Church buildings leave an impression on visitors

“Facilities are a tool, albeit a powerful one,
that opens doors to greater ministry.”

A recent column by Bob Osborne with EFCA West makes a case for “Why guests don’t want to come back” to our churches. Many on the inside might believe that it is the guest who is the issue. It can’t have something to do with our church. Can it?

How people are treated is square one on the outreach strategy board. Hospitality is a gift that goes beyond simply saying, “Good morning.” Genuine hospitality helps visitors get acquainted, find what they need and feel at home.

Feeling at home might be different for longtime attendees than it is for someone new. Bob uses his home as an example. He and his wife are grandparents – so there are aspects to their home that make it feel like “Grandma’s house.” The same thing can happen with churches that have not updated their facilities for a while. Longtime attendees are fine with the status quo, but what impression are new people getting when they visit?

Bob has talked about this with many pastors and leaders and often senses a belief just below the surface: when new people don’t come back – it’s the fault of the guests rather than the hosts.

He asks: Is the building dark and dingy? Are the bathrooms clean and attractive? Is the carpet old and fraying? Good questions.

In areas I have traveled, I have found that even the most basic restaurant has attractive, updated bathrooms. This is not by accident. Obviously, those that want customers are prioritizing what they believe matters to their clientele.

We all have choices of where to spend our time and who to spend it with. Second only to the relationships and people in a church are its facilities. We know some things about the influence they can have.

I have heard many stories about the impact a new church building is having on a community. People are drawn to it. It may be the “shiny new thing,” but it is also an opportunity to share the love of Christ, win the lost and disciple them – building God’s Kingdom.

Facilities are a tool, albeit a powerful one, that open doors (pun intended) to greater ministry. The costs of addressing them can be substantial. This requires action and planning to prepare the way.

We talk to churches and help them plan, sometimes years in advance, suggesting wise choices and serving as a sounding board for what is possible. It’s part of our philosophy of being relational, rather than retail.

When the time is right, we then assist with a church loan, and possibly a capital campaign to raise funds for needed projects.

We know churches don’t do these things every day, but we do, providing faith-based financial solutions that serve Kingdom expansion.

Your church might have just started thinking about these things – or there may have been many discussions. Either way, it’s wise to get CIF into the mix.