On the customer end of Microsoft I have another observation. Last February I attended a MS-hosted workshop on Vista and the new Office 2007. Their communication with me between initial registration and the final event was awesome! They contacted me via email and telephone 3 times to make sure I was still coming. This was for an event that cost me NOTHING. I wonder if the church values those who sign up for our classes and training to this same degree.

Good stuff Todd.

I haven’t figured out why some church folks think corporate america is evil. Corporations come up with the most effective ways to accomplish their “mission” because they know they will be judged for their performance (by customers, boardmembers, and shareholders). So, knowing this they spend countless hours determining the most effective way to carry their message to their consumer.

While our responsibility as church leaders is not that of consumerism, we have clear directives set out in scripture on how to carry the message of Christ, how to treat our neighbors, etc.

After looking at examples like Microsoft, it’s quite easy to see Biblical principles used to operate their business. In fact, our consultants are encouraging our clients to prayerfully consider non-church organziations as examples or resources for learning. Jesus often uses non-church examples for teaching...their may be something out their for us.

Obviously, there are bad companies such as Enron, Worldcom. However, there are companies that run with more integrity than some churches:

*better stewardship

*take care of staff

*establish a vision and actually carry it out…

I hope you appreciate the irony that on the day you post this, Microsoft loses a humongous lawsuit in Europe for unfair business practices. There is a good reason people react to posts like this. Would you really want your church to boast that its growth and success is due to the fact that they have emulated Microsoft’s business practices?

How would John respond to your post? Maybe something like this:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” - I John 2:15-17

I much prefer John’s “business model”:

“This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. [...] This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” - I John 3:11, 16

I might love an individual and they might love me, but that does not mean they are the right person for the job. As a Children’s Pastor, I could put lots of people who “love kids” in positions, but that alone is not a good qualification for ministering to my kids. Point #1 is true, especially when hiring for a larger church. It makes sense to get the right person the first time, which will avoid many potential problems. I don’t see this as using a business model but simply using the discernment God has given me. I bet you could also find examples of Jesus using points #1, 2, 3 and 5 with the disciples. Jesus chose specific individuals and took the time to train them Himself. He allowed them to make mistakes and then built them up again. He forgave Peter and did not keep reminding him of his past mistakes. Did Jesus follow Microsoft, or did Microsoft stumble upon wisdom that Jesus portrayed 2000 years ago?

Great post, Todd.  And you know I am an Apple Fanatic. 

I was going to prove that I could use Microsoft and church in the same sentence, but then I realized I already did.

What do you do if the church did not follow #1 when they hired an associate staff during the interim before I came?

Jesus did it this way. Think about it: I’m in a church that follows these principles and it is an awesome environment to serve in. Additionally, we have had steady growth over 10 years - 10% a year.

Great post Todd. Thanks!

Too fat a pitch… too little time to swing.

So let me only mention the obvious… we’re too much like MSFT already.  We’ve had our day, resting on our laurels, have moved from innovators to gatekeepers, and as a result, aren’t even keeping pace with the market any more (much less gaining on our target.

This is great.  The toughest where I’m at are #2, 8,9, 10, & 11.