The First Dollar Focus

It’s usually inconspicuously on the wall next to the cash register. Go to any small business of any kind-  donut shop, grill, dry cleaners-  and you will find it. The one-dollar bill will be neatly smoothed out and framed in glass. It’s a tradition that we all recognize. This, of course, was the first dollar the store earned and they are celebrating it by displaying it.

But it also serves as a visual reminder that every entrepreneur needs to be reminded of. It’s the simple principle of focus. Imagine the dreams and aspirations of any new business. They hope to make it big. They hope to win customers. They hope to make a buck, and lots of them.

But they have to make the first dollar, first, before the second. Pacing your commitment to raise one dollar at a time can make all the difference in the world when you have challenges and mountains that can seem overwhelming. Breaking a challenge into bite-size pieces helps bring focus to what is right in front of us. Dreaming or wanting something in the future can take your eyes off the “here” and “now” opportunities in the present.

The BridgePointe staff recently came back from a retreat in which we not only planned the entire year calendar, but also charted 10 targets that define the “there” for our church next school year. We have a visionary staff, so we have chalked up some lofty challenges. Our next move is to break these goals down into the “how to’s”. It’s a good time for all of us at BridgePointe to affirm how we build a church: “One dollar at a time”.

Translated, it means we win people to Jesus … one believer at a time. It means we add volunteers … one volunteer at a time. We enlarge our children’s ministry …. one family at time. It means we launch Life Groups … one group at a time. We restart Inside BridegPointe … one guest at time. We build our Mpact and Women’s events ... one man and one woman at a time. We create the new Jr. High Group this fall … one student at a time. We develop Deep End Workshops … one learner at a time. And our future facility location? Yup, one dollar at a time.

Hockey legend, Wayne Gretzy, known as “The Great One”, was presented with hockey’s most prestigious award. With cameras rolling and mics shoved in his face, he was asked by a news reporter, “Now that you have received hockey’s highest honor, what else is there?” Gretzy replied, “Tonight’s game!” That’s the kind of bite size attention that allowed him to focus on what was right in front of him.

BridgePointe, what is the “one dollar opportunity” in front of you now, today, this week, or this summer that will allow you to draw close to God, to build God’s church, or to impact others and our community?