Big Decision: We Canceled the 5:00 PM Service!

Yesterday, the staff team decided to cancel the 5:00 PM Sunday service EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. Everyone was in 100% agreement that we needed to cancel it. Honestly, if we were not in 100% agreement, I would have made an executive decision to cancel it anyway. I have a strong peace in my heart that this was the right decision to make and it needed to be made fast. I know that we did not give the 5:00 PM service much of a chance (6 weeks), but we knew very quickly at this point in time that a 5:00 PM service was not in the best interests of Graystone Church or our staff team and families.

Have we ruled out a Sunday evening service for the future? NO

Are we thinking about adding a 3rd morning service at 8:00 AM? NO

Was it a failure that the 5:00 PM service did not have the response that we had hoped for? YES AND NO

YES, the 5:00 PM service was a failure in the fact that it did not take off and we had to cancel it. But, we knew it was a risk. We knew that if it did not work, we would cancel it. Whenever you take a lot of risks, you are going to fail. At Graystone, we will continue to TAKE RISKS and Fail Forward. I think I remember learning something in grade school about Thomas Edison failing forward.

NO, the 5:00 PM service was not a failure considering how much we have learned through the process. First, it has reminded me how much I value the quality of life for the staff team and their families. Church ministry is a very stressful job, and I want to do all that I can to protect the quality of life for our staff team. The 5:00 PM service added an extra burden on the staff and their families and was not worth the return (Last Sunday, 598 people attended the morning services and 28 people attended the 5:00 PM.). I certainly do not want to see any of our staff burn out and leave Graystone for a "better job".

Secondly, I think we got a little too caught up with the numbers and how many people showed up for church on Sundays. By dropping back to two services, we probably will not be able to grow much more numerically. But right now, we need to focus on growing spiritually. Instead of trying to fill more seats on Sundays, we need to develop more small groups and small group leaders. God has reminded me that we need to focus on growing deeper and stronger before we try to grow bigger.

Well, sorry for the blog sermon. But this is what we are learning and what is going on in my heart and mind. Hopefully, you can take something from this blog and apply it to your own life and ministry. May we continue to stay connected to the vine and minister out of an overflow of our relationship with Him.