A couple of years ago, we opened a new campus, and on launch day had three times the attendance we were expecting. As a result, we ended up behind the curve on many things:
- We didn't have enough LifeGroups.
- We recruited new volunteers on the fly.
- We needed more staff to fill in the gaps.
- We put finishing touches on the building (including solving parking challenges) while we were already using it.
- We were creating programs and materials as we went instead of pre-planning like we normally do.
In short, we were building the airplane while it was already in the air. And that’s okay. People understand and actually like it—as long as we lead well.
When we don’t have everything the way we want it, we can make promises.
- We’ll be adding parking in the next few months so you won’t have to walk a quarter-mile! Thanks for being a great church and making it work!
- We’ll be adding a Saturday night service one day so you don’t have to sit in the overflow. Thanks for understanding and still bringing your friends!
- We’ll be starting our youth ministry in two months. It’s going to be amazing!
- We’re looking for a junior high pastor right now! Pray God brings us the right one.
So many of you are new. We thank God you are here! Within the next month, we’ll have some meetings just to get to know you.
You don’t have to have it all today. Make promises for the future—then deliver.
What we've learned:
If you find that you're early, late, over-staffed, or under-funded, the key is to lead through it. Don't just hope no one will notice. Instead, address it head on, offer a solution, and, most importantly, follow through on it. People generally love to be in on the ground floor of something, and as long as you lead through the situation well, they'll support you.
