It is well noted that Jesus said it is not the healthy who need a doctor but rather the sick. So here's my question: the Sunday morning experience you present and have each week, is it a waiting room where the sick can come and feel safe while they wait for The Doctor?
What is it that you are doing?
1. Is There Space?
We all hate it when you go to the doctors office and there is no where to park and the appropriate enterences are not appropriately marked. So be sure to have great signage directing people where to go, lots of space and even people directing traffic.
2. The Behind the Counter Experience
The receptionist is busy with everything other than helping the people at the desk: What kind of welcome experience have you created and established? Do people come and feel welcome? Do they feel like they have simply pulled a ticket OR do they simply feel like a inconvenience or nuisance?
Help people feel welcome by having friendly (not over bearing) greeters and be sure to have the 'sign up' or 'reception' open and accessible to anyone who needs it.
3. The Waiting Room
You grab your seat. You have that uncomfortable feeling not wanting to sit near anyone, wanting space, avoiding eye contact not making a sound.
This is the part where we need to have things going on, not awkward silence but rather a positive atmosphere. The most comfortable waiting rooms have something on a screen to observe or music in the background or better yet a combination there of. It's less awkward and if you sit near someone you don't know, you now have something in common –what you're watching.
4. Waiting for the Doctor
You talk to someone who brings you to the room and prepares you to meet with the doctor. Essentially a nurse who checks the vitals and ultimately sets the tone for the doctor.
What's your worship like? Is it really preparing people for the doctor or is it a awkward mash of information and probing? Is it creating a safe atmosphere or one where you simply can't wait to be done? A well organized put together nurse is far more effective then a random, unorganized nurse who doesn't know what she's doing.
5. Meet the Doctor
The doctor's who use big words and don't explain anything are often revered for their knowledge but not thanked for making it clear what's going on.
When you preach, simplify what your talking about and explain yourself appropriately. Don't use jargon and cluttered diagrams. You studied all those years to get the knowledge you have... they haven't.
Remember to communicate your diagnosis and explain the treatment. Give them their prescription and what to do with it.
6. Hand Over the Paper
The doctors signature is on the prescription paper and it's handed off to you and you go get it filled.
Empower those whom you've communicated to and let them run with what you've given them. You can't make them take it, but only trust they do as instructed by the Doctor.
Don't create a place where only the healthy feel welcome and know what's going on. Be courageous and make a waiting room for the sick.
No comments:
Post a Comment