Walgreen's

Walgreen's adopted a new business model over a decade ago and it has led Walgreen's to become a Fortune 500 company. The model? They moved, even at a large cash outlay, to move to all stores on major corners (intersections) to make it easier for customers to get in an out. Obviously, the big risk yielded big rewards.

 

Somewhere down the line, church became associated not with risk (faith) but unchanging safety. The church's people took on a veneer of safety and personal piety. It is hard to imagine Jesus being crucified for being a 21^st century North American church-goer. Ignored, maybe, but not crucified.

 

Which begs the questions, "What happened?" Why are we not the ecclesial equivalent of Walgreen's, risking it all for a larger vision and a bigger market share? (Yes, I am aware of the repugnant sound of "market share" but I believe that we have a magnetic message and Person; why would we not want to share it?)

 

May you/we have a faith so big and risky that you/we draw people to Christ because that is your/our vision and our goal. May we rely less on ourselves and more on God. "I will, with God's help!"

 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT)