Originally I wrote this "article" about three years ago, but recently was brought back to this thought. I saw this on a church banner: "No Perfect People Allowed". I knew what they were trying to convey, but I just nodded my head in disbelief.
"C'mon! What would non-believers really think about that?" I wondered.
Sometimes Christians forget to think like non-believers if they are trying to attract them to their church. And in North Natomas alone (where I saw this church banner), there are many little niche churches. Is that what they're really trying to attract?
I had a season when arriving to Sacramento, visiting churches in this Sacramento metropolitan area. This was something I always wanted to do, because I had been serving in the church since my early twenties. But being in the role of a guest, and in the eyes of a potential seeker guest, I had an eye-opening revelation. Most churches don’t offer a favorable impression to return back to church.
Why is that? I think since I’ve been reading books on church growth, thriving churches, and church visioneering (taken from Andy Stanley), I’ve grown a different perspective. I’m seeing things an unchurched seeker would see. And unfortunately, many churches fail in their attempts to attract people seeking God’s love, genuinely.
Being as open and honest as I am, in this article, I will name churches that are doing a good job and others that didn’t give me the time of day, as constructive criticism to their leadership.
Now, the actual best reception I received was at Fellowship Church in Grapevine/Dallas/ Fort Worth, Texas. Them-folk are genuinely nice and friendly, but I was there for a church conference. They’re supposed to be nice to the fellow brethren, right? Well, I even attended their evening service (before heading back to DFW), and those Dallas-folk are really nice and friendly!
The next best reception I received as a first-time guest was at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville/Rocklin. They had friendly, helpful people up the steps to the Worship Center and in their Welcome Center. Their sister church in North Natomas did well, too. When I went to Adventure Christian Church of North Natomas, it was rainy, so I didn’t quite see the signs to the church. But when I passed the chain link fence to the school they meet at, I saw signs to point me in the right direction. Yes, good signage is another trait of being guest-friendly.
Speaking of signage, it is good for churches to post their service times. For the wandering churchgoer I was, that’s what I’m looking for. On one of my scouting runs (and before I attended Bayside), I saw that Bayside Church in Granite Bay has three Sunday services and a Saturday service. Good! There’s a choice for good seats at optimal seating times (that’s a reference to Bill Hybel’s axiom for Prevailing Churches).
But another church just had their church website on it. Unless I have a laptop with a wireless connection in my car, that seems ineffective for me and others like me. The clearer and concise the signage is, the easier it is for guests. Otherwise, you’d only attract the techies (unless that’s their intention!). [See, I wrote that before iPhones or iPads existed.]
Now, what really got me going on this topic was visiting a church that had decent signage at almost every street corner, a consistent look to their signs at every corner, but when I entered their house of worship in a business park office building, there was nobody near the door to greet me, a new guest. I didn’t know where to go, because there were groups of people conversing and having a good time (which is good), but nobody noticed me until I just walked up to a group of guys by the refreshment table. I had to make the initial contact, which most first time guests would not do, especially if they are new to church.
Other churches, especially if they have more than one entrance, like Arcade Church, you can easily sneak in and out without having anyone really notice you, which was my intention when I went. Large churches with more than one entrance, it’s easy to be a stealth guest, if that’s what you want to do.
My worst experience was my first venture into churches in the area. I was new to Sacramento, so the best way to look for a church is through the Yellow Pages. Now, after spending a day and a half reading the phone book, I thought the safest way was to go to a non-denominational church, or so I thought. But beware of the labeling and marketing. I ended up going to a predominantly black church in somewhat the inner city, Calvary Christian Center. The name sounds safe, right? But after parking and entering their doors, they knew I was new. They gave me a cheap green ribbon with a label “visitor” glued to the ribbon, which was pinned onto my chest. Then in the service, people would intentionally greet to meet me (plus it was obvious I wasn’t black) and was asked to stand up if you were new. How embarrassing! And not to mention, intimidating! By the way, they really are an Assembly of God denomination church.
The point to this (and the “beef” I have with other churches) is to look at how you do ministry from the eyes of your guests, especially non-believing guests. It may really surprise you! Think of the obstacles that make someone new to your church feel comfortable and welcome. What are some things you could do that don’t require much planning and preparation?
