The Importance of "The Wow" When it Comes to Big Events and Church Growth Strategy

When hearing the term “wow factor,” most people recognize it. They intuitively understand what it means. They see it often if they go to concerts, see shows, take their kids to amusement parks, etc.

The importance of the wow factor is that you know it when you see it. One of the most recognizable experiences, loaded with “the wow,” are fireworks shows. Right? Everyone is standing around, looking up, saying, “Wow!” Or, you’re at a rock concert, and the pyrotechnics folks are making things explode on the stage with the beat of the music or, otherwise, when you least expect it. How about an air show with biplanes flying about with people standing on the wings?

A while back, I was attending an Executive Pastors’ Summit. One of the executive pastors happened to be the brother of the Cirque Du Soleil show, Mystére at Treasure Island’s Creative Arts Director, David Gomez. He treated us all to a backstage tour right before the show. It was a real treat. Anyway, the show was loaded with “wow!” In fact, at times, there was so much going on you were afraid you would miss something!

Why go to all that trouble? Creating “wow” is expensive and even dangerous in the case of Mystére. Sure, it makes the show exciting and worth the money you spend on a ticket. But you’re already there. You’ve already decided to buy the ticket. Why go to all the trouble?

It’s easy. Reputation. Why do so many people buy tickets to Cirque Du Soleil every year? Because they’ve either been “wowed” at a previous show or heard about the “wow” of previous shows. They want to go and experience something full of “wow.”

Apply this to the church and your growth strategy. I use the example of an annual Kids’ Camp (VBS) at the church I served when writing about big events, growth strategy, etc., but I don’t often write about the Importance of “the wow” when it comes to these events. I believe this camp grows each year because of the attention (and expense!) placed on the “wow factor.” A motorcycle was driven through the auditorium, Darth Vadar and a group of Imperial Storm Troopers surprised the kids, and once, a hot air balloon landed on the campus. A character was even shot out of a cannon! (That was interesting to pull off!)

And, of course, since that Kids’ Camp grew each year, Kids’ Camp Sunday’s attendance grew each year, and so does the opportunity to reach the lost. Now, I’m getting around to the mission of the church :).

The “wow factor” doesn’t just apply to big events. It also applies to our services, trying to do something incredible that will create the “moment” in the service that inspires people to “feel” something. One Christmas Eve, snow fell on stage during the Christmas music portion of the service. It wasn’t that fake stuff; it was actually snow! People loved it! Who knows, maybe the people who attended will be more motivated to invite their friends and family next year!