Here I go again...
Learning #3: Meet asked and unasked needs every time.
The casinos in Las Vegas work hard to get you in the door and they want you to have an enjoyable experience...so that you will come back...and so that you will tell your friends about it. In order to do that, they work hard to meet the asked and unasked needs of their customers.
When a casino patron wants something to drink, there is usually a waitress within eyesight ready to take their order. If the customer wants something to eat, there is most likely two, three, or even four different restaurants within the casino walls that would love to meet their every food wish - often this happens at the buffet! If a patron wants to gamble or spend the night in the hotel...their desires can be met within mere moments.
Outside the casino, vendors work hard to attract and satisfy customers with video screens, billboards, posters, live acts, etc. all within view of any Strip sidewalk that advertise anything from the next casino down the Strip to the newest entertainer coming to town to where to golf tomorrow. I believe that most of these attempts to meet needs fall in the "unasked" category because most of the people walking up and down the Strip are not necessarily looking for a show to go to that evening, but when the opportunity presents itself, they consider the possibility (for however long or short that consideration may be) of meeting a need that they had not yet expressed.
One day on our trip to Vegas, Deb and I were walking between casinos across one of the many pedestrian walkways that take you over the street rather than having to fight with traffic on the street level. Debbie casually remarked to me that she sure could use a drink of water after walking what seemed like at least half a mile. And wouldn't you know it, an industrious salesperson crossed our path not 15 seconds later selling "ice cold bottled water" for $1. So we bought one and shared it...and so did about 6 other people. It was amazing how this vendor had positioned himself just at the right place to maximize his efforts at selling water to thirsty travelers on a hot August day. That was meeting an unasked need!
So what can the church learn from this? It seems to me that it is vitally important for the church to pay attention to what their "customers" are asking for and then meeting those needs to the highest level possible. If our customers crave community, perhaps we need to increase our efforts on creating opportunities for people to gather in small groups. If our customers need additional worship opportunities, perhaps we need to investigate the possibility of expanding our current worship offerings. If our customers want new opportunities to reach out to the least, last and lost, then maybe we need to seek out new mission opportunities to serve the marginalized and exploited in our world.
I know that we cannot be all things to all people, but if all churches utilized their strengths to do what they do best, then we could refer people to different churches/agencies/etc. that were doing what they want to do. And perhaps our people would learn the value of serving in the local church in a role that aligns with their skill set and passion.
Thoughts?
Grace&Peace
Read other posts in this series: Part 1, Part 2
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