Mystery shopper

I've recently become a mystery shopper. As such, I am to go to the business and shop as normal, except I am to note every detail of the experience. The company that has employed me wants honest feedback about how they are doing in the customer service area. I don't want to reveal what business I have been assigned because it might taint the way I am treated and thus make the report not as meaningful.

But I was thinking about this concept of "mystery shopping" in the context of a church. I wish we could get the kind of feedback I am giving to this business. They want to know if their facilities were clean and well cared-for. They want to know if their employees are being professional. In short, they want to know if there is anything they could do to motivate customers to bring in more customers. In terms of church, we need to ask the same kinds of questions. We need to recognize that God is ultimately responsible for working in people's hearts, but we do play a part. So, next time you go to your church, take a good hard look around. Let me walk you through some of the questions that come to mind from my "mystery shopper" assignments.

1) When you pull up to the facility, is there plenty of parking?
2) Does the landscaping and property look well cared for?
3) Does the lobby look clean and welcoming?
4) Are the people friendly?
5) Were you welcomed as soon as possible?
6) Did anyone ask if they could help you be more comfortable?
7) Did anyone ask if you would fill out a visitor's card?
8) Did anyone ask you to come again in the future?
9) Were you told of opportunities for fellowship?
10) Were you told of opportunities for Bible study?

Or, to boil it down to the very essence of these questions, was there anything humanly possible that could have been done to help you in your decision to come back (or not) to the church?

I think every church member of every church should go through this kind of analysis of the church. And, when you find where you church is not quite what you think it should be, don't complain. Take the lead. Start working on the area that bothers you most. If you need help in that area, ask for it. Don't be a lone ranger. If we genuinely worked to remove barriers in our facilities and attitudes, we might be surprised at the way God works through us. We might begin to understand even better what it means to wrap a towel around our waist and wash feet. In other words, we might comprehend what it means to become a servant to all.

May God bless you richly as you seek to partner with Him in seeing His Kingdom grow.