Monday, July 31, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Outback Steak-Church
I found this article on a great website for the small church, www.smallchurch.com.
I look forward to your comments.
The Outback Steak-Church
by Keith Drury
After a delicious steak dinner with our best friends the other night, I couldn't help wondering what church planting would look like if done with the Outback Steak House method. How would you do it?
1. You'd limit your programming.
The Conventional Wisdom in the restaurant business is find a good location, operate as many hours as possible to spread the fixed costs, and keep the food costs as low as possible. The Outback Steak House breaks all three rules. When Chris Sullivan and Robert Basham started the chain they wanted to have some life beyond steakhouse management for their two interests: boating and golf. Figuring their managers should get the same, they determined the Outbacks would only be open in the evenings - one shift a day. They thought offering everything all the time would water down the product. They decided to open less hours and do it better. What they discovered was both their waiters and their pastor avoided burnout (industry average manager turnover = 35%; Outback turnover = 5.4%). The point: doing less and doing it better. The Outback Steak-Church would do a few things really well.
2. You'd limit the seating.
Most Americans in love with vision more than Steak, prefer to dream big and build likewise. Hey, if you've got people lined up two hours for a steak dinner what would you do? Tear down your barn and builds a bigger sanctuary, right? Not at the Outback. The typical Outback is 6,000 square feet (with the kitchen taking more than half of that) and seats only 220. Only 220. Why? Because that's the optimum seating to guarantee a quality steak, according to Sullivan and Basham. Great Steak is
their goal -- everything else serves the Great Steak goal. Is this an anti-church growth philosophy? Not necessarily. They just plant more Outback steak-houses in new locations. Which is exactly what they've done to the tune of more than 200 steak-house-plants in the last five years. They argue that an optimum facility is better than a gigantic one. An Outback Steak-Church would decide the optimum size then spin off other churches.
3. You'd recruit qualities then train for competence.
A friendly decentralized flat company, the Outback is committed to a friendly informal atmosphere. They worry more about friendliness than previous experience in their hiring. Instead of recruiting experienced cooks and waiters, the Outback hires 75-80 friendly people then trains them to cook and serve. They believe it is easier to add competence to friendliness than the reverse. The application is obvious.
4. You'd treat your workers well.
Outback managers only work from 3 PM to midnight and make about $120,000 a year doing what they love. The Outback's waiters start later yet and earn about $125 a night. Both work only one shift straight through. Morale is high, the managers stay put, and the Sunday school teachers love it. An Outback Steak-Church would value its workers, making sure they see their intangible eternal rewards which are far greater than a mere paper $120,000.
5. You'd serve first rate Steak-preaching-teaching.
The Outback serves Steak with a capital S. You don't go there for desserts or vegetables. You go for Steak. Every Outback Steak grew up in a particular area of either Nebraska or Colorado which produces the tastiest Steaks. Sure, the Conventional Wisdom is that people are eating less red meat, and entertainment is what they want from pulpits, but the Outback folk know better. If you serve great Steak, prepared well and seasoned delightfully, people will wait two hours to get a seat. It just might work.
By Keith Drury, You are free to transmit, duplicate or distribute this article for non-profit use without permission. You may view Keith Drury's website at Tuesday Columns.
I look forward to your comments.
The Outback Steak-Church
by Keith Drury
After a delicious steak dinner with our best friends the other night, I couldn't help wondering what church planting would look like if done with the Outback Steak House method. How would you do it?
1. You'd limit your programming.
The Conventional Wisdom in the restaurant business is find a good location, operate as many hours as possible to spread the fixed costs, and keep the food costs as low as possible. The Outback Steak House breaks all three rules. When Chris Sullivan and Robert Basham started the chain they wanted to have some life beyond steakhouse management for their two interests: boating and golf. Figuring their managers should get the same, they determined the Outbacks would only be open in the evenings - one shift a day. They thought offering everything all the time would water down the product. They decided to open less hours and do it better. What they discovered was both their waiters and their pastor avoided burnout (industry average manager turnover = 35%; Outback turnover = 5.4%). The point: doing less and doing it better. The Outback Steak-Church would do a few things really well.
