McCain
Know who you are you…and be that person.

While it seems that people are trying to cover their butts by pointing fingers there is one main reason McCain lost this election: identity. He didn’t know who he was. He started with “experience” but then moved to “change”. Bad move. You have to know who you are and what your story is before you can ever expect anyone else to. He tried out “maverick” in the end and while that might have worked awhile ago…it just wasn’t believable.

When a hip new church rolls into town down the street, resist the urge to adjust. That is not the time to try and cater to the hip crowd. Steady as she goes. If you’re hip, be hip. If you’re more yourself in jeans wear jeans…if you feel better in a suit, wear a suit. Not only do you need to be who you are because that’s who you are…it also produces stability within the church atmosphere.

Obama
Set an expectation that you know you can meet, or exceed.

Obama’s biggest challenge is filling the shoes he made for himself. The nation, and even world, is excited to see the change that he held onto so tightly…if he comes to the table with same old politics it’s going to be a big fail. If on the other hand he reaches across the aisle, looks out for the people and meets those expectations big win.

You can do the same by creating consistency in your communications. Don’t call us up and want to a great mailing campaign and then meet those people who respond with a mediocre guest packet, bulletin, etc. You only get one chance for that first impression. Be consistent and start from the ground up. Prepare for greatness and then tell people how great the experience is. Here’s another one that to me seems obvious but I see it to often. Don’t put pictures showing diversity if your church isn’t diverse. Putting a picture of a black man on your brochure does not make you diverse. What it does do is disappoint that family that shows up thinking you’re the church they’ve been looking for.

Okay…you’re turn what other lessons can we apply to the church from this campaign?

1. Black Friday works because of perception. Hundreds of people flood one store because think they are going to save $500 on a TV. Of course there are only 20 of them, but the perception remains. What are people’s perception of Sunday morning at your church? Do they expect to be one of those 20 lives that will be changed or is it just business as usual.

2. People prepare when they now there is something in it for them. Ads are leaked, maps are charted out. When people see church as not simple something that has to be done, but instead of something that adds to and changes their lives…people will begin to prepare for it. Encourage participation, encourage prayer and reflection through the week.

3. When it becomes all about us, we forget what IT is. Don’t let programs and hype get in the way of what’s most important. Don’t let a marketing package shadow changed lives and instead let it become the light showing them the way.

I’m sure I’m missing others…what else can the church learn from Black Friday?