A Long Wait for Coffee

I had to wait longer than usual for my coffee this morning. Actually my whole routine of getting a coffee at a local Gloria Jeans, and drinking it there while studying at one of their tables was thrown off. I noticed something strange when a large crowd of people had gathered around outside. Inside it was absolutely packed so I decided to come back later after doing some shopping. About an hour later I returned to find people lined out the door. On a normal Friday I can almost immediately walk up and place my order. This morning there were six people in front of me! What usually took about three to five minutes instead took fifteen.

What could possibly make such a dramatic change in the amount of people visiting this coffee shop? They were giving out free samples of coffee at a table outside. Also in honor of it being Friday the 13th they decorated the shop with cobwebs and halloween decorations. While the servers were all dressed in halloween costumes.

As I stood waiting for my coffee I began to think about what brought all of those people there. For most of them the answer would be a small sample of coffee that was given to them outside. But small cups of coffee alone should not bring in that many people, so it wasn't just about the coffee. The large crowds came because they were being given something that they wanted.

What I witnessed this morning illustrates an important truth. Offer people what they want, and they will come to you. Applied this truth challenges companies to find out what their consumers want, and then give it to them. In this case of course the people who were shopping this morning wanted to actually sample the coffee that was prepared inside for free. I imagine many people after drinking that free sample went inside and paid more than $3.00 for a coffee.

Companies all around the world apply this simple truth. That is why suggestion boxes can be found in many restaurants or coffee shops. To find out what the customers want from the business. And if those suggestions aren't too hard to implement many times they lead to changes being made. As I stood waiting for my coffee this morning another thought crossed my mind. What would happen if churches actually offered to individuals what they wanted?

Now allow me to explain what I am saying. It is not my belief that churches should give unsaved people a questionnaire about how the church should change, or ask them what they want church to be. Neither should the church ask their members what they want to have. Both of these actions will lead to a consumer religion where people will attend the church as long as it gives them what they want. This also leans towards a management type approach to church ministry.

Each of us has certain desires in our hearts. A desire to be loved, a desire to feel safe, a desire to be satisfied. Each of these desires will find their ultimate fulfilment only in Jesus Christ. But we can be used as vessels to meet those desires in an incomplete way. What would it be like if we offered to the unsaved a place where they would feel loved and accepted? What would be the result if they were connected with loving Believers who helped them in times of need? How would the react if we treated them with respect and dignity?

Sometimes we get the idea that an outreach ministry has to be elaborate with flashy lights and video presentations. While the large scale outreaches do succeed things don't have to be that complicated. All it took to bring customers to Gloria Jeans was a table with coffee, coffee plunger, milk, and a lady who served it. It was incredibly simple yet lots of people came. As I walked away with a well earned cup of coffee this morning (I never got my table) I began to think about how this principle of management could be applied to a discipleship ministry. There has to be a balance between becoming a spiritual McDonald's and ignoring the needs of others.