Reservoir Next Steps
THE IDEA HERE IS THAT EVERY BOLD TACTIC (such as “Digital Front Door” or “Member Welcome”) LINKS TO A “HOW TO” GUIDE
When and Why
John Wesley was a master of the Reservoir model. His Classes and Bands were a massive logistics network capable of serving the region. To re-plant a Reservoir is to reclaim the Wesleyan Discipline of rigorous organization. This level of organization may feel excessively hierarchical or business-like. The intent is not to follow a business model, but to be a good steward of church resources, investing in the next generation of regional leaders.
Phases
Phase 1: Infrastructure
A Reservoir cannot grow if its pipes are leaking. Before adding volume, you must ensure the system can handle it.
- Digital Front Door: A high-end, frictionless web and social presence that acts as a concierge for new visitors.
- Member Welcome: A clear, 5-step path from Guest to Leader.
- Volunteer Machinery: Moving from asking for help to a professionalized Volunteer Management System where every role has a job description and a training manual.
Phase 2: Physical Pivot
Reservoir churches sit atop communities with pools of neighbors whose demographics indicate that the Methodist flavor of the Christian faith may be a good match for their spiritual longings. To attract these seekers, a third-place feel is preferred. Spaces that feel more like a nice library, gym, or high-end office rather than ecclesiastical feel accessible and welcoming.
- Entry Space as Hub: The area adjacent to or a part of the narthex, foyer, or lobby is treated as a high-end co-working space or cafe, open during the week to establish regional presence.
- Repurposed Utility: If the current building is traditional, de-cluttering is the first step toward excellence. Relocating historic and sentimental decor to secondary areas will make room for functional flow and help newcomers imagine a place for themselves within the church.
Phase 3: Catchment Strategy
Reservoirs grow through regional magnetism.
- Big Day Strategy: Use 2-3 high-production events per year (Easter, Rally Day, Christmas) to create massive entry points.
- Content Distribution: Treating the weekly sermon/teaching as a product that is edited, clipped, and distributed digitally to serve a 25-mile radius throughout the week. Podcasts, online classes, and distributed “coffee shop” studies are all possibilities.
Best Practices
- Empty Chair Policy: Every leader is required to be training their replacement. If a leader doesn’t have an apprentice, they aren’t leading in a Reservoir model—they are just doing.
- Feedback Loop: Monday Morning Post-Mortems. The staff and key leads review the ministry of the previous week with brutal honesty: What was a 10? What was a 2? Why?
- Digital Shadow: Every physical step in the pipeline is mirrored by a digital nudge (email automation, text check-ins, app notifications) to ensure no one is dropped.