Church offers worship in creative way
that resembles Starbucks’ business plan










Aaron Saenz, associate pastor of First UMC, Harlingen, and worship leader at that church’s satellite service called Valley Praise, has written the following insightful comments comparing the mission of Starbucks coffee shops with that of Christian churches in this challenging age. He was informed by and gives credit to the new book entitled The Starbucks Experience: Five Principles for Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary by Joseph Michelli.
This morning after making a hospital visit, I decided to stop by a Starbucks locally to pick some coffee up for me and some friends. I stepped in and, without hesitation, I was asked, “What can I get for you?” I didn’t even make it to the counter before I was greeted.
Now it may have been my large frame or even my exuding charm that caught the attention of the barista (employee), but regardless, I was treated like she had been waiting for me all morning.
Employees of Starbucks are trained to: 1) Be Welcoming, 2) Be Genuine, 3) Be Considerate, 4) Be Knowledgeable and
5) Be Involved.
“Starbucks has succeeded in creating a unique model that encourages partners at all levels to pour their creative energy and dedication into everything they do,“ The Starbucks Experience says on Page 20.
The worship leadership team at Valley Praise has taken the way we worship and offered it in a creative and dedicated way much like Starbucks. Each of the above characteristics is vital to the growth of our ministry, and our team possesses
each of these qualities.
Anyone who steps into the Gutierrez cafeteria [the middle school where Valley Praise worships] feels welcome, and people know that our leadership team is genuine.
We live in a society of faked and detached personal connections. The times of old when everyone was friendly when you went to the supermarket are gone. But we can replicate a genuine friendliness when we minister to our community. People are looking for positive connections today, and we offer that through our atmosphere and hospitality.
Our team is considerate and mindful of the “nonbeliever” and the “baby Christian.” Therefore, we provide an environment where people are not intimidated but welcomed and nourished. Our team is knowledgeable because of individual and group research in church growth and development. It also helps that we have visited other congregations and learned from them.
Last of the qualities is to be involved. The Valley Praise leadership team is so involved that it amazes me each week. The team meets each Wednesday night to plan the Sunday service and comes two hours early on Sundays to set up the middle school space for the morning worship.
In ministry we need to go to the people where they are, as Jesus showed us time and time again, and invite them to Christ at their level. Our mission is to reach the lost in our community by offering Christ with as much creative energy and dedication as we can pour into our service.