Church @ St. Arbucks

Actually, perhaps the title should read "Church AS St. Arbucks..." I went through my "barista" bar training last night, which translates to five hours of drinking from a fire hydrant of knowledge from one of our store's "Coffee Masters".

Brother Maynard has been teasing me (online and in emails) about Starbucks and church, and in a recent post entitled Church Size: Tall, Venti, Grande? took on the question that the Winnipeg Beer-drinking Emerging Cohort (not their official title, but aptly descriptive, anyway) was discussing: when is a church too large?

During my barista bar training shift last night, here's some of the mentoring/coaching/discipling dynamics that went on, which I think could be easily translated to the question of church size & effectiveness:

• Accurate information was given to me in a helpful, informative, and friendly way (sort of like teaching on spiritual gifts)
  
  
• In an atmosphere that was at once "under pressure" (I was serving real, live customers throughout), the coach was able to create an atmosphere of being relaxed, positive, and encouraging
  
  
• I was able to concentrate on learning the skills and practicing as I went (sounds sort of like Jesus and the disciples, don't it?), without my coach hovering over my shoulder to micro-manage my every step
  
  
• On the other hand, the coach was nearby performing other tasks, and would immediately answer any questions I had, or come over to talk me through certain steps for the more complex drink combinations
  
  
• At no time did the coach take over for me, or make me feel like I was failing or inadequate; I felt affirmed and encouraged even during the most high-pressure times
  
  
• The under-girding atmosphere could be described as: "We know you can do this; but we're here to help, if you ask us to."

At the end of my shift, I thanked my coach for the whole training evening. I learned tons, and honestly came away feeling physically tired and also encouraged and supported.

It seems to me that this is what "discipling" should look like. And therefore, a church is only effective to the extent that:

1. It can effectively walk alongside apprentices of Jesus and equip them, and
   
2. It honestly has opportunities for these apprentices to do hands-on ministry. There's nothing that causes disillusionment faster than gifted, trained people who have no outlet for hands-on ministry in the church because only a select few actually get to "do the stuff".

In other words, the actual numerical number of "what makes a church too big" isn't the issue, it's the ability of that church to functionally equip and release people into ministry.

So, Brother Maynard, in that respect, maybe our churches should model themselves after Starbucks, eh?