There are a thousand different types of buildings where church is being held: theaters, schools, cathedrals, strip malls and more. But do any of them have an inherent advantage over any other? When a friend asks you to church, is there any sort of building that would make you more inclined to show up?
39% of you would feel most comfortable checking in to a contemporary church building. Something snazzy and contemporary that feels like an American church to you.
Next up, 24% of you are more likely to visit somewhere that feels historically significant. Whether you have an interest in architecture or connecting with tradition, I don’t know, but you’d like to go to church in an older building.
That barely beat out a secular option–you know, a bar or a night club or something to that effect. 23% of you would go that route given the option.
A realtively-small 8% of you would prefer a house church, while 7% of you would prefer to spend your time somewhere rented on Sunday mornings.
This week, want to know about moderation in your church: How much should churches moderate how individuals use their online resources and offerings? (Facebook, blog comments, Internet usage, etc.)
John Panico
September 2, 2009
As always, good stuff. But while that may be a preference of where they are willing to go, I am kind of more interested in the yes/no on each category if they would avoid going to a church that is secular, or a non-traditional style church? I would think that might have a little more value to churches starting out.
Thanks again!
John Panico
http://www.unitychurchmarketing.com
http://www.twitter.com/johnpanico
Kevin
September 2, 2009
Good stuff! We design churches all over the country and the contempoary look and feel is what the church wants. Thanks for the facts and figures!
Cameron Horsburgh
September 2, 2009
I’m going to guess that this poll was answered primarily (only?) by Christians. I’m more interested in what non-Christians would have to say about it.
To answer the question, though, I’m most likely to go to a church where I already knew someone who would meet me at the front door. All the rest is, for the first ten minutes at least, quite irrelevant!
T.C. Porter
September 3, 2009
I concur with Kevin. Also, to what extent are your results revealing of your reader base? Ironic that readers of a site “marketing sucks” prefer “a snazzy, contemporary church building.” What people want should not be our gauge. Jesus did not want to die (“take this cup from me”). … More evidence our Church is worshiping the wrong god.
T.C. Porter
September 3, 2009
Correction: I was concurring with Cameron.
worshipVJ
September 6, 2009
I like the last few comments.
If design/architecture is an intentional element for a church, then i always ask “what about the space is visually pointing people to God? What is going on visually (architecture, screens, lights, etc) that is leading people into worship?”
Cameron & TC, you will find this poll interesting. It asks non-Christians what they would prefer.
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D167438%2526M%253D200906,00.html
This also opens up an interesting debate. who is the church building for? believers or non-believers? who are worship services for? lots to get into here…
check this blog out, too… it’s by Camron Ware (visualworshiper.com) and he’s the one who told me about the poll mentioned above.
http://visualworshiper.com/blog/2009/05/not-of-this-world/