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Do We Have Customers?
I have worked in churches for over 15 years now and I will have to say it is definitely a unique “business” to be in. In fact, I just described the problem. Is the church a business? We have bills to pay, employees to provide for, buildings to maintain. There is a budget, income and expenses.
If the church is a business then do we have customers? If so who are they? Are our customers those who are already in the pews and on the roster? The ones who are faithful in attendance and give to support our ministries. Are our “customers” those who are in our community un-connected to any church, or not even knowing who Jesus is?
Furthermore, should we gear our resources, worship services, communications, programs etc to those who are already here, or to those who are unreached? On one hand if you do not take care of those who are already in the church, supporting the church, then they may not stay and support. However are we really fulfilling our mission to make disciples if we do not expect, plan for, and actively pursue those who are un-churched, non-believers?
Or is even the right question to ask?
I’d love your thoughts…
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This is certainly in interesting train of thought, and one that I’ve considered from time to time.
If we assume the church to be a business in the strictest sense, then our customers (again, in the strictest sense) would be those who make use of our services and provide remuneration for said services, i.e., those who attend our churches and pay our bills.
The way I prefer to look at it is that those church members would be better considered as investors committed to the work of the Church, who also play an active role in pursuing its goals, e.g., being salt and light to the world. In this scenario, church acts more like a co-op, and the ‘customers’ would be those whom we are trying to reach, who will either reject the offer of our product (the gift of salvation through Christ) or accept it, whereby they then join the ranks of working investors/members.
I think the Church is certainly more complex than that, and it’s likely beyond the scope of terms like this, but it is certainly an interesting exercise as we seek to be all things to all men, in order that a few might be saved. Applying these sorts of terms might just be useful in presenting the Gospel to someone who comes from a business background.
Thanks for the thoughts!
Love the Co-op analogy.. for lack of a better one. But yeah the church is not confined or defined by these terms…
God made it pretty clear that we are to reach the people in our communities. I believe that reorienting our church members to that goal is what will fulfill them too. (They may not know it or believe it, but I believe it’s still true.) To use your words, “gearing our resources, worship services, communications, programs etc to those who are already here” AND “to those who are unreached” is ultimately the same goal. The very best thing for our church members is that they grow to share their faith and reach out to the people in the community.
Maybe the question is “which comes first?” – the discipleship of our members or the outreach to the community? I believe they happen simultaneously. Discipleship is best learned by doing the work of reaching others.
I have sometimes wondered if it would not benefit a church to take one year and not do outreach. Not focus on bringing people in but focus on themselves. However not just focusing on taking care of themselves, but on growing stronger on the inside, so they can be better equipped to go into the world and reach others. Check out “When it’s Ok Not To Produce Fruit”
Russell, it’s a great insight. Here are my two cents. Any business must be supported by repeat customers. But for the business to grow, either the repeat customers have to buy more frequently, or the business needs to add new repeat customers. Our churches are typically supported by a core and I think the church has an obligation to meet the needs of those people. However, it is also the church’s job to raise up and train those people to be pro-active in the church’s call to bring in new “customers” so that the ministries the church has for the original repeat customers will now minister to the new repeat customers. Does that make sense? Also, the church needs to allocate man-power and resources to bringing in the new folks, but where we often miss the boat is that we take the congregation out of that process. We as church staff members develop new worship services, advertising, coffee pot fellowship times, and cool website elements to appeal to new members when all along it is the current members who have the best opportunity to bring in new members…errr…customers.
I think even with all the new cool ways we have to reach people, word of mouth and living out a Christ like life is the best way to bring in new members…
I love the conversation. It’s a very thought provoking concept. What I’ve read so far in the comments, I think, really does a great service to the dialog and adds a lot. I hope I have the same impact.
Is the church a business? In a way, I don’t think so. But who am I to say question Jesus who said “do business until I come.” Forgive me Lord if I stray from the point.
First, are we a “for profit” business, or a “not for profit” business? (and we can limit this to our concept of a “real church”, and I leave that interpretation to the reader). A for profit business provides a good or service in exchange for money with the goal of making more money than costs to produce the good or service. They typically have customers or clients. In a non-profit business things change. The relationship of the customer/money changes. The customer becomes separated from the money, almost always, in that the patron (the giver) is usually providing the funds to allow the non-profit to provide a service the customer needs but can’t afford. That’s usually the case, and fits well enough, I hope.
But now we get to the church. It’s legally designated a non-profit organization. The law sees people donating money to an organization. But is that what’s happening? Is tithing an act of charity or is it the obedient act of a human to his/her God? Who’s money IS it? I count every penny as a blessing from God’s bounty. I don’t see it as me giving my money to God’s church, I see it as my response to God’s call that I do this.
Until very recently, I was unemployed for a week more than 365 days. Had I needed it, I would have gone to the church and asked for help. Would I be receiving the charity of others as a client, or would I be receiving the same blessing I receive when my pay check comes?
The problem in the question is that it is our Lord and Savior who “owns” this “business.” And the structure takes on so many forms, that “business” isn’t a good term. Legally, we operate, again, as a non-profit business with all the trappings such as a corporation has and has already been enumerated above. But also, we’re a commune, in that we all contribute and take.
I think the answer is that we are a non-profit business where we need to be, and a commune is the service that the business facilitates.
But there I go, questioning Jesus. So, what did He give us, in his word, to help us?
Luke 19:13 in the parable of the Minas – Jesus says “do business until I come.”
In Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
All that I’ve said, I change now to this.
I am not a benefactor to a non-profit. I cannot give money that isn’t mine. It is the Lord’s and I am His steward.
I am not a customer. The Lord provides me all that I need.
I am not an owner. (duh)
I AM a worker. A bondservant of Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior.
Are the lost our clients? I think not.
Matthew 9:37
37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
The lost are the corn, the body are the workers to tend the corn.
Your topic excited me. I rambled. Sorry about that.
Be blessed!
Your fellow servant in Christ,
Michael
no worries about rambling.. I love the discussion. Thanks for your comments