10-30-08Mystery Worshippers

I can't believe that month has past since my last post
In my Pastoral Strategies class, I introduced the "mystery worshipper" strategy. If you are not aware of this program - a person visits your church service with a number of factors to judge. There are about 10 factors that they observe. Factors range from the initial greeting, music, message, after service fellowship and departure from the building.

The evaluation process I felt was a little subjective. The person who evaluates the serve may have a different church heritage than the one being visited. Personal like/dislikes appear - really - neutrality would be impossible.

The Ship-of-Fools.com website lists the results of many such visits. The value of the observations rest in pointing out of areas of concern to each of us in the Lord's work on Sunday.

When I visit a church - and unknown to them - I have used the list of factors - It is interesting to be visitor - especially when we [pastors] are usually occupied with pulpit matters.

The list of factors might be a good place to start to evaluate of services - even when done an in-house [member] observer. It is amazing how little things [foxes] can spoil a church program.