#127. Building a community of communities within a community.
Apr 8th by JonNext to Jesus, God and relevant, “community” is the most popular Christian word. The challenge though is it’s a lot easier to say than it is to build. If creating one was as easy as renting a blow up jumping toy for kids and offering a financial planning class for parents, then 50 churches wouldn’t close permanently every week. But it’s a challenge and here’s why:
People can tell when you’re trying to force a community to develop. Our radar to marketing is so sharp these days. One of the stats I wrote about recently is that the average person is exposed to up to 10,000 marketing messages a day. That means in an average year, you experience more than 3.6 million advertisements. So your ability to filter them out and tune them off or spot them from afar is amazing. And if you, as a church, simply add the word “community” as a garnish to your events or activities, people can tell.
My favorite example of doing this the wrong way is actually from Wal-Mart. One of the ways stores try to make you feel involved in a community is by using the word “your.” Whether you’ve ever participated in something or not, it’s called “your _____. For instance, the sign on the Blimpie sub shop at my Wal-Mart says, “Welcome to Your Blimpie.” That’s not my Blimpie. I’ve never eaten there and if my life works out according to plan, I never will. It reads fake, it feels fake, it is fake.
I think building a community is like trying to hold sand in your hand. If you squeeze it too tightly, it all slips out. You have to be willing to open your hand out flat, realizing some might fall off the side, resisting the urge to force it or secure it, and simply create a place for it to happen. You have to plan activities and reach out to the people in your area, but at the same time you have to know when to let go and let God develop it outside of your efforts.
(Thanks to Hoosier Reborn for suggesting this topic.)
Comments
Oh man. When I write copy for websites, I frequently say something like “your Cleveland Pontiac dealer”.
I will make a conscious effort to stop doing that.
I also noticed, before I hated baseball, that the as the Mariners would come out on the field, the announcer say, “Please welcome your 2007 Seattle Mariners!” I’ve thought about using something similar for when (if I ever) play a gig: Please welcome your 2008 Three Ninjas!! (It’s just me by myself.)
Yes, indeed. And what about Sunday morning “gathering”?
Haha! I went to a private Christian university, and it was ALL about “community”. Our resident assistants were actually called “community leaders”. It was a lot of fun if you got into it, but I think it may have freaked some of the less out-going people out a little bit.
Great post. So true. Especially your last few statments. I’ll quote you when challenging people to pursue Authentic Community.
Ooh, ooh!
Don’t forget the word “intentional” and the phrase “Are you tracking with me?” I mean, I say it too…but those are pretty popular ones!
It’s the “just add water” movement:
1. Find a nice Rick Warren (or insert other group study author here) book to read in a small group
2. Sign random people up for said small group
3. Just add water
4. Voila! Community!
ACK ACK ack ack ack ack
How about the term: Contagious Christianity?
I don’t know…something about those two words going hand in hand just makes me want to run away…
Jon,
I am working to develop a “community” at my church for young adults. Do you mind if i use the entire last paragraph as a “pitch” to the elders?
Keep it coming man!
tim
Timmy -
Sure go ahead.
Jon
Why do churches have to market their message? If i message is presented in a humble, easy to understand, culturally…um..um…shit, i have to use it..’relevent’ way, then churches wouldn’t have to do things like ping pong ball drops from helicopters or starbucks give-aways, to get people to show up. If the church’s message was humble and culturally applicable people would show up and community would happen almost automatically.
I guess it still beats “fellowship” or even worse, we turn it into a verb and it becomes “fellowshipping”
I love that you are complaining about *your* Blimpie while still referring to it as *my* WalMart. The ownership language is infectious, huh?
This makes me laugh! Our church's Sunday night service used to be called "New Community" until it was changed to "Sunday Night Experience". Ahh the cheesiness!
How about “dialoguing” rather than talking? Is dialogue even a verb? Apparently that’s how it’s said in church now…
Good. Very good.
Did anyone else notice that he said "my Walmart"? Hah