As CEO of Starbucks, Howard Shultz’s vision was to make the cafes a warm and welcoming place for coffee and conversation. I’ve noticed for the past three years or so how the new CEO remodeled the cafes to make the furniture more difficult for sitting, turned the air conditioner to a lower temperature, and cranked up the music volume. All things to make them less inviting encouraging customers to “grab and go.”
Sales have not gone well, and suddenly the board replaced the CEO. New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol outlined his strategic vision for the coffee giant, which includes making cafes more welcoming.
Corporate strategies change frequently.
Thinking of strategies, my thoughts turned to wondering about the variety of church experiences.
Some churches are welcoming communities.
Some churches are communities just for those already in.
Some are “grab and go” places where people go for entertainment (often called a “rock concert with a TED Talk”).
Increasingly people are turning to online experiences. This was all we had during the pandemic shutdowns. There is no community with those. But for those who cannot get out of the house, it’s a viable option.
I offer not advice but only questions for each person to ponder.
Where do you fit? Can you exist only online? What about service? If you are only an online member, is service just a check? Are you happy with only a “grab and go” experience? (I’d love a survey, which I’m not going to do.)
Faith Venture 
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