Let me start by saying I am a die hard Apple user. I have an iPhone, iPod, and a MacBook Pro. The only real technology I have outside this company is an Amazon Kindle (which I love by the way.) So, when I heard of the iPad I was immediately excited to check it out.
Uh…wait…I’m looking at it…and I can’t find…it’s primary purpose! Other than just looking amazingly cool, what is the primary REASON for this product? Surf the web? Music? Email? I know it does all of them, and might do them really well, but what is the #1 reason I should purchase this product? What advantage will I have in my everyday life if I purchase this? I mean, with all the products out there, what one reason would I want to attend your church on Sunday morning…wait, did I just get sidetracked or is the ipad a great representation of some churches?
I have been going to numerous churches, doing consulting work with some, and just studying others. And one thing that stands out as a major characteristic of healthy churches is that they know their purpose. It is engrained in their DNA and they make all decisions through this filter, and make NO apologies for it. One flaw is that many times churches mistake the wrong thing as their purpose or get to grandiose in their purpose. We are all directed to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, so that one we all have in common, but Pastors and Leaders, what has God given you that only your church in your area can do. We are not all cookie cutters, but rather a massively diverse group of people all with the same end goal. Your purpose can’t be “we have great music,” there is someone doing it better. It can’t be “we have great preaching,” there is someone better out there. Those might be attributes of your church, but your purpose has to be more. Come on, leaders, we serve a huge God, and just playing the right notes or having great hermeneutics can’t be all we are about. What is the one thing your church thrives to do?
What about you Ben? What is Baypointe’s purpose, Mr “not even open yet but trying to give me advice?” Well, I’m glad you asked. We want to bring encourgement to the hopeless, unite people in community, and complete people in Christ. That’s it.Our music will be amazing, our kids program will be fun and foundational, and maybe I will teach a few things well, but in the end, when all is said and done, we want to be the place people know as hope, unity, and maturity.
Don’t be an iPad church with lots of stuff that is great without a distinct purpose. If you know it, make it forefront in all you do. If you don’t know it, seek God and find it. The world doesn’t need another church, it needs another great church, and having a singular purpose will get you on the way.
Now I gotta go figure out if I need an iPad to stay in the Apple club…
Grace.
Ben
