of Christianity and meeting persons where they are.  They engage persons at the point of need and use fishing as a way of allow persons to be who they are, where they are without brick and mortar.

Might you consider this type of ministry?  Let me challenge you to say YES.

DONATE to Good News Fishing Ministry

If you are in Florida you MUST get involved with these guys.  They are ministering out of Rivera Beach, Tampa, Key Largo, and the Bahamas.  Come join the ministry and show Jesus to the world through fishing.

A thought for you fathers out there.

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on February 17, 2009
in Community and Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

Long time no write.  Sorry about that.

“Reflections on Life while Walking in Death” used to be the title for letters a buddy of mine was writing about his journey with cancer.  This past week he changed the title to….

“Reflections on Life”

He went on to say, “Death can walk by himself… cause he ain’t walking with me.”

What a great reminder to us that we are so blessed to walk in life.  The time we have is so precious.  My buddy reminded me this week that my greatest priority is my faith in Jesus and my second is my family.  Death is trying to take both of his, but he isn’t fighting alone.  He has turned the battle over to the Lord.

Thanks friend for reminding me what is most important.  I needed that reminder.

You are a blessing to me.

G2G “Grow to Go: Reaching Your Potential”

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on October 27, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Communication, Community, Connection and Contribution
. 2 Comments

Grow to Go

I am so excited to share with you how we have been unpacking the 4 C’s at Christ Fellowship (CF) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  As you recall the 4 C’s are Communication, Connection, Contribution and Community.

As we think through helping persons take next steps on the journey of faith see if this helps you.  At CF we are doing this through G2G - Grow to Go: Reaching your Potential.

G2G can be unpacked this way.

Discover - Now that you’re on the JOURNEY and have made the most important decision of your life…what’s next?

Develop - no matter what stage of life you’re in, if you have a desire to grow in your relationship with others and Jesus… here are more NEXT STEPS.

Deploy - Jesus commands us to GO… check our next steps that will take your FARTHER than you’ve been before.

First Impressions and the effect on Multi-Site Campuses

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on June 9, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Communication, Community, Connection and Contribution
. 0 Comments

I am so blessed to be in the midst of thinking though First Impressions and its relationship to a multi-site campus environment.

What does it mean to standardize First Impressions and all that that entails across multi-site?

I.e. -

Communication - oral, print, broadcast, & digital media (branding look/feel)

Connection - traffic, greeters, ushers, first aid, security, welcome centers, campus cleaning, ministry promotions

Contribution - enlistment, training, and placement of ministry partners and the need for cross training

Community - standardization of B.E.L.O.N.G.ing (Become, Embrace, Live, Offer, Nurture, & Grow)

What does it mean to have a standardized assimilation strategy that is organic enough to allow for real community yet strategic enough that follow-up and next steps are taking place.  Stability that creates flexibility.

The more I am researching the more I can see how standardization makes “intentionally”, “clarity”, “alignment”, and “focus” home runs for unity and productivity across an organization.

What are your learnings in this area?

No One Ever Got To The Top Alone

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 17, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Community and Street to the Seat
. 1 Comment

OK… bear with me this is a long one. I am sitting in a hotel in Seminole, Texas on a 4 day consulting gig and I just had to write this post. I have been reading Dr. John C. Maxwell’s book, “Leadership Gold” when I stopped to think of all the people who have help me get to where I am today.

So, I’m stopping right not to say THANK YOU for investing in me over the years. You have made me who I am today. I am indebted to you. My success is your success. I have never been lonely on this journey. You are with me and I with you.

FAMILY

Faye B. Mackey (mom)
Stephanie (wife) Caleb, Josiah, Levi, Silas

PRE SEMINARY

Mark Wiley, James & Gaye Calhoun, Ken & Barbie Stogsdill, The Kensel’s

SEMINARY DAYS

Daryl Eldridge, Gary Waller, Ken Hemphill

MAYFIELD ROAD

Wayne C., Keven F. and their wives Jana & Regina and the ministry partners we work alongside.

WOODLAND HEIGHTS

Wayne & Amy B., Patty, Doug, Lee, Kristi, Rob & Donna, Jase & Tami, and the many ministry partners (volunteers).

FIELDER ROAD

Gary, Michael, Clayton, Jerry & Jerry, Dorthy, Ginger, Lonnie, Jim, Larry Dan, Yevonne, David, Analisa, Jarrod, Glen, Kyle, Elizabeth, Lee, Barbara, Kevin, and the hundreds of ministry partners (volunteers) on our team, and the list goes on…

SADDLEBACK

Gina, Erin, Linda, Stacey, Denise, Dee Dee, Janelle, Susan, Carey, Lance, Doug S., Forrest, Jan S., Jan W., Clayton, Pat, David Upton, Eric, Bill, Buddy, Mike, Steve, Rick W., Stevy K, Rick M., Tim L., Tony Steward, Brad, Dan, David, Mark, Dawn, Michelle, Glen, Tom, Tim D., Tony G., Charlotte, Shaun B., Doug F., Doug H., Kurt, Josh, Jana, Dick, Tom A., Todd, Debbie, Louis, David A., David G., Ron, Jim, Liz, Bob, Tommy, John B., Johnny B., Kevin, Chuck, Matt, Dave, Curtis, Bob, Bob, & Bob, Justin A., Oz Genis, Sam, Rick B., Jon, Kathy, Jim D., Steve R., Skip, David W., Craig, Brian, Shawn K., over 1100 ministry partners (volunteers) on our team, and the list goes on…

CHRIST FELLOWSHIP (just in the past 2 weeks)

Tom & Donna, Todd & Julie, Dave & Betsy, Lance, Patricia, Kathryn, Kelly & Brad, Shila, Ruth, Reid, Time, Brian, Peter, Mona, Gail, Tina, Julie J., Angela, Christy, Johnathan, Matt P., Don, Jon, Shaun B., Chis, Heather, James, Greg, Jay, Meagan, Lenora, David K., Robert, Heidi, Yvonne, Bill, Leo Nathan, Jason, Joe, Jeremy, Cindy, Spring, Katie, Stephen, Keven, Danny, Joe M., Char, Michal & the twins, Debbie, Pam, Tom, Darvan, Pam, Dale, Daniel, Danielle, Ricky, Bill, Paul, Dr. John Maxwell, the ministry partners we are getting to know and the list continues to grow..

I can’t tell you how blessed I have been to have been taught by so many. These people have made me who I am today. I am a blessed man!

Thank You All!