2. You'd limit the seating.
Most Americans in love with vision more than Steak, prefer to dream big and build likewise. Hey, if you've got people lined up two hours for a steak dinner what would you do? Tear down your barn and builds a bigger sanctuary, right? Not at the Outback. The typical Outback is 6,000 square feet (with the kitchen taking more than half of that) and seats only 220. Only 220. Why? Because that's the optimum seating to guarantee a quality steak, according to Sullivan and Basham. Great Steak is
their goal -- everything else serves the Great Steak goal. Is this an anti-church growth philosophy? Not necessarily. They just plant more Outback steak-houses in new locations. Which is exactly what they've done to the tune of more than 200 steak-house-plants in the last five years. They argue that an optimum facility is better than a gigantic one. An Outback Steak-Church would decide the optimum size then spin off other churches.
3. You'd recruit qualities then train for competence.
A friendly decentralized flat company, the Outback is committed to a friendly informal atmosphere. They worry more about friendliness than previous experience in their hiring. Instead of recruiting experienced cooks and waiters, the Outback hires 75-80 friendly people then trains them to cook and serve. They believe it is easier to add competence to friendliness than the reverse. The application is obvious.
4. You'd treat your workers well.
Outback managers only work from 3 PM to midnight and make about $120,000 a year doing what they love. The Outback's waiters start later yet and earn about $125 a night. Both work only one shift straight through. Morale is high, the managers stay put, and the Sunday school teachers love it. An Outback Steak-Church would value its workers, making sure they see their intangible eternal rewards which are far greater than a mere paper $120,000.
5. You'd serve first rate Steak-preaching-teaching.
The Outback serves Steak with a capital S. You don't go there for desserts or vegetables. You go for Steak. Every Outback Steak grew up in a particular area of either Nebraska or Colorado which produces the tastiest Steaks. Sure, the Conventional Wisdom is that people are eating less red meat, and entertainment is what they want from pulpits, but the Outback folk know better. If you serve great Steak, prepared well and seasoned delightfully, people will wait two hours to get a seat. It just might work.
By Keith Drury, You are free to transmit, duplicate or distribute this article for non-profit use without permission. You may view Keith Drury's website at Tuesday Columns.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Money, Percents, Dollars and the Southern Baptist Convention
Much has been written and said recently concerning giving to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the following months we will hear more as our state conventions and local churches grapple with the implications from the recent actions at our annual convention. (www.sbc.net)
When questioned, prior to the annual convention in Greensboro, about percentage giving versus real dollars and cents one prominent SBC megachurch pastor said: "...I think that the last time I remembered, it's real difficult to spend percentages. You spend dollars and cents, and in relationship to that I don't think we need to be judging a church in relationship to what it gives percentile wise."
I will argue that the Bible always deals with percentage giving and never deals with a specific dollar and cents amount. The words tithe, tithes, tithing are found 32 times in the Old Testament and always mean "a tenth of"or 10%. This emphasis on percentage giving establishes a principle that we would do well to consider. In addition, I would argue that Jesus never repealed the tithe but instead added to it by asking us to give from a compassionate heart, or to give in proportion to what we have been given.
So, why do we give in the first place? The Old Testament seems to teach at least three reasons for giving two of which are certainly applicable still today. (The Word in Life Study Bible, p 100)
1. To support the Levite, who were responsible for the tabernacle and worship (Num. 18:20-24). I see this as still applicable as we fund local church ministries as well as Kindgom building ministries such as our own Cooperative Program.
2. To support the various feasts and sacrifices (Deut. 14:22-27), some of which lasted more than one or two days and were times of celebration and thanksgiving.
3. To establish a pool of resources to help the poor, orphans and widows, and strangers in the land (Deut 14:28-29). In my opinion the need for benevolent ministry is as great today as any time in our history.
