By Tom Bandy
We know how to retrieve lifestyle data about our community context or church participation. Run a ComparativeInsite Report. Identify the top 50-60% representation. Read the Experian E-Handbook summaries and MissionImpact Guide commentaries for each lifestyle segment, starting with those significantly over- or under-represented in our church. This gives us a pretty good idea who these people are, how they behave in daily life, what they need, and even when and where we can connect with them.
If we pray deeply enough, we begin to sense why God is calling us to bless them in the name of Christ. The same lifestyle research helps us understand who they regard as credible Christians, how they view organized religion, what they seek for personal fulfillment, and even when and where we can best share the Gospel in word and deed.
Many leaders are less clear, however, about the method we follow to incorporate this information into practical ministries. There is a simple, memorable process for which I use the acronym MEGA-STAR.
To be a “star” means to not only succeed but excel. That requires a consistent, repeatable discipline for every church committee, team, or staff leader. But to be a “megastar” we must do more than improve our skills or upgrade our technologies. We must build trust and work in partnerships.
| MEGA- | -STAR | |||
| Motivation | Passion and Purpose | Strategy | Adaptive Tactics | |
| Empathy | Caring and Compassion | Training | Equipping and Resourcing | |
| Goalsetting | Practical Outcomes | Action | Risk and Work | |
| Allies | Community Partners | Reflection | Evaluation and Learning | |
This methodology is constantly repeated as committees and teams recruit volunteers, plan ministries, implement plans, and gather feedback. The MEGA routine is often pursued annually or quarterly. That is, leaders set aside time each quarter to revisit or realign passion and purpose, test and deepen their sensitivity to others, adjust their goals, and build community partnerships. The STAR routine is often pursued monthly or weekly. Leaders reflect on their relative success and learn from mistakes. They adapt their tactics, train or retrain volunteers, and reinvest in the work of the laity.
Go look at your congregational ComparativeInsite Report and the list of lifestyle representation on page 5. The “Index” column will quickly reveal which lifestyle mosaics are over- or under-represented. (A score of 100 means equal representation between community and church. The higher the score, the more a segment is over-represented in church. The lower the score, the more a segment is under-represented.)
Many churches have had great success including C13 Philanthropic Sophisticates. The Experian E-Handbook tells us they are 66-75, retired in comfort, for whom quality matters. They lead ecological lifestyles, are experienced travelers. And they tend to be art connoisseurs who are very philanthropic. The MissionImpact Guide tells us they have a global perspective and value faith-based non-profits. They have generally liberal attitudes but protect their comfort zones. They are denominationally loyal, generous to the church, and regard spiritual life as a form of lifelong learning.
Since they are over-represented in the church, we are quite successful including them. In their eyes, we are MEGA-STARS (even though we are probably quite unconscious of following the methodology.) We do MEGA well:
- We share their passion for ethics and aesthetics (Motivation)
- We identify with their need for purpose and belonging (Empathy)
- We set achievable goals for traditional worship and good fellowship (Goalsetting)
- We build partnerships with denominational mission organizations and artistic groups (Allies).
We do STAR well:
- We adapt our music for classical, folk, and jazz, and hospitality offering multiple healthy choices (Strategy)
- We train our greeters and ushers to be friendly but not pushy, and add cushions to the pews (Training)
- We work well in committees, attend rallies, and continue good stewardship even when they are traveling (Action)
- We offer study groups to learn more about global issues and Christian responsibility (Reflection)
Many of our churches have had far less success including lifestyle mosaics like S71 Modest Retirees. The Experian E-Handbook tells us they are mature singles, 51-65, with limited income, living in inner city apartments. Although they have limited budgets, they shop to relax. They have modest educations. Many are African American or Hispanic. The MissionImpact Guide tells us that faith brings them stability, but they are suspicious of religious or political manipulation. Worship gives them strength for tomorrow, but they may be intermittent in attendance. The church is a center for socialization and financial support, and a link to free education.
Since they are under-represented in the church, we are not very successful including them. As Christian people we are appreciated, but as religious organizations we are MEGA-failures. To change that perception, we must do intentionally for them the MEGA-STAR methodology that we have done unconsciously for others. We must do MEGA better. For example,
- We can share their urgency for survival and need for friendships (Motivation)
- We can identify with their sense of loneliness and frustration with socio-economic barriers (Empathy)
- We can set priorities for healthy diets and safe places (Goalsetting)
- We can build partnerships with local non-profits, emergency services, and health care clinics (Allies)
We must do STAR better. For example,
- We can personalize intercessory prayer, expand refreshment time and offer take-out (Strategy)
- We can train servers and deploy minglers to deepen relationships and offer rides to church gatherings (Training)
- We can encourage 1:1 conversation, involve laity in life-coaching, and create a Wellness Center (Action)
- We can offer personal support groups and money management seminars (Reflection)
There is a consistent methodology that we use when applying lifestyle information to ministry planning. It is easy to do, and often followed unconsciously, when we are dealing with people like us. It is more difficult to do, and requires more intentional effort, when we are dealing with people different than us.
Church growth is really based on your ability to gain “Mega-Star” status amid all the other institutions and organizations around you. Your presence is widely recognized, your services highly valued, and your reputation universally applauded across the lifestyle diversity of the community. You are a “go to” destination, and a “must be with” relationship. The biggest challenge to being a “MEGA-Star” is that we must test our assumptions and preconceptions about others and awaken deeper understanding and compassion. We presume rather than prepare. The biggest challenge to being a “mega-STAR” is that we tend to behave mechanically rather than personally. We repeat rather than adapt.
The most important thing to remember about “MEGA-STAR” methodology is that size doesn’t matter. The smallest church can be a “mega-star” in their neighborhood, village, or town if they just follow the method. The Christian movement has never required wealth and numbers, but only compassion and courage.