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What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
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True Church Stories - #5

When the service concludes at our church on Sunday, my husband goes to the back door to greet people and I go to the hospitality room every week to meet and greet our first time guests.  We've had this custom for years.

Sometimes guests don't come to the hospitality room, they just leave right away and in that case, he is the first to meet them.  Even if they become a regular attender on Sunday mornings, being that this is our pattern every week for me to go to the hospitality room, unless they come on a Wednesday night or to fellowship times,or our Newcomer's Night, I may not meet them for quite a while if at all.  So...

Such was the case with one certain man we'll call Ron .  He began coming to the church weekly every Sunday morning but he never came to the hospitality room, newcomer's night or anything but Sunday morning service.  My husband knew this man from talking to him at the door but I never knew him or anything about him, I just recognized his face from looking out in the congregation as I would be leading on the platform each week.

One Sunday after church our family went to Applebee's to eat with some other church families.  When we got there we saw that several other families from church were already there eating.  Ron was there with two friends, also from the church.  While we were waiting for seating I walked around to the different tables where our church people were sitting and started greeting them and making small talk.  I came to the table where Ron and his friends were sitting.  I said, "Good afternoon!  So glad to see you folks in service today...what a great day in the Lord..."

"Oh, yes, yes," they said, "God is doing mighty things."  We continued to make conversation about the way the Lord had really shown up in the service and how grateful we were for all of His blessings.  Suddenly Ron exclaimed, "Oh, Pastor Deanna!!!  It's YOU!!!"

I was very puzzled by this.  The man had been sitting in our church every Sunday morning for months.  I am on the platform leading every single week, many times the one actually preaching, as we co-pastor.  I couldn't figure out how Ron would not know who I was immediately since he had listened to me preach many times or been  present when I was leading worship, communion, prayer, or a bazillion other things.  I thought this must be a joke.  So, I busted out laughing and said, "Wow!!!!  Are you having a brain warp, or what?!  I'm your pastor and you forgot who I was once we weren't at the church building anymore!  Ha ha ha!!!  That is so funny!!!!"

With a totally straight face, he said..........................................

"Well Pastor Deanna...I am blind."

Oh. My. Gosh.

I was horrified!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This man "looked" completely normal.  He did not look blind.  I had just made a complete buffoon of myself, and possibly hurt his feelings beyond repair.

Worst of all my husband KNEW the guy was 100% blind and just "forgot" to tell me!!!!  So much for communication between spouses.  (I now use this illustration in our marriage seminars that we do on why it's vitally important that you communicate important things to your spouse.)

Back to the story...

I immediately began profusely apologizing to Ron.  Fortunately he had a great sense of humor and laughed with us over this huge faux pas.

After each service now I ask Larry, "Is there anything special I should know about our new people that I didn't meet today?"
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Comments

Rhonda said…
Oh my word....that is unbelievable but so like the Lord to allow it all to work out. What an incredible man Ron must be to have that kind of sense of humor! As always, I am sure you handled yourself in a professional yet humble way - you have always had a way with words :)
7:23 AM
Dr. Deanna DossShrodes said…
Oh yes...God is so good to give us grace and prompt others to extend His grace to us! Ron was a wonderful man. He has since moved, but taught me a big lesson for sure.
10:52 AM
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