I understand the New Testament teaching on giving to be that Jesus did not repeal the tithe but added to it by putting the burden on us to not only give a tithe but a gift from the heart. Mark 12:41-44 records the following, "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. The one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all of those who have given to the the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole
livelihood."(NKJV)
Isn't it fair to say that Jesus was judging the percentage of giving verses the dollar/cents amount?
I would argue that all giving in the bible is a percentage and never an exact dollar and cents amount. I would also argue that to put a minimum percentage for giving by churches whose members will lead out convention is perfectly acceptable and with precedent in Southern Baptist life.
It would be rare to experience a church in SBC life who doesn't expect its leadership, at least pastor and deacons, to give a minimum of a tithe (10%) to their local church. In some cases if that standard is not met you are ask to resign or even made to resign from your position. Both the North American Mission Board and most, if not all, state conventions have a minimum percentage giving requirement for church plants in order to continue to receive funding from the above mentioned entities.
If I have to give at least a tithe to be a local church leader and a new church plant has to give at least 8% to continue receiving funds from its state convention and NAMB isn't it perfectly natural to expect those who want to set the direction for the Southern Baptist Convention to come from churches that give at least a minimum percentage to the Cooperative Program?
In my opinion yes!
When questioned, prior to the annual convention in Greensboro, about percentage giving versus real dollars and cents one prominent SBC megachurch pastor said: "...I think that the last time I remembered, it's real difficult to spend percentages. You spend dollars and cents, and in relationship to that I don't think we need to be judging a church in relationship to what it gives percentile wise."
I will argue that the Bible always deals with percentage giving and never deals with a specific dollar and cents amount. The words tithe, tithes, tithing are found 32 times in the Old Testament and always mean "a tenth of"or 10%. This emphasis on percentage giving establishes a principle that we would do well to consider. In addition, I would argue that Jesus never repealed the tithe but instead added to it by asking us to give from a compassionate heart, or to give in proportion to what we have been given.
So, why do we give in the first place? The Old Testament seems to teach at least three reasons for giving two of which are certainly applicable still today. (The Word in Life Study Bible, p 100)
1. To support the Levite, who were responsible for the tabernacle and worship (Num. 18:20-24). I see this as still applicable as we fund local church ministries as well as Kindgom building ministries such as our own Cooperative Program.
2. To support the various feasts and sacrifices (Deut. 14:22-27), some of which lasted more than one or two days and were times of celebration and thanksgiving.
3. To establish a pool of resources to help the poor, orphans and widows, and strangers in the land (Deut 14:28-29). In my opinion the need for benevolent ministry is as great today as any time in our history.
I understand the New Testament teaching on giving to be that Jesus did not repeal the tithe but added to it by putting the burden on us to not only give a tithe but a gift from the heart. Mark 12:41-44 records the following, "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. The one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all of those who have given to the the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole
livelihood."(NKJV)
Isn't it fair to say that Jesus was judging the percentage of giving verses the dollar/cents amount?
I would argue that all giving in the bible is a percentage and never an exact dollar and cents amount. I would also argue that to put a minimum percentage for giving by churches whose members will lead out convention is perfectly acceptable and with precedent in Southern Baptist life.
It would be rare to experience a church in SBC life who doesn't expect its leadership, at least pastor and deacons, to give a minimum of a tithe (10%) to their local church. In some cases if that standard is not met you are ask to resign or even made to resign from your position. Both the North American Mission Board and most, if not all, state conventions have a minimum percentage giving requirement for church plants in order to continue to receive funding from the above mentioned entities.
If I have to give at least a tithe to be a local church leader and a new church plant has to give at least 8% to continue receiving funds from its state convention and NAMB isn't it perfectly natural to expect those who want to set the direction for the Southern Baptist Convention to come from churches that give at least a minimum percentage to the Cooperative Program?
In my opinion yes!