I know this all could sound a bit consumeristic, but let’s face it, we live in a consumeristic society, and people go ‘church shopping’ with lists in hand of what they expect. I’m not suggesting churches bend to meet what people are looking for, but that we meet them halfway and go out of our way to welcome them. People want to feel like they belong. People want to feel valued. People want to be acknowledged. People need to feel welcomed when they visit churches.
Elevation Church has grown from a small group of 40 people to over 16,000 in under 6 years. There’s a lot at play and an obvious movement of God’s Spirit and favor, but I believe their commitment to welcome people like they have has helped them grow as much as they have.
First impressions matter, and they made a great one.
A Cool Side Note…
One of my co-workers was with me in Charlotte, and she went to dinner with some friends in the area. They had a great experience at the restaurant. The manager came around, and she told him about how she had always said she had wanted to find a church that welcomed people as warmly as the Apple Store does, but that now she would need to add that restaurant to the list. He said, “Well, I think I have the church for you, then. It’s called Elevation.”
