Next month I’m putting on a free workshop for pastors and ministry leaders on how to use social networking in ministry. I believe that Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, etc. can be great free resources for churches wanting to strengthen community and communications. I’m so excited about this workshop that I even spent a few bucks on print materials that I can hand out to pastors when I invite them.
Last Monday I decided to drive around town and personally invite pastors to the event. You know, hand them a flier, shake their hand, meet some of our community’s spiritual leaders. It sounded like fun and my son, Hudson, decided to get dressed up and go with me. It was going to be a great father and son time and we were both looking forward to it. However, the afternoon ended up quite a disappointment.
I have to admit how surprised I was by how nay churches were totally inaccessible. Some were empty and lifeless. Empty parking lots, lights off, nobody home. Even worse, some had cars and lights but all the doors were locked! No bell and no answer to knocks on the door. As bad as that was, there was a far worse scenario.
We walked up to one large church in a fine part of town. Hudson had his shoulder bag of invitations and I was looking forward to meeting this pastor because I had driven past his church so many times. The first door was unlocked, great! The second door, however, was locked. I had to push a button to get someone’s attention. One of the office staff peered out at us through bullet-proof glass and asked why we were there. I told her we wanted to invite their pastor to a free workshop. She buzzed us in and we stepped into an area where there was another window and more bullet-proof glass. There was an office area and multiple staff were working diligently behind the safety of the glass.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt that uncomfortable. They looked at us like we had lobsters coming out of our ears! It was obvious that unfamiliar faces weren’t welcome there outside the context of church services. The woman opened a small part of the window so I could slide her an invitation, then immediately closed it back up again. She had no interest in what I had to say and couldn’t even spare a smile for Hudson. If they treated us that way, I don’t even want to think about how a homeless person or a refugee would be treated.
The hardest part of our outing? When my six-year-old son asked me why no pastors would talk to us. When he asked why the ladies weren’t very nice, and why all the doors were locked. Even a child knows that a church should be a warm place. It should be a place where people are welcomed and accepted. It should be that way every day, not just Sunday! And now I found myself in the position of explaining that the church really is good and does mean well. Not an easy task when I had the same taste in my mouth that he did.
Unfortunately, many churches have become more like gated communities than churches. Security is in place to keep out the undesirables, the needy, the solicitors, and the just plain unfamiliar. Suspicious of unknown faces, they’re treated with a cold reception and a short response. Heaven forbid someone should come in and interrupt the pastor’s sermon preparation or keep the secretary from getting the bulletin together. Am I wrong to believe that the church is about people everyday (not just Sunday)?
Defined core values have been a big part of church leadership these days. Often times, they’re posted on web sites and printed in bulletins. Statements like “Prayer, Evangelism, God’s Word, and Worship are our core values” are made. I’ve got a suggestion because I’ve yet to see this as a posted core value. How about “People”? How about “People are important to us because they bare the image of God, because they are dearly loved by God, and because Jesus didn’t die for a building, a sermon, a program, or a ministry. He died for people. Not just people who attend our church or share our beliefs, but all people. Because “People” is one of Jesus’ core values, then “People” will be one of our core values too. Even on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
I know it feels like a risk, but let’s get rid of the gated community mentality and be the church every day. Open the doors. Welcome the stranger. See love spread.
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I ran into a lot of that this summer. Not only is it disappointing, but it’s really discouraging. I’m fairly certain that most of the people I talked to threw away my information as soon as I was out of sight. Besides, don’t most pastors do their Sunday prep on Saturday night??
I agree with you, church should be about people every day and not just Sunday! Sorry you guys experienced so much rejection in visiting the local ministers. I guess it’s time for us to do some serious praying for the QCA churches!
Great message. One that churches must hear.
Hey can I get one of those flyers?
Yes, Scott I’ll drop one off 🙂
Wow. That is so sad!! I can’t believe you were treated so poorly, especially with Hudson!! You know, because people who want to shoot up a church go during the week with a small child! Seriously…..people are too busy in their own “worlds” to even pay attention to others anymore! Tragic….
I actually heard on the John Tesh radio show tonight that churches are soon going to be harder to get into than airlines! He listed several of the recent attacks as a reason and said that churches are so far behind the “normal” safety standards because of the fact that they pride themselves as being open, safe, and accessible to all. He even mentioned a few cases where that exact vulnerability and openness led to violence. (Ex. violent people can usually find their victims easily seeking refuse at a nearby church and can continue the violence) He mentioned that this might keep many people from coming to church in the first place. I hope that our church never succumbs to the fear….
I have heard and know about churchs that have put security people in place (some armed) because of concerns over children. (Sunday School, preschool etc). Some are concerned or have had experiences where the speaker (platform) has been rushed by individuals on drugs etc…..Some are concerned about the church secretary being the only one in the building during many hours in a day….I can understand these concerns……BUT as you have stated….what is the church about? Precautions should be taken as needed….BUT again as you have stated….church is about PEOPLE. They have come to the church for help and they should be able to receive some even if it’s a referral to an agency that is better able to help meet their needs. We are blessed to be part of a church that is open 7 days a week. Maybe not to the extent it should(?) be but is none the less open. And people are helped as they come in the doors. The FIRST concern of the church should be to as best they can meet the need of the person coming in the door.
I too am sorry to hear of your being turned away…..Focus appears to be to much on agenda and not people.
Good insight.
Dont worry Lee, i have a feeling that if Jesus walked in to that church, He would not be welcomed either, His blood would stain the carpets.
Lee,
Great stuff! I have two thoughts. The first is, why are so many churches only open on Sunday for a couple of hours??? Is that the only time someone can walk in off the street that needs help? What if someone has a crisis on Monday, or Tuesday, what then??? Also, why do so many people think the church is the building when it’s us. We are the church. After spending 11 days in India this past summer I really struggled when I came back. Many of us here in America take our faith for granted. It’s just something we do rather than a lifestyle or who we are…
Wow. Powerful story and amazing how succinctly the words of your six year old summed it up. So sorry this was the reception you got, but thank you for sharing it, and I hope the pastors who are reading this, lurking in the shadows of “not in MY congregation” are taking notes.
This is real, this IS typical, and while the bulletproof glass may be a sign of the extreme end of the spectrum, we have visited (and been guilty of being part of) more than one church that may have had our own versions of the same.
In fact, what are some of the other “bulletproof glass” issues that you’ve seen in the church? Sounds like I may have a new blog post coming…?
Blessings,
Chad