257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-3021
We have purchased land on Highways A & W and are planning to build soon!
Drive by and take a look at our future home!
Grace Church of Burlington
April 27, 2008
“Guaranteed. You have our word. Our products are guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way. Return anything purchased from us at any time if it proves otherwise. We do not want you to have anything from L. L. Bean that is not completely satisfactory.” L.L. Bean
I may buy every future coat that I ever need from L. L. Bean because I am one very satisfied customer. For my birthday last October my wonderful wife ordered me a coat from L. L. Bean. Unfortunately, the coat was too snug, so we sent it back and ordered a larger size. No problem. Just pay the return shipping. My coat is now six months old. A few weeks ago the zipper broke, just the tip but you couldn’t zip the coat. Even though it had been six months, L. L. Bean let us return it for a brand new one. And, since I had lost a chunk of weight, they even let us order a smaller size. I was impressed. No hassle... no begging... no pleading. I didn’t even have to threaten to call the Better Business Bureau (Okay, I’ve never ever called them, but it sounds good).
The bottom line is that I am now a loyal customer. I didn’t have to drive to the store. I didn’t have to plead my case with the manager. No muss, no fuss. L. L. Bean takes excellence and customer satisfaction seriously. No wonder they’ve been around for nearly a century and are a global company with annual sales of $1.5 billion.
I wonder if people feel like that about Grace. Obviously, we’re not going to satisfy or meet everyone’s expectations. And there are some things, like Biblical truth, that we can’t and won’t compromise on. But that’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is excellence...giving it our all...doing our best. Seeking to serve in and minister in a way that truly glorifies God, that truly fleshes out 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Depending on the Spirit’s power flowing through us to minister in a magnificent way! It’s an attitude that believes that what I’m doing is important, that is has both spiritual and eternal significance. So what would the L. L. Bean philosophy look like at Grace?
Well, it starts even out in the parking lot. If our sign is dirty or set up crooked, we’re communicating a message. If when we walk in from the parking lot and a newcomer is also walking in, we greet them and welcome them to Grace. We’re communicating a message. Think about it, wouldn’t you be impressed if, before you ever got in the door, people greeted you in the parking lot? It means that we’re even willing to park on the street and walk a bit (most of us can use the exercise anyway) so that newcomers can find a parking space near the door. It means that when people walk in, they know that they will be greeted warmly, that we are anticipating their coming...that we give them a newcomer’s packet with information about our church. It means that we notice when people are looking for a seat. It means that we greet unfamiliar faces and people that we don’t know. It means that the sound and AV people are focused on making sure that everything runs smoothly. It means that Worship Team leads with energy and passion, is prepared and makes the congregation want to join them in praising God. It means that the ushers are watching for seating issues, are attentive to special needs, are seeking to limit distractions during the service. It means that the nursery workers arrive early, ready to welcome both parents and babies. It means that children’s church workers are excited about touching young lives. It means that Sunday School teachers and Adult Bible Fellowship leaders are prepared and excited to share Biblical truth with their classes. It means that they work at making it so great that people know that they have missed something and hate missing out. It means that as the pastor, I’m prepared, that what I have to share matters and is important because it’s God’s Word and His message. It means that we greet folk before we go our separate ways. It means that everyone pitches in to do tear down. It means that our midweek ministries are actively seeking to reach lost young people and then their families. It means that the leaders are prepared, make it fun, help the kids interact and are sensitive to safety issues. It means that desserts for our dessert ministry are prepared with love and commitment. It means that when our time comes to clean the church, we do it in a way that truly honors the Lord. It means that if we’re on the monthly set-up crew, we do it passionately, focusing on how our doing a quality job will help the congregation worship more effectively the next day. It means that we are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, asking Him to direct us so that we can be better stewards of the gifts, time, talent, abilities and finances that He has entrusted to us. It means stepping in when we see a need. It means volunteering to help without being asked. It means seeking to be an encouragement and blessing to everyone around me. It means living in such a way that I am truly a testimony of Christlikeness for my Savior.
L. L. Bean is successful because even as a secular company, they have stumbled on a Biblical truth. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. They do it to increase their bottom line. We, though, do it out of love and gratitude for our great Savior who gave His very life for us...when we were sinners on our way into a Christless eternity.
Being a Christian means living a life of excellence! At Grace may we be known as a family of believers who are committed to honoring the Lord and to excellence!