Launch Conference, Part 7D: Planning My First Service From Scratch

Here's the last part of the section called Planning My First Service From Scratch:

6. Risk it all on the Launch.

Your launch day should be promoted during each of your monthly services, on your website, and in every conversation with people that you have--it's the goal so promote it to the max.

• Spend 50% of your marketing money on monthly services and the other 50% on the Launch.
• If you have very little marketing money, you might want to save almost all of it for the Launch.
  

Launch Lessons from Starting Churches from Scratch

• Have your people commit to inviting their friends.
• Launch with a new teaching series that hits a high felt-need of your target.
• Promote the next week and challenge people to come back.
• Challenge new people to tell their friends about the church.
• Don't use an outside band or teacher for the Launch service.
• Ask those who have attended the monthly services to serve at the Launch.
• Collect contact information on everyone who attends.
• Count how many attend and distinguish between in town and out of town attendees (don't deceive yourself--count only local attenders who might potentially be/become regular attenders).
• Serve refreshments.
• Set up your room so that it feels full (rooms feel full at 70% capacity).
• Keep the service to one hour.
• Receive an offering.
• Meet as many people as possible at your launch.
• Don't do a greeting line; it's weird to unchurched people. Be somewhere, mill around, and meet people.
• Thank all your volunteers.
• Be ready for the Sunday after your Launch!
  

Launch Day Do's and Don'ts

• Do: Serve fresh Krispy Kremes
• Don't: Serve day-old, store-bought anything

• Do: Offer sweet, salty, and healthy foods
• Don't: Offer small portions

• Do: Offer name brand drinks
• Don't: Offer Sam's Choice

• Do: Offer water
• Don't: Have a sign pointing to the fountain

• Do: Put smiling people out to serve
• Don't: Let your team eat all the food

• Do: Provide foot for your set-up teams
• Don't: Tell anyone he or she can only have one of anything

• Do: Provide more than enough food
• Don't: Comment when people take seconds or thirds

"Spectacular achievements come from unspectacular preparation." --NFL quarterback Roger Staubach