No matter how welcoming churches think they are, they usually aren’t. Why does it have to be so hard to find and connect with a church? I don’t know, but you might want to check out 10 Ways to Keep Me from Discovering Your Church. And then make sure this list isn’t describing your church.
The site to frustrate, educate and motivate the church to communicate, with uncompromising clarity, the truth of Jesus Christ
Kevin D. Hendricks
When Kevin isn't busy as the editor of Church Marketing Sucks, he runs his own writing and editing company, Monkey Outta Nowhere. Kevin has been blogging since 1998, runs the hyperlocal site West St. Paul Reader, and has published several books, including 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, The Stephanies and all of our church communication books.
4 Responses to “The Anti-Welcoming Church”
Andrew C
March 18, 2007
Kevin – Thanks for raising my awareness on this post!
Truth Seeker
March 20, 2007
It has been my experience over the years that the ones who raise the most stink over how un-welcoming a church is or how bad it is reaching out and not doing things the way they think should be done, are usually (99%) those who do not get involved and only come and visit once or twice and than to just nag and complain.
I much rather join a church that is in need and not perfect than one that has it all together. The non-perfect one is one where I can grow and allow God to use me. If it’s perfect why do I need to be there, I am not perfect!
brad
March 20, 2007
As for most things, it is easier to be a critic than a creator. So when you’re against something that’s against something, does that make you for it?
We each need to ensure that our church is as welcoming as it can be. And I’m in no real fear of my church achieving perfection any time soon (however much I love it). :-)
Truth Seeker
March 21, 2007
No, it just means that I am a realist, in the sense that I recognize the reality of situations. Yes, it would be great to have a perfect church, but the reality is that when we get imperfect people together, we will not have a perfect church.
I agree that we need to make a church as welcoming as possible, I am not agains that at all. I am against however, those that gripe and complain that a church is not doing enough (when many are trying to) and yet they do not get involved or help to correct the problem. That would be like my mechanic whining and complaining that my car is broken and in need of repair and yet does nothing to help fix it.
That is why I said I would rather go to a church that does not have it all together as I know: 1) I am not perfect and 2) I may have something to offer to help build the body there. Isn’t it all about helping to build the body, not tear it down through whining about the color of a website design or the layout of a handout? All these things are good, but pointless when it tears down the body.
Blessings,