Dear Friends,
‘Onward’ is how Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks, signs off his communiqués. It is also the title of his book, which tells the story of how he returned as CEO in 2007 after a slump in the company’s performance. What did he do to turn the company around and make it profitable again? Among other things, stores were closed, there were changes in management, and staff were re-trained.
But the thing that stands out is that he brought them back to their core activities. I don’t want this to sound like an advert for Starbucks (and I rarely go there myself), but he realised that they’d lost sight of what they existed for. They had begun to sell other things like soft toys, music, and DVD’s. What he did was to call them back (in his account) to making coffee and providing community. It was as simple as that.
We, too, as the church, can lose sight of what we’re here for, and what our core activities should be. So, what are they? Is it too simple to say that the things we really can’t do without are the word of God and prayer? We can’t do without hearing what God says, which we need to hear for ourselves and to pass on to others, both within and outside the church. And we can’t do without speaking to God in prayer, giving thanks to him and asking him for the things we need. Isn’t it strange, given how simple that is, how easy it is to let other things take their place? So, let’s get back to what we’re here for! Onward!
Chris Hobbs,
Vicar.