Partnership

Every week, we send out an email to all of our First Time Guests to thank them for checking out Freedom.  In that email, there is a link for them to fill out a brief survey.  Here’s one what we received back recently:

What did you first notice?: You guys get the GOLD MEDAL on customer service. EVERYONE spoke to us from the time we crawled out of the car to the person @ the door to the ladies @ the info table to the folks @ kids check in!!! We were also greeted by a man (with slightly reddish hair) who spoke to us before we entered worship and again as we were leaving. Even though my husband and I left the building separately, this guy made a point to say goodbye to each one of us! STELLAR JOB guys!!!

What did you like best?: All of the friendly people and smiling faces! You guys have created a very friendly and welcoming environment. The other thing that I like best is that my 3 kids WANT to come back and are asking if we are coming back this Sunday. You have no idea what a blessing this is. They have LOTS of reasons to NOT want to be at church.

What was your overall impression?: two thumbs up!!   Keep up the good work guys…

To say I am extremely proud of the team at Freedom is a HUGE understatement!  I love the people that help make Freedom happen each week.  You truly are helping people far from God to experience life in Christ!!

Currently, I have the opportunity to oversee the Guest Services areas on Sunday mornings. Pastor J.R. challenged us to think through why a person should desire to serve in our particular area.  Here’s what I came up with:

5. You have the opportunity to help our guests have a great first impression of Freedom Church.

4. You have the opportunity to honor others by creating a distraction free environment for them to worship.

3. You have the opportunity to connect with other incredible partners.

2. You have the opportunity to be on the front lines of something so much bigger than yourself.

1. You have the opportunity to help people far from God to experience life in Christ.

This morning, a few of our Guest Services team presented some potential upgrades to our staff.  We are looking to ramp up what we are doing on our Parking, Greeting, Usher, First Time Guest, and Hospitality teams.

Here is the question that I am asking, ‘How can we move from just being friendly to honoring our guests?‘  We get comments all the time about how friendly our people are.  It isn’t a broken system by any means.  However, what can we do to take the extra step to make it easier for people far from God to experience life in Christ?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can honor our guests.  Ready…. GO!

The people of Freedom Church are inviting machines.  We are averaging 40-50 first time guests per week.  They are doing an incredible job getting their friends and family to church.  This is just proof that if you give people something to be proud of, they’ll tell everyone they know!

The cool thing is that our people are playing a HUGE part in what God is doing in the lives of their friends and family.  It excites me when people are telling their story and it begins like this, ‘It all started when ________ invited me to church.’

Freedom Church, keep it up!  You are doing a great job!!

One of the ways we help connect new people to Freedom is by hosting a Newcomers’ Lunch every 6 weeks.  This is an opportunity for them to learn more about Freedom and ask any question that they might have about the church.  This has proven to be effective for us in helping people to determine if Freedom is or is not the place for them.

We also strongly encourage them to sign up for one of our Partnership teams.  This allows them to be connected to much more than just the Sunday morning worship experience.

This past Sunday, we had 65 people attend the luncheon and most of them agreed to partner in some fashion with the church.  I would encourage every church to do something similar to get people connected quicker.

1.  Bought a dresser for Presley this weekend.  I put it together myself and no one got hurt!

2. My sleeping schedule was all jacked up this weekend.  I took a couple of naps (which I don’t normally do) which led to me being up til 2am putting together furniture on Friday night.  I think I’m back on schedule.

3.  Had dinner at Dolce at Atlantic station with Joni for our anniversary.  Great food and atmosphere!

4.  Also went to see Obsessed.  Intense movie!

5.  Freedom was awesome yesterday!  We had more people begin a relationship with Jesus.  That’s why we do what we do!!

6.  Our partners never cease to amaze me!  Yesterday, they spent some time removing scuff marks (and there were tons of them from a play over the weekend) from the floor.  Why?  So that people far from God might experience life in Christ!!

7.  There is seriously no job I would rather have than the one I have now!!

8.  We hooked the moms up with some really cool watches!

Rick shows up with his leaf blower every Sunday morning to clean the sidewalks. Why? So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Corey scrapes the black marks off the floor at the school. Why? So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Kurt puts out directional signs, no matter what the weather is like. Why? So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Kelsianne spends the night at my house every Saturday night and brings my kids to church since Joni and I get there at 6am.  Why?  So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Our set-up team arrives at 6am.  Why?  So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Our tear down team stays until 1:30pm.  Why?  So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Other partners (more than I could ever name) park cars, greet people, seat people, run sound, serve in Freedom Kidz, etc.  Why?  So that people far from God can experience life in Christ!

Plain and simple….everything that we do is so that people far from God can experience  life in Christ!!

Recently, I have tried to shift my thinking about the partners of Freedom Church.  Maybe it wasn’t a total shift, but more of an adjustment.  I realized that everyday I pray about the opportunities that we have for people to partner with us.

I started to view them as a gift from God.  I know that sounds super spiritual.  But it’s true.  We pray and pray and pray.  Then God sends us the people.   They really are a gift.

Which brings up another question.  How are you treating your partners/volunteers?  Are you treating them like a gift? I think we have done a decent job in this area, but I desire to exceed expectations!

I’d love to hear your thoughts.