When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:15-18)
The Christmas season is upon us. So, as I launch into a final Pastor’s Perspective on Buc-ee’s, it seemed appropriate to start with a passage connected to the Christmas story, that also gets to the central idea behind the thoughts I want to share.
If you happen to be new to Gateway, for the last several weeks I’ve been sharing some observations on Buc-ee’s and what I believe makes it the interstate sensation that it is. The reason I wanted to do so is because, as I’ve stated in earlier articles, I believe that the church can learn something from Buc-ee’s success that can help us to be more successful at reaching people.
In my previous perspectives I highlighted variety, quality, and hospitality as three of the key components that help to make Buc-ee’s the wildly popular stop-off for on-the-road travelers. Now, for the fourth, and arguably most critical component of all – Notoriety.
Each of the aspects I have mentioned previously are important to, and play a key role in, Buc-ee’s phenomenal success. We have to be intentional about all of them. But, honestly, if no one knows about you then it simply doesn’t matter that you are the size of 22 7–Eleven stores. (For real, 22!)
It doesn’t matter how many varieties of Taffy and Gummies you have.
It won’t matter that your soda fountain “station” has more flavors and sizes than Elon has dollars.
The bottom line is:
If People Don’t Know, They Won’t Show.
That is where notoriety comes in. I’m referring to good old fashion word of mouth. It’s pretty simple, really. People talking to other people about Buc-ee’s causes more people to want to stop at Buc-ee’s. Case in point, I’ve been telling my sons for a while now that they have to go to a Buc-ee’s. There aren’t any Buc-ee’s currently in North Carolina, but there is at least one in South Carolina now.
They kept saying, “What’s the big deal? It’s just another gas station/convenience store.” I kept saying, “You’ve just got to try it.” Finally, my youngest son, Travis, went on a camping trip with my grandson, Emree, to South Carolina. Want to guess where they stopped? You got it; the Beaver got another one! Travis called me after they had been there and said, “That place in unbelievable!” He even got his picture taken with the Beaver himself!
Now, if I had never said anything about Buc-ee’s to him maybe Travis would have eventually just happened to need gas at the right exit and would have pulled in there. But, the fact that I talked so much about Buc-ee’s made my son’s trip to Buc-ee’s intentional, not accidental, and that’s notoriety. Even some of you who have not yet ventured into the den of the buck-toothed friend of weary travelers, after reading my articles, have said to me, “I’ve got to get to a Buc-ee’s.” That’s notoriety.
It’s more than making people aware of something.
It’s making them aware in a way that makes them want to go.
And, that is exactly what we have to do if we want to see more people pulling into the parking lot of Gateway Community Church. We need notoriety; not just making people aware that there is a church on Tropic Street in Titusville, but making people aware of this community of believers in a way that makes them want to come and give us a try.
Now, it’s true that, ultimately, people need Jesus, not just to attend a church. We should talk about the Savior and what He has done for us anytime that we can. But, inviting people to attend Gateway is one simple way to open the door for the message of Jesus to be shared with them.
By the way, our iVite Cards are a great tool to help with notoriety. But, remember, it’s not just about giving them information about Gateway. It’s about giving it to them in a way that makes them want to come to Gateway. That’s notoriety.
Quite honestly, people respond to enthusiasm. And, if they sense that you are genuinely enthusiastic about what God is doing, excited enough to talk about it, then they just might want to come and see what it’s all about. That’s notoriety, and that’s one of the components that has helped Buc-ee’s to become the go-to place when you’ve got some place to go.
I know that there are other wonderful churches out there, but wouldn’t it be great if people in Titusville and the surrounding areas thought of Gateway Community Church as to the go-to place for anyone and everyone that wants to know and grow in Christ?
In the passage at the beginning of this article, a bunch of enthusiastic angels tell a bunch of shepherds about something exciting that was happening. That bunch of shepherds responded by going and experiencing it for themselves. Then, having discovered that it was true, in their newfound enthusiasm they “made known” what they had heard and seen to a bunch of other people and got them wondering about what was going on. That’s notoriety.
Notoriety won’t get everyone in the door, but it will get a bunch in the door. And, isn’t that what we all want; to see a bunch of people from all walks of life knowing and growing in the Savior? So, this Christmas season, and moving into 2023, let’s be more intentional than ever about letting others know about Gateway in a way (an enthusiastic way) that makes them want to go. Because, if people don’t know, they won’t show.
I love being your Pastor, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen,
PC