Simple things like actually being friendly help! I’m ashamed the first time I went to our sister church, Bayside of Woodland, nobody greeted me. They acted like they were too busy to even say “hi” to me. I had to help myself, find someone with a bulletin, and find a seat. Even afterward there was a guest package, but I just grabbed it without anybody greeting me. I realize they were new at this (I think it was their second Sunday service), but the core group was meeting as another church prior to becoming a Bayside church!
In summary, and the point to it all: I pray that churches take a hard, long look at how they are perceived by non-believers and potential guests to their church. It may be the stumbling block for them to come to Jesus. How a church treats its guests really shows if they exemplify God's love and mercy or not.
Blessings,
Garret
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
My Long and Winding Road
When I moved to Sacramento from the Bay Area, I believed God had some incredible opportunity for me. Well, I still believe that. But my "passion" when getting here to the City of Sacraments was to plant a church. Really? Plant another church in a city where there are a bunch of big churches-- and many small churches? That was the same argument Ed Young, Junior had before he planted his church, Fellowship Church in the metropolitan Dallas-Fort Worth area, which has become one of the fastest growing and largest churches in the USA.
But first, let me take you on a tour of the road of life I went through.
I grew up in a typical agnostic Asian-American family. Even though I am a fifth generation born-in-the-USA Chinese (my mom's family came as laborers when they were building the Transcontinental Railroad, and my dad's family came during the California Gold Rush also as laborers), the thought was always: go to school, go to college, get a good-paying job.
For the most-part, I did. Well, I had hoped to become a doctor, a pediatrician (that's what I knew back then). I had become a believer in Christ as a senior in High School. But in college, I didn't fare so well in calculus and chemistry. I didn't quite get C's in those "C" classes, if you know what I mean.
So although I was strong in Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, I became a Radiologic Technologist (x-ray tech). And after being in healthcare (even during my internship), I knew I didn't want to remain in the healthcare business. God was planning something else for me.
Church Plant #1: Christ Community Chinese Alliance Church
My friend at school invites me to her home for a Bible study, where her father is a pastor-- and a church planter. I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord through that group. We were going to church in Berkeley, where I was baptized, but shortly afterward, Pastor Philip Loh plants a church in San Leandro, where we lived. The bilingual (Cantonese and English) church moves to Hayward when they find property to purchase. I was there for ten years, going through college and my early years in my career as a Rad Tech.
There, I helped develop the Junior High ministry, teaching Sunday school and sponsoring the Jr. High Club. I also served as usher and presider (that was the beginning of me being in front of the congregation, English speaking, but still an up-front position). Then the youth pastor I worked under, Pastor Kenton, leaves to start a church in Pleasanton.
Church Plant #2: Valley Gate Chapel
Renting a room in a Southern Baptist Church in Pleasanton, I help in worship, first playing drums (which was "forbidden" in the previous church). I eventually lead worship playing guitar.
During that time, I thought I was to serve in Worship and music, so I went to Recording School in Massieville, Ohio for a summer. I received certificates in Audio Recording and Music Production. I also went to Masters Institute in San Jose to get my second Associates degree, this one in Multimedia Production.
Church Plant #3: Pathway Community Church
Pastor Brian, who was my previous English-speaking pastor in Hayward left the Chinese church to go back to school for his PsyD degree. At that time, he was also on-staff at a church that went to Saddleback's Purpose Driven Church Conference. There, he received the call to plant another church.
He took a core group of people (me included) to Saddleback. It was there I received God's call to serve Him in ministry. At that time, I was leading worship, so I thought THAT was my call, to lead worship, become a Worship Pastor. I hadn't received a Bachelor's degree. Just two Associate degrees and certificates. But I found a program at San Jose Christian College which took some of those previous units and applied them to my eventual BS degree in Christian Leadership.
Church Plant #4: Calvary Chapel Tracy
A friend of mine was playing bass and percussion in a church in Livermore. That church was also launching another church in Tracy. He asked me if I could help play drums. Eventually, I led worship there. But once they went from Sunday evening services to Sunday morning services, I had to leave that opportunity-- my first out of the Asian church.
Well, the other church plants didn't officially call themselves "Chinese" or "Asian", but the church usually takes on the personality of what you already are, which we were: Asian. Nothing wrong with that, but in the greater scope of ministry, I wanted more. Like in the prayer of Jabez, which I was reading Bruce Wilkinson's book at the time, I prayed that prayer to increase my territory (of influence).
