FOUR LESSONS THE CHURCH CAN LEARN FROM STARBUCKS!!!

A few months ago I posted THIS in response to a trip to the Apple store. Yesterday I had another similar experience, except this time it was at the beloved caffeine drip of America…Starbucks. Or for all you hipsters out there that are cooler than the rest of us St. Arbucks!!!

So here is the context. I will label yesterday Wicked Wet Wednesday. In the span of a few hours yesterday, in some places, we had around 10 inches of rain. It was insane. I am not sure I have seen that much rain since I moved here 8 years ago. So instead of taking me 15 min. to get to Starbucks to get my Chocolate Vivanno, it took me 45 min. When I pulled into the parking lot I was floored by what was taking place.

I pulled up and the rain was coming down sideways. It was beating on the side of my vehicle and I would have sworn it was going to actually penetrate the metal. Then out of no where one of the Baristas comes running over to my car with an umbrella. He was soaking wet, getting pelted with rain and debris, and get this…HE WAS HAPPY!!! He peeked in the window and yelled, “You going into Starbucks?” I nodded a frantic yes, and he screamed, “LET’S GO…I WILL KEEP YOU DRY!!!” So with that I opened the door, grabbed my bag and the Barista escorted me into the building. After he opened the door he looked at me and said, “Thanks for letting me help you.” I looked at him with what I am sure was a look of “REALLY DUDE?” Then I proceeded to say, “No Bro…Thank you.” Then as he held the door for me and I walked inside he took off running out into the parking lot to help another POSSIBLE patron. So what can we learn as the church.

1. Be willing to serve people no matter how uncomfortable it makes you- He could have easily stayed inside his comfy shop, behind his safe counter, making his expensive drinks and no one would have blamed him. But he did something that many of us in the church are not willing to do. He got uncomfortable in order to make sure that everyone coming in had the best experience they could in a seemingly “bad experience” kind of morning. Unfortunately we would much rather stay in our comfy buildings, in our comfy chairs, and our safe friends long before we would risk getting up and getting uncomfortable for those that don’t yet know Christ. It is time that we are willing to serve people in an uncomfortable state.

2. Be willing to serve when it is not your main responsibility- My guess is when he took the job at Starbucks there was no mention of bringing people in from the rain with an umbrella all morning. In fact my guess is, is that he was taught how to make coffee and remember names, but that was it. However, he saw a need and knew that doing what he did would in fact impact people to experience their coffee gods better. Whether you are paid in the church or a volunteer, when was the last time you stepped out of your “role,” saw a need, and jumped without question? What I have found is God usually uses me when it is not what I am paid to do. He usually uses me when I actually pick up the ball that no one else has seen and run with it. Be willing to step out of your responsibility to serve others.

3. Be willing to serve with a smile- Remember…it was POURING down rain. Yet he was HAPPY!!! Did you get that? HE WAS HAPPY!!! Why is it that in the church when things don’t go as we have planned we become Debbie Downer. We complain, we bicker, we snap and bite at each other, we point blame, we_______(fill in the blank). He did none of that. He simply wanted to serve people in a way that would show he loved them. As the church we need to remember that Jesus calls us to be people of JOY!!! If nothing else, smile and have fun in your service. If nothing else it will be contagious to those that encounter you.

4. Be willing to see serving others as an honor- If you remember the story above he thanked me for letting him help me. He was honored to serve me and the countless others he served yesterday. He ran back to the parking lot as if to say, “THIS IS AWESOME…LET ME SERVE YOU.” I imagine as much joy as others received from staying partially dry yesterday morning, he was experiencing a greater joy. I wonder how often we thank people for letting us serve them? Maybe it is time that we as the church realize that there is great honor in serving those that are not yet in the arms of Christ.

So there it is.

Where have you seen the market place do things that the church could learn from? What did they do? Why did they do it? How can we learn from it?