What Sport Clips Teaches Us About Men And Church Attendance

This past weekend it was time for me to get my every 3-4 week haircut.  Due to some scheduling challenges, I could only get it done during a time my regular location was closed.  However, I was driving by Sports Clips and thought I would give it a try.

I had been interested in Sports Clips for a while as they advertise on local sports talk radio.  They promised an experience where I could watch sports while getting my haircut along with hot towels on my face and a shoulder and neck massage.  So what better time than now to give it a shot.

I walked in and there was framed copies of Sports Illustrated all over the walls.  Banners and team emblems were everywhere.  The magazines were all Sporting News and other sports publications.  Flat screen televisions were showing ESPN’s NFL Draft recaps and analysis.  I thought, “This place is AWESOME!”

By the time my haircut had finished, the lobby was packed full of men just like me.

Several years ago, I heard the following statistic on church growth from a pastor:

• If a child becomes a Christian first, there is a 6% chance the entire family will.
• If the wife/mother becomes a Christian first, there is an 18% chance the entire family will.
• If the husband/father becomes a Christian first, there is a 94% chance the entire family will.

I’ll never forget what he then said, “Brian, our entire ministry from the time you enter the grounds, to the decor, to the music, to the message is designed to reach men.  Statistically, it doesn’t make sense to do anything else.”  His church now runs over 12,000 men, women, and children during its weekend services.

Sport Clips states “At Sport Clips, It’s Good to Be a Guy.  At Sport Clips, we’ve created the perfect place for a guy to get great service and a great haircut. Our mission is to create a championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sports themed environment. Stop in today for the ultimate just-for-guys haircut experience!”

Church leaders, you should consider a mission statement that says “At ABC Church, it’s good to be a guy.  We’ve created the perfect place for a guy to get great experience and a great adventure with God. Our mission is to create a championship experience for men and boys in an exciting sports themed environment. Stop in today for the ultimate just-for-guys worship experience!”

So church leaders, remove the flowers from the lobby and put in a Harley! Replace the soft classical music with edgy guitars. Stop talking about feelings and start promoting adventure, and for Heaven’s sake remove the botanical garden and put in a ball field!  Do these things and watch men come into your church who are thinking “This place is AWESOME!”

And one more thing, then watch them come back the next week.  And when they do, they will bring their families with them.