Have you ever been to Disney world?
Six Flags?
Some amusement park that just PSYCH’D you out of our mind, it was so much fun?!?!
I’m sure there’s some place you’ve been like that!! Truth is, you probably LOVED it and you begged to go back many, many, many, many times! Only to hear, “no, that was just a special trip” or “we can’t afford to go back that much.”
But, let’s go back in time for a minute and pretend. Let’s say we changed things and you were able to go back to that place. You went back once every week of the year.
52 times.
Every week.
Same thing…just you.
Do you think it would get old? Repetitive…?
Maybe not at first, but in time, it probably would. You’d start to want someone to share the experience with. You’d want something more than just a connection to just a place.
Now, let’s bring this back to what we do…
- When kids come to church they should leave WANTING to come back more than once a week.
- They should love the bells and whistles we have set up, just for them. It should attract them like a bug to a bug light (without the imitate demise the bugs face, of course).
- When they come to church they should experience community that, in time, its what draws them back.
- Community that shows them the love of Jesus not just in speech, but in actions & in our hearts.
- When kids come to church they should be able to connect with kids their age and with a leader that cares for them and their family.
- In time, kids should evolve to have ownership in this place they call church.
- It should become more than the place they come to or bring their friends to…it’s a place they come to serve their friends and their friends friends.
Many times we look to the BIG POWER HOUSES like Disney, MTV, and Nickelodeon for ideas for what to do. Which is good…great even! They are reaching kids for the sake of just fun. We are reaching kids for the cause & calling of Christ. We can learn from what they do. God teaches us through all forms of life.
However, we have the ability to so something that they can’t. Something they continue to try to create but can’t, something they should look to us to learn from. We have the ability to connect kids to a LOVING SAVIOR, a COMMUNITY of kids and leaders that care about them & give them (the kids) OWNERSHIP in the outreach of this place they love.
In the end, we crave more than just an experince. We crave a connection.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Great post Pudge! I think the main difference between Disney & the Church should be (and is) relationships, that’s what draws people in and keeps them coming back for more. Don’t get me wrong, I like the “bells and whistles” to help attract them & to create a fun environment - BUT, you are 100% correct in saying that we (the church) have the ability to do something they (Disney, Nick, etc.) can’t…it comes down to relationships. I love the Mouse just as much as the next guy, but no matter how many times I go to Disney and get my pic made with the guy in the mouse costume it doesn’t compel me to come back or make Mickey a key person (mouse, character, oh - whatever he is!) in my life. Let’s face it, Mickey might be a drawing point but he does not know my name, he doesn’t sit down and ask me how I am & how things are going in my life, he does not pour into me as a person or a Christian and he is not there when I need someone in my life who is willing to listen and understand. That’s where we have “one up on Disney”, let’s just continue to pray daily that we don’t blow the opportunities that God gives us. Good stuff! Oh & BTW - I’ve still never made it to Disney, so pray that God would work that one out for me! I did have the opportunity to visit Universal Studios last week, but still not the same as Disney! -Candy