So that takes me to moving to Sacramento after a job opportunity in a surgery center/pain management clinic. And after visiting many churches in the area, I find Bayside Church in Granite Bay. Boy, nothing quite like it.
Good music. No, great music. I audition for the worship team as a drummer, and I don't even make that cut. That's how awesome the worship music is, led by Lincoln Brewster.
Still with the call to serve, I join the video team. Instantly, I find a home to use my gifts and abilities. ( I also did stints in photography with Glamour Shots in the mall, and Lifetouch, the yearbook company). At Bayside, all the doors opened up for me to explore my multimedia experience. There was the 7C's Film School, which I completed and helped make several short Christian indie films. And when Bayside purchased new equipment, they trained me in video switching.
The point to all of this? God never wastes opportunities. All the side trips God led me through is becoming clearer, as I'm beginning to see God working in my life.
Don't doubt the trials and tribulations you have to go through. God will lead you through them. Enjoy your journey. Be quenched in this quintessential quest for your life.
Blessings,
Garret
But first, let me take you on a tour of the road of life I went through.
I grew up in a typical agnostic Asian-American family. Even though I am a fifth generation born-in-the-USA Chinese (my mom's family came as laborers when they were building the Transcontinental Railroad, and my dad's family came during the California Gold Rush also as laborers), the thought was always: go to school, go to college, get a good-paying job.
For the most-part, I did. Well, I had hoped to become a doctor, a pediatrician (that's what I knew back then). I had become a believer in Christ as a senior in High School. But in college, I didn't fare so well in calculus and chemistry. I didn't quite get C's in those "C" classes, if you know what I mean.
So although I was strong in Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, I became a Radiologic Technologist (x-ray tech). And after being in healthcare (even during my internship), I knew I didn't want to remain in the healthcare business. God was planning something else for me.
Church Plant #1: Christ Community Chinese Alliance Church
My friend at school invites me to her home for a Bible study, where her father is a pastor-- and a church planter. I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord through that group. We were going to church in Berkeley, where I was baptized, but shortly afterward, Pastor Philip Loh plants a church in San Leandro, where we lived. The bilingual (Cantonese and English) church moves to Hayward when they find property to purchase. I was there for ten years, going through college and my early years in my career as a Rad Tech.
There, I helped develop the Junior High ministry, teaching Sunday school and sponsoring the Jr. High Club. I also served as usher and presider (that was the beginning of me being in front of the congregation, English speaking, but still an up-front position). Then the youth pastor I worked under, Pastor Kenton, leaves to start a church in Pleasanton.
Church Plant #2: Valley Gate Chapel
Renting a room in a Southern Baptist Church in Pleasanton, I help in worship, first playing drums (which was "forbidden" in the previous church). I eventually lead worship playing guitar.
During that time, I thought I was to serve in Worship and music, so I went to Recording School in Massieville, Ohio for a summer. I received certificates in Audio Recording and Music Production. I also went to Masters Institute in San Jose to get my second Associates degree, this one in Multimedia Production.
Church Plant #3: Pathway Community Church
Pastor Brian, who was my previous English-speaking pastor in Hayward left the Chinese church to go back to school for his PsyD degree. At that time, he was also on-staff at a church that went to Saddleback's Purpose Driven Church Conference. There, he received the call to plant another church.
He took a core group of people (me included) to Saddleback. It was there I received God's call to serve Him in ministry. At that time, I was leading worship, so I thought THAT was my call, to lead worship, become a Worship Pastor. I hadn't received a Bachelor's degree. Just two Associate degrees and certificates. But I found a program at San Jose Christian College which took some of those previous units and applied them to my eventual BS degree in Christian Leadership.
Church Plant #4: Calvary Chapel Tracy
A friend of mine was playing bass and percussion in a church in Livermore. That church was also launching another church in Tracy. He asked me if I could help play drums. Eventually, I led worship there. But once they went from Sunday evening services to Sunday morning services, I had to leave that opportunity-- my first out of the Asian church.
Well, the other church plants didn't officially call themselves "Chinese" or "Asian", but the church usually takes on the personality of what you already are, which we were: Asian. Nothing wrong with that, but in the greater scope of ministry, I wanted more. Like in the prayer of Jabez, which I was reading Bruce Wilkinson's book at the time, I prayed that prayer to increase my territory (of influence).
So that takes me to moving to Sacramento after a job opportunity in a surgery center/pain management clinic. And after visiting many churches in the area, I find Bayside Church in Granite Bay. Boy, nothing quite like it.
