Skip to main content

What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve
Post a Comment

I am shocked by the results of this litte experiment...

Napkins for last night's event -- I thought they were cute! 
So for years now I've led women's events. I've not only announced the events but basically "babysat" women in the days leading up to the event...reminding them, calling them, e-mailing them, and holding registration while my team of leaders also market the daylights out of the event, trying to get as much participation as possible.  There's nothing wrong with any of that -- nothing at all.  In fact I advise people to do it!  But I'm really excited about what happened last night at Celebration Church.

We're in a new season at CC and I did a little experiment.  (Years ago I would have never done this, convinced that it would have been me and two or three friends sitting in the sanctuary by ourselves on the night of the event.)  I wondered, "just how much of a new season ARE we in?"  I made a personal decision with this event (didn't tell anybody) that I was going to just announce the event but not follow up and call, e-mail, or do a registration.  I was just going to see how many women showed up after I simply said, "Hey, come and join me as I share my heart with you about what God is saying for us as a group in this season."  I did throw in some chocolate and coffee and tell them the worship team would be there too.  But we've done all those things before and much more and it was nothing new.

I was really blown away at last night's result.  I shouldn't be. I even apologized to them at the altar and said, "Oh me of little faith!!!"  First of all, they rocked it on the attendance and a majority of them were there without me tracking them down and cajoling them to get there.  They just showed up!  Second, they were primed to hear the message.  Last night I preached a pretty hard hitting word.  I was wondering how they were going to take it.   I'm not going to re-preach my message here by I will just tell you I preached from Isaiah 32:9-15.  This is not exactly the most exciting passage of scripture but it was what God gave me.  I gave a strong call to the altar and was hoping a few of them would join me there in this invitation to go totally hard core for God.  I told them I was going to pray for every woman responding to this call.  (I said that thinking I'd just pray for a few while the rest stood at their seats in the sanctuary offering prayer support thinking, "oh isn't that nice that those ladies are receiving such a touch from God...???")  Imagine my shock when EVERY WOMAN IN THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY CAME TO THE ALTAR.  Seriously.

I said,  "Okaaaayyyyyyyyy...well, I am totally overwhelmed by this response..."  I knew all of them probably wouldn't want to stay  all night for me to pray for each and every one of them -- they would never get to go home and sleep.  I said, "I'm praying a prayer of blessing over you as a group and then I will stay for anyone who is willing to continue to stay.  I didn't just pray some little token prayer -- we had us a time there as a group and God really moved.  Then probably half of them did migrate on home, but the other half of them did stay and finally at 11:00 PM (service started at 7 pm) we were done in the altars and I was headed home.  I was just overwhelmed at the goodness of God and the maturity of our women.  IT'S A NEW DAY AT CELEBRATION CHURCH.  It's been that way since the last week of June 2010.  I know, I've said it before but I'll say it again, there's a surprise -- a new level around every corner at CC. as of late.  God is sooooo up to something!!!

Trust me my friends we are truly in a new level when I don't have to babysit and people just come, we have great attendance and they are hungry to receive and every single person comes to the altar. Yeah, I'd call that the next level.  If this is a dream please don't wake me up.
Labels:

Comments

Unknown said…
Deanna,
What a wonderful article....I even felt the presence of God as I was reading this....I give you credit for stepping out and experimenting....It's amazing to see what GOD does when HE TAKES CONTROL...
Thanks for sharing this....maybe we should borrow this suggestion....
luv you....
8:10 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not
29 comments
Read more

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we
12 comments
Read more

Fifty Shades of No Way

This weekend, the Fifty Shades of Grey movie will be released and millions of women are expected to flock to the theat er s.  I will not be one of those women.   As a leader of women , some have asked me about this movie. The following is my thoughtful response. Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world. The book series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, and been translated into 52 languages. It set the record as the fastest-selling paperback of all time.   Is Fifty Shades of Grey just a harmless book or movie? Although n o one seems to be debating this fact, let’s first establish that it’s pornography.  And not just porn, but a genre that is even more dangerous for women. The book glorifies a female character that is controlled and abused by her partner.   Who is excited about this book and mov ie? Hmmmm….you might be surprised. Many women and girls in our churches have read it. Sadly, I am even aware of
Post a Comment
Read more