It's been a while between posts but Oxygen continues to develop. In the gap we've had three services. The first was full at 25 people, with the two since then having 17 each. All three services have been different and it amazes me how God continues to inspire us to deliver completely different services fortnight after fortnight.I am reading a book at the moment; "The Gospel According to Starbucks" by Leonard Sweet. It's an interesting read, with an seemingly stupid comparison between Starbucks and church as a theme. It looks at why customers cue to get into Starbucks, but not church. Starbucks sells 30 million cups of coffee every week.
Starbucks is not just selling coffee. Starbucks sells an experience. It's the experience of the setting, music, aroma and the thrill of holding the now famous Starbucks cup. Starbucks is becoming ever more influential in culture and their success cannot be ignored.
Starbucks knows that its product is rooted in the human desire for relationships. People primarily go to Starbucks to talk, not drink coffee. Coffee is just the great excuse.
Church has its own experience. Unfortunately, it's not as engaging as Starbucks for me (even though I don't drink coffee). What is it that Starbucks has that church doesn't?
2 comments:
I think it's because Starbucks is the only source of good coffee in the US so it's popularity has made it'Trendy'. But instead of trying to make church trendy, why don't we try to bring church to the trends? Bible verses on the cups! Church at Starbucks!
Yeah, that would be cool, but probably deadly for their business.
I agree that Starbucks is popular because it's popular. It's all part of the 'experience' of buying from Starbucks. Unfortunately, I don't think church can have the same kind of popularity that Starbucks enjoy. In New Zealand at least, I don't think it will ever be seen as 'cool' to go to church.
Post a Comment