The Walmart Effect 2

Last week MondayMorningInsight.com continued the thought of my article. Join in the discussion and read my additional comments.

The WalMart Effect

A quick update...

Back in June I wrote a blog called "The Next Big Thing" which described the new multi-site video church concept.

As of right now [late October 2006], only 4 months later, Andy Stanley's church network now has a partner church in Greenville that shows videos of his preaching.

The 7,000+ NewSpring Church in nearby Anderson is looking for property to build their first video venue here in Greenville.

A Greenville megachurch of over 5,000 is planning their first video venue.

Another Greenville megachurch of over 2,000 is in the exploratory stages of creating their first video venue.

Like I said in the first article, what will happen if [or when] Rick Warren plants a church in your town? Suddenly, I'll bet the battles over the color of your carpet, or whether you do enough hymns will matter that much in the face of fierce competition by a megachurch on the move.

Which church do you think your average visitor would rather go to: a church that allows off-pitch Aunt Sally to sing solos, or a mega church with standards? [By the way, you don't have to be a megachurch to have standards.]

In other words, churches, get over your dumb, ingrown habits and start getting serious about your mission. Or you're going to go out of business.

If all this is happening in little old Greenville, your town is next.

Time Capsule

I took a trip to the past last Sunday. Remember when Brooklyn Tab was all the rage? I think every choir in America had a copy of "He's Been Faithful" in the early 90's.

Funny, when something was "it," that something tends to stay "it," thinking that it's still "it." Brooklyn Tab is still doing what it did back then. Same lush orchestrations. Same quasi-jazz chords. Same template of quiet opening, with soloist, then a great big choir ending. It was wonderful and all, very touching, just like it was back in 1991. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Lots of suits and ties, so I felt kinda weird in my jeans. I would imagine a visitor off the street would feel weird, too. Now I remember why I like the fact that contemporary churches typically don't dress up.