This past Sunday we finished the “Community” message series and shared some of the things we learned from the results of our church wide survey that we asked you to complete in October. Attendance was much lower than normal due to the holiday weekend (and the nasty weather surely didn’t help!).
For that reason, I wanted to draft up a simple review of some of the things I shared on Sunday so that everyone can be on the same page going into 2012 (side note – March 2012 begins our 5th year of ministry and community!)
* We learned that there is an overwhelming interest in offering some type of mid-week activities. In fact, 93% of respondents said that they would like the church to offer something during the week with small groups and interest groups getting the most votes. Only 7% of you said you had no interest in mid-week activities. This inspired action on our part, and starting in 2012, we will begin to offer some mid-week activities. The details of this new effort are still very unformed. In fact, the only reason this is even possible is that during the Conversations series, a trustworthy and longtime member of our church contacted us and expressed an interest in going to the next level in leadership and service, specifically with groups and events. With this comes both a challenge and commitment. The challenge for you – if you are one of the 93% who asked for these opportunities, when they are offered next year, don’t waste them! Show up and make these things a success. Our commitment to you – we will offer new opportunities for you to come together with your church and grow as a community while still maintaining our commitment to keeping a simple, balanced, and clutter-free calendar. Our church is only as healthy and whole as you are!
* We learned that our most helpful and useful social media outlets are the Facebook fan page and the weekly email list. If you are on Facebook, make sure you “like” us so you can see our updates. If you would like to be added to the weekly email list, use the Contact page on this website to send us your information. Oh, and a note to the Twitter people – follow us at ”EmbraceChurchTN.” We also announced that starting in 2012 we will begin recording and uploading each Sunday morning sermon to iTunes and the website!
* We learned that as a community, it is important that you are offered events and opportunities for fun and fellowship. In fact, only 3% of you said you had no interest in church events at all. By far, the most popular type of event we offer are simple gatherings that bring the group together for dinner, games, and just hanging out. We also learned that very few of you do not attend events due to the cost, lack of interest, or because you did not know about the event beforehand. This tells me that we are doing a good job of choosing budget friendly, fun events and doing our best to promote them in advance. By far, the main reason you do not attend church events is a lack of time or the demands on your own schedule (90% voted for this!)
* We learned that a majority of you enjoy the different set-ups that we offer for message series, so you can expect to see Embrace’s creativity on display in 2012 as well.
* We learned that there is a pretty even split in musical tastes between those who prefer electric, those who prefer acoustic, and those who enjoy both equally or have no preference. Adam will continue to lead a worship ministry that integrates various styles and traditions. We received a wide variety of suggestions on the freeform question about music including several suggestions for more hymns.
* We learned that none of you seem to think our services last too long! Almost 9 out of 10 respondents said that the service length of approximately one hour is just right, while the rest said it could even be a little longer. We feel good knowing we are being focused with your time and making Sunday mornings about what matters the most – fellowship, worship, and study.
* We learned that 88% of you drive 20 minutes or less one way to get to The Mill. Likewise, 88% of you said that if the church moved to a new location and it made your drive longer, you would continue to attend the church regardless. Now that’s what I call “community”!
* We really enjoyed reading the responses to the freeform question about the church’s impact on your faith journey. Some things we read…
- “welcoming…non-judgmental.”
- “non-judgmental, non-pushy…changed my perspective on what Christianity can and should be”
- “my past experiences with church seemed to end in a dead-end…Embrace is so different.”
- “kept me in church and connected”
- “I’m growing every week”
- “our church has a real sense of togetherness and community”
- “I truly look forward to coming”
- “brought me back into the fold”
It is a joy to be a part of a community that is having this kind of impact on people’s lives, and on a personal note, it is an honor to be one of its leaders.
