Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
By now, I may be testing your patience with a third trip to Buc-ee’s, but as I have previously stated, I think that we as a church can learn a thing or two (actually four) from the beaver in the red hat, that can help us see more cars in our parking lot and more guests in our doors.
We’ve already covered two of the secrets to Buc-ee’s phenomenal success – Variety and Quality. Let’s get to number three:
Hospitality
Buc-ee’s knows which side their bread is buttered on. No, I’m not talking about their brisket sandwich, which is pretty amazing, by the way. “Knowing which side your bread is buttered on” is actually an old saying that some of you have probably never heard before. But, did you know that there’s a definition for that saying in the dictionary? According to Merriam-Webster it is: “To know how to act or how to treat others in order to get what one wants.” (Merriam-Webster.com)
Buc-ee’s understands that making a favorable impression with people is the key to making sure that every time you travel, if you have a choice, you’re going to go out of your way to pull in to a Buc-ee’s instead of settling for whatever is at the next exit. And, Buc-ee’s also understands that hospitality is a big part of making that favorable impression and creating an experience that is memorable.
I’ve yet to meet a Buc-ee’s employee that was unfriendly and/or unhelpful. I have found just the opposite. Buc-ee’s employees go out of their way to be welcoming, attentive, and helpful in any and all ways possible. That’s hospitality, and that’s giving people what they want, so that you can get what you want.
For instance, if you’re traveling and you have to stop for gas, you don’t want to have to pull into a line and wait for your turn. Not a problem at Buc-ee’s. They provide you with well over 100 gas pumps. You read that number correct, more than 100 gas pumps! That’s hospitality, and that’s giving people what they want, so that you can get what you want.
Or, suppose you’re having a hard time choosing which kind of fudge you’d like. Understandable, since they offer 24 different kinds! But, it’s not a problem for Buc-ee’s. Just ask for a sample or two, or three, or… That’s hospitality, and that’s giving people what they want, so that you can get what you want.
Or, say that it’s hot outside and everybody in the car wants an ICEE. But, naturally, they all want something different. Buc-ee’s has got you covered; Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper. That’s right, Buc-ee’s has a Dr. Pepper ICEE! They also offer flavors like Very Cherry, Cherry Limeade, Blue Raspberry, Big Red, Pina Colada, Wild Watermelon, Struttin’ Strawberry, Loungin’ Lemonade; the list goes on. Yes, that’s variety, the first ingredient I mentioned in Buc-ee’s success, but that is also hospitality, and that’s giving people what they want, so that you can get what you want.
Now, of course, we know that what Buc-ee’s wants are more customers, a greater market share, and a larger profit margin. We get that. That’s what they’re in business for; to make money. But, the Church is in a different business. The Church is in the Kingdom business; not our kingdom, but God’s Kingdom. And, not to make money but to make disciples.
What Gateway Community Church wants is to make the name of Jesus famous, here, there, and everywhere. What we want is to see lives impacted by the Gospel, eternal addresses changed from Hell to Heaven, and to see our God glorified as He uses us to expand His Kingdom. That’s our business. That’s what we want. And, like Buc-ee’s, we need to understand the importance of hospitality.
The question then becomes, how does the Church practice hospitality, by offering Dr. Pepper ICEE’s? Probably not, although, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t vote against it. But, the Church practices hospitality by truly going out of our way to make every single person feel special when they come through our doors.
Hospitality is stepping out of our comfort zone and stepping across the aisle and speaking to someone that we don’t know. It’s providing a warm greeting, not just from our Front-liner’s, but every person being intentional about giving a smile, maybe a handshake, and a “Good morning! So glad you’re here today!”
In my years as a pastor, I’ve never heard a single person say, “They were just too friendly at that church. I’m never going back there!” But, I’ve heard many, many people say, “I went to that church and not a single person spoke to me. I’m never going back there!” That is the opposite of hospitality
Hospitality anticipates the needs of those that God is drawing. Hospitality is providing clear signage, an inviting space, an authentic worship experience, and biblical answers to their needs and questions. Hospitality is having Greeters in place who are outgoing and friendly. Hospitality is all of us being welcoming, attentive, and helpful in any and all ways possible. None of that may sound very spiritual, but it is hospitable. And, it literally opens the door to help meet the spiritual needs of people.
Fortunately, Gateway already does a really good job when it comes to hospitality. I see many of you each week walking around, talking to regular attenders and first-time guests. I know that some of you invite first-time guests to sit with you. Our Front-liner’s ministry is greeting and assisting each week. Jonah’s Journey and G-Force ministries make sure that kids feel welcome, have a great time, and want to come back. Faith Café rolls out the red carpet each week for members and guests, serving refreshments before the service.
Thanks to everyone that works to make everyone feel welcome!
I’m very encouraged by the hospitality that you show. Believe me, it matters. Almost every guest I talk to or hear from mentions how welcomed they felt when they came to Gateway for the first time. But, we can always do more. I want to encourage all of us to give a greeting to those you don’t know. Remember, you don’t have to be a “Greeter” to greet others. Of course, if you want to get involved in our Front-liners Greeter Ministry, see Gary Bishop or call the church office.
Several years ago I read a statistic stating that, on average, first-time attenders to a church service make up their minds about whether they are going to come back again, within the first eight minutes of coming on the campus. Think about it; they probably haven’t heard a song or a sermon in that time. They make their minds up based on the way a church’s campus looks, the ease of parking, the signage, and, most importantly, the way others made them feel; in other words, hospitality.
The cute little beaver in the ball cap gets it; hospitality matters. We have to get it too. We may never have an ICEE machine or 24 kinds of fudge, but we have something far more valuable. We have the love and message of Jesus Christ, and we want to give it away to as many people as we possibly can.
So, if we practice hospitality, we’ll be giving folks what they want; to feel welcome, to feel a part. And, we’ll get what we want; the name of Jesus lifted up, our parking lot filling up, and the Kingdom of God building up as lives are changed by the power of the Gospel. I’ll drink a Dr. Pepper ICEE to that!
I love being your Pastor,
PC