North of Normal

On Mondays I always watch the game footage from Sunday (in my mind, of course). I look at what we did well, and what we can improve. Even on the best days it is essential that we never become complacent or “satisfied.” There is a huge difference in being content and being satisfied (another post for another time). I really believe to elevate you must evaluate.

So, here’s my behind-the-scenes assessment of C3 yesterday.

Let’s start with the key plays - what we did well:

1. Planning. Our Team is relentless in our planning. We spend significant time talking through the elements of the service and message. I use a team to help with message development which has greatly improved our connection in communication.
2. Volunteers. C3 has the greatest group of volunteers of any church I know. These people understand Barbaric Grace and they step up big time each week. It’s simply hard to believe we’re a portable church when you come through the doors. The atmosphere is electric and the people of C3 are so warm and welcoming.
3. Attendance. Yesterday we had the largest attendance we’ve ever had in the theaters - 718! We can use all the creative elements to “advertise” and “market” C3, but the most effective way to get people to C3 is for you to invest in a relationship with them and personally invite them! We’ve tracked it - by far it’s the most effective method of growth. So, keep it up!!!
4. Execution. Each week, prior to the 1st service I meet with some of our team in a private room and we go through the flow and message elements. Final tweaks are made. Then, immediately after the 1st service we meet again and make changes - we talk through what didn’t flow or what didn’t come across well - we make the necessary changes and do it again. Yesterday, the execution awesome. It’s the first time I can remember that we really didn’t make any changes for the second service.

What didn’t go well:

You would never know this if I didn’t tell you. That’s because the Team God has placed around me is phenomenal! There were 2 primary elements of this weeks game plan that totally fell apart late in the week. As a pastor, Easter is huge. The pressure is massive. It’s one of the biggest gifts you can get in church life - the momentum of Easter, so to capitalize on it and maximize it is always part of our strategy. We’re not satisfied with “many people will come just because it’s Easter.” Our thinking is, “yes many will come, how can we get even more?”

So, we invested in a unique video designed just for C3 involving U2 and… well I’m not going to tell you yet. We got the final version on Friday (past the deadline) and we couldn’t use it. It just wasn’t good enough. That’s right, we killed a major element of the service on Friday afternoon!

Also, we invested heavily in a major mailing to tens of thousands of homes in East Orlando which was messed up by the printer and didn’t arrive on time (many people in the area still haven’t gotten it)! This wasn’t just your typical church mailing - it is a full brochure about our church. If it had arrived on time it would have been significant for Easter.

Here’s the deal - in-spite of the issues, God moved. Our team busted it and everyone pitched in and we rebuilt pieces of the service on Saturday. If you were there Sunday morning - it was incredible, powerful, and very moving. Sometimes things happen beyond our control - and that kills me because I’m a control freak when it comes to Sundays. Yet, God moved. He blessed the efforts of busting it and not settling. Again, our largest attendance yet, 718! So, now you know. Oh… and the U2 video - well you’ll have to find out later, we’re having it re-done and you’ll see it in the future.

Bottom line - if you get people to C3, we will deliver… God will deliver every single time because it’s just that important. Lives are at stake - whose will you touch this week and get to Moss Park this Sunday?!