THE FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY CHURCH

While on a bike ride recently I went on a new route that took me by the Christian Apostolic Church. I immediately noticed the building and landscaping were very nicely maintained. Personally, I think how a church looks from the street says something about how much they care. As I continued on my ride I started thinking about the name of the church – Christian Apostolic Church. I have an undergrad degree in biblical literature and a Master of Arts degree in Christian ministries. In addition to my education I have 30 years experience as a pastor. I only mention my background because it didn’t really help me to come up with any answers about this church. What do they believe? Are they conservative or liberal? Are they contemporary or traditional? If I’m having difficulty how much more will the person who has little or no church experience?

I think churches should strive to be FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY. While the “Christian Apostolic Church” looked good from the outside, it’s possible the name of the church was obscure enough to actually keep people away. I’ve not sought out any research on church names, but my hunch is that there are many churches with names that are unclear or confusing to the very community they are seeking to engage. The name may have a long history and make sense to all who attend (the insiders), but if it fails to connect and communicate with the surrounding community, that’s a problem in my option. Some people may want to argue that people shouldn’t be so shallow, sensitive or simple, to dismiss a church based on its name. I say don’t be so quick! The foodnetworkhumor.com lists the worst names for restaurants. To think someone intentionally gave their restaurant one of the names on the list is almost beyond belief. I did a quick Google search for several of the restaurants and, yes, they actually exist. Here’s one of the names that’s safe to share: Crappito’s Cucina Italiana in Houston, TX. There’s nothing about that name that makes me want to eat there the next time I’m in Houston, though I may have to buy a t-shirt. Ha! If people avoid a restaurant because of it’s name it’s only logical to conclude that there people who avoid churches because of their name.

Here’s my perspective on choosing a church name. It’s better to select a name that is neutral, while avoiding a name that communicates a negative message because it’s either unclear, or it has a tendency to cause people to draw incorrect conclusions about the church. If you’re a pastor or church leader here’s several questions that you may find helpful in evaluating names: Is the name you’ve chosen the best possible name? If you were starting your church tomorrow is your current name the one you would use?

A FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY church chooses a name that is appealing to the community God has called them to influence. For the sake of the mission a church will change their name.

Being a FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY church involves more than its name. Every aspect of the church that contributes to creating the first impression should be frequently evaluated. As I mentioned earlier the appearance of the church (interior and exterior) is very important. Do a walk around of your campus and look for poor or deferred maintenance items, evaluate for cleanliness, identify