Podcast Episode #074
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We tackle a post by Dr. Chuck Lawless on church facility issues. In doing so, we cover everything from upright pianos to dirty diapers.
Some highlights from the episode:
- Paper signage can communicate you don’t care about the professionalism of your church.
- You wouldn’t put children’s furniture in adult classes, so why would you put adult furniture in children’s classes?
- If parents don’t feel their kids are safe at a church, they likely will not return.
- Facility issues communicate our level of concern about the quality of God’s house.
- Don’t assume facility issues have no bearing on the perception of your church.
- Consider hiring a mystery guest to evaluate your church from an outside perspective.
The 15 church facility issues we cover are:
- No obvious main entrance.
- An unmarked (or unattended) welcome center.
- Paper signage.
- Old information on screens or bulletin boards.
- Unsecured children’s area.
- Windowless doors in the children’s area.
- “Big people” furniture in children’s rooms.
- Clutter.
- Open outlets in preschool rooms.
- Dirty carpet.
- Odors.
- Unstocked bathrooms.
- Poor lighting.
- Few garbage cans.
- Faded paint.
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All good points. After 35 years of serving in various positions I can honestly say it comes down to budget and priorities.
Church leaders need to understand in America perception IS reality. An unstocked restroom or dim lighting may hardly get the attention of a Pastor struggling with staff cuts but these things turn off fickled people who won’t come back when there are churches with theatre seating or a Starbucks in the atrium.
“Perception is reality” is the motto of Madison Avenue, not the body of Christ.
1 John 2
15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Is not the purpose of the church to reach Madison Ave and the rest of the lost ? They won’t bring their children if first class secure facilities are not available.
It’s amazing that it can be turned into a sin issue on the part of visitors instead of those that are supposed to be welcoming. If I invited you to my house you would have every right to expect to be safe, clean and most definitely the use of toilet paper if the need arises. Now if I were without the gospel and you were bringing it to me then I imagine you overlook my circumstances. But if you are without the gospel and I invite you to my house to hear it, why wouldn’t you expect the necessities of life? And why in the world would you come back if you can go someplace that doesn’t smell instead?
While serving as Minister of Education years ago, I invited a unchurched friend who was a facilities engineer and his family to visit our SS and church and evaluate what he saw and experienced. Very enlighting and sad at the same time. Made major changes from his insights.
Good list But about the paper signage: saw an ad on TV with whiteboard and a similar approach at the gym. What does professionalism look like? Just an idea – but white board and news print says “new idea” and may connect without the polish – a thought
I like the “secret shopper” idea. I’m curious if you have an evaluation form for this that you could share with us in pdf or word format?
When I had a regional leadership role in my previous diocese, I worked with a team to have mystery worshippers go to all of the congregations in our region. We used Survey Monkey to create the form.
The survey is far from perfect (and we’d probably apply some learnings if we did it again), but there were some interesting results. For example, one parish which was vary proud of its partnership with a local food security community based organization realized that there was nothing in or around the church telling people about it.
The questions were:
What were your first impressions of the church? Check all that apply.
Check all that apply.
I could find parking.
I found the entrance easily.
Once inside I could tell where to go.
The building exterior looked well maintained.
The building interior looked well maintained.
It looks like people care about this place.
I was spoken to by a person.
I was handed a piece of paper.
I was given service books.
I was invited to sit.
Could you follow the service? Did you know what was happening? Did you know where to look? If you were given service books or sheets / leaflets / booklets when you came in, were they actually useful in helping you follow the service?
Yes
No
Q4: Could you hear and understand the spoken parts?
Yes
No, it was too quiet.
No, I heard the words, but didn’t understand.
Q5: What did you think of the musical parts?
Good
Bad
No music
Q6: What did you think of the sermon? Was relevant? Was it comprehensible? Was it vapid? Was it too long? Too short? Just right? Was it worth the trouble of listening to it? Was it relevant, semi-relevant to current issues, good length, comprehensible
Q7: How was the coffee time after the service? Check all that apply.
There was an announcement to go to coffee.
I was personally invited by someone other than the clergy.
The coffee was good.
There were tasty snacks.
Someone visited with me.
No one spoke to me.
I was overwhelmed – and not in a good way – by all the people who spoke to me.
Q8: Did you see anything to indicate that this church is involved in its neighbourhood? Explain.
Yes
No
Q9: If you were looking for a faith community, could you see yourself as a part of this faith community?
Yes, because of the people.
Yes, because of the worship.
Yes, because location and service times fit my lifestyle.
Yes, because their programs and activities interest me.
No, because of the people.
No, because of the worship.
No, because location and service times don’t fit my lifestyle.
No, because their programs and activities don’t interest me.
Q10: If you were looking for a faith community and we hadn’t handed you a map and asked you to go here, do you think you might have found this place on your own? And if you were looking for a faith community, would you consider coming back here?
Yes, I think I could have found this place on my own.
Seriously? I had trouble finding it with your map.
If I were looking, I would like to come back here.
They all seem very nice, but it isn’t my style.
Even if I was looking for a faith community, I don’t think I’d consider this one.
Other (please specify)
Another survey model is at Ship of Fools – although many of the questions (and even more of the answers) may be too “inside baseball” to be really helpful.
http://www.shipoffools.com/mystery/index.html