In response to a comment I got about the Apple Store, I wrote a post earlier this evening, about what churches might be able to learn from the Apple Store. But now that it’s later, and I’m a little more tired, and have had time to think about it, I need to make a few disclaimers…
I think everything I wrote is true. Many churches just plain need to get it together and do better in some areas.
But, after writing about churches improving their first impressions, their communication and the quality of what they do, we need to keep in mind something the Apple Store, as cool as it is, will never do for me:
If I’m hurting, they won’t check on me. If I’m making dumb, sinful, destructive decisions, they won’t try to correct me. And as cool as their products are, the truth is, their products are not exactly life-and-death. And they’re certainly not eternal. Their cool products still fall apart, actually way too fast – that’s what brought me to the Apple Store in the first place. It’s kind of ironic; I had an I-Pod that died too fast, and yet for some reason I wanted another one… and Apple managed to get me to want something else that will also likely die in a few years.
So anyway – churches do need to care about quality, and presentation, and perceptions, and clear communication. For the same reason Apple does – Apple cares because they want you to want what they’re offering. That’s what the church should want as well.
It’s just what the church has is infinitely more important than anything Apple has. So maybe we should put at least as much thought into what we offer, as Apple puts into what they offer.
charley's blog 
I like the Apple store piece. Mainly, they are just really good at anticipating and meeting people’s needs while they were there.
But, my question is bigger: aren’t Christians supposed to keep away from the Apple? That’s why women have pain in childbirth. Therefore, Steve Jobs must certainly be of the Devil, since he is trying so hard to give Apples to all of these folk as quickly and easily as possible.
Amen! And yet churches also need a warning label: please don’t expect perfection because churches are run by imperfect people, and there is no such thing as the perfect church. Church, unlike Apple, offers the hope of being a second family, which means investing time even if you’re not always satisfied with the “customer service”, the other “clientele” and have the occasional “bad” experience. The biggest goal is to insure that all the “shoppers” receive the ultimate product~ the Gospel of grace~ and if they stick around to enjoy and even contribute to the “perks”, WOOHOO! XO
Well, as sound as that theology is – I’m still going to have to disagree.
If Steve Jobs really was the Devil, he wouldn’t charge so much for his products, and therefore make them so hard to get.
He wears red and carries a pitchfork…hello!! 🙂
also the first thing you wrote is great