Good music. No, great music. I audition for the worship team as a drummer, and I don't even make that cut. That's how awesome the worship music is, led by Lincoln Brewster.
Still with the call to serve, I join the video team. Instantly, I find a home to use my gifts and abilities. ( I also did stints in photography with Glamour Shots in the mall, and Lifetouch, the yearbook company). At Bayside, all the doors opened up for me to explore my multimedia experience. There was the 7C's Film School, which I completed and helped make several short Christian indie films. And when Bayside purchased new equipment, they trained me in video switching.
The point to all of this? God never wastes opportunities. All the side trips God led me through is becoming clearer, as I'm beginning to see God working in my life.
Don't doubt the trials and tribulations you have to go through. God will lead you through them. Enjoy your journey. Be quenched in this quintessential quest for your life.
Blessings,
Garret
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Joy in the Journey
It seems like there are necessary life lessons we must go through as we travel on the road called life. And every day brings new opportunities to learn something new. That is how God created what we call "life". This is why someone said there is "joy in the journey". Sometimes we are so focused on where we want to go, our final destination. But there are places to stop and enjoy the sights along the way.
I heard the story of a couple on their honeymoon in Maui, Hawaii. Perhaps you've heard of the famed road to Hana. Well, the newlywed wife wanted to go on the trek on the road to Hana. The newlywed husband, ready to please his beautiful wife said he would drive to Hana.
"I'll get you to Hana", the husband replied.
They were staying on the Kaanapali side of the island, so they had to travel to the other side. But the roads on Maui are two lanes, and winding along the rugged coastline. Soon the asphalt gave way to gravel. Then the gravel led to groveling.
"I'll get you there to Hana", said the determined husband.
By this time, it was getting dark. It was taking much longer than they had anticipated. When they arrived at Hana, they discovered it was a small town with no place to stay. The businesses were closing because it was getting dark. By this time, the husband was mad because there was nothing to do in Hana. He found a local.
"Did you enjoy the drive?", asked the local.
"No!" exclaimed the husband, "It was a rough drive!"
"You didn't see the beaches and the waterfalls?" was the response of the local.
Apparently, they had missed the whole reason for this journey. There were beautiful sights to behold along this trek on the road to Hana. They totally missed it. That is just like our life's journey. There are beautiful sights to behold if we stop and observe them. Life is to be lived, not just bound by determination to get to the end. Then what is the purpose of this life?
That's why I call my blog The Quintessential Quest (other than "Joy in the Journey" was already taken). As I begin blogging my profound thoughts, my purpose is to inspire you to live a life worthy of living. Granted, I know life's tough. But as we are on this quest of life, we will have questions. We will stumble and fall. And we will have triumphs in life, too.
Blessings,
Garret
I heard the story of a couple on their honeymoon in Maui, Hawaii. Perhaps you've heard of the famed road to Hana. Well, the newlywed wife wanted to go on the trek on the road to Hana. The newlywed husband, ready to please his beautiful wife said he would drive to Hana.
"I'll get you to Hana", the husband replied.
They were staying on the Kaanapali side of the island, so they had to travel to the other side. But the roads on Maui are two lanes, and winding along the rugged coastline. Soon the asphalt gave way to gravel. Then the gravel led to groveling.
"I'll get you there to Hana", said the determined husband.
By this time, it was getting dark. It was taking much longer than they had anticipated. When they arrived at Hana, they discovered it was a small town with no place to stay. The businesses were closing because it was getting dark. By this time, the husband was mad because there was nothing to do in Hana. He found a local.
"Did you enjoy the drive?", asked the local.
"No!" exclaimed the husband, "It was a rough drive!"
"You didn't see the beaches and the waterfalls?" was the response of the local.
Apparently, they had missed the whole reason for this journey. There were beautiful sights to behold along this trek on the road to Hana. They totally missed it. That is just like our life's journey. There are beautiful sights to behold if we stop and observe them. Life is to be lived, not just bound by determination to get to the end. Then what is the purpose of this life?
That's why I call my blog The Quintessential Quest (other than "Joy in the Journey" was already taken). As I begin blogging my profound thoughts, my purpose is to inspire you to live a life worthy of living. Granted, I know life's tough. But as we are on this quest of life, we will have questions. We will stumble and fall. And we will have triumphs in life, too.
Blessings,
Garret
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