What the Church can Learn from Jimmy Fallon

For those who haven't heard, Jimmy Fallon has taken "The Tonight Show," by storm.  Replacing a comedic legend, Jimmy Fallon was handed the baton to the highest rated late night show and has not disappointed. In fact, Fallon has actually increased viewership in the 18-49 age range, while topping the combined results of "The Late Show with David Letterman," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."  How has he been so successful?  How has his team of writers helped to take the most popular night time show and make it even more popular.  The answer is CHANGE.

From the very first show that Fallon appeared on, the audience could tell that this was going to be a new "Tonight Show."  It was not going to be exactly what they had grown accustomed to with Jay Leno for the past 20 years.  Fallon was here and he brought CHANGE with him.  The weird thing is that it actually worked.  As word spread, more people began tuning in.  His hilarious "outside the box" skits became instant hits on You Tube, garnering anywhere from 5 to 15 million hits within the week.  The new flair that Fallon brought to "The Tonight Show," paid off and has helped to reach even more people than before. 

Now I would be amiss if I did not take a moment to mention, that even though Fallon brought CHANGE to "The Tonight Show," he still stayed true to the overall purpose of the show...  To entertain people and make them laugh while helping them relax from a long day's work.  Please do not miss this point.  The CHANGE did not take away from the overall purpose of the show, it actually helped to accentuate it.  

Lets apply this to the church.  No one seems to be against CHANGE more than church members.  We grow complacent in our pews, and content with where the church is as a whole.  Most times, when CHANGE is introduced, it is met with resistance and skepticism.  This resistance and skepticism leads to murmurings which eventually leads to disgruntleness and complaining.  Thus, CHANGE is stopped in its tracks and the church continues on its stagnant tracks. 

Might I suggest that not all CHANGE is bad.  In fact, CHANGE can often times be the catalyst used by God to help accentuate the overall purpose of the church... To Make Disciples.  Instead of fleeing from change, help to cultivate it in order to continue to propel the church forwards and not backwards.

Fallon took the most successful late night show on t.v. and made it better by introducing CHANGE.  He took the opportunity that was given him and ran with it.  Perhaps it's time for churches to follow his lead. Who knows... we just might be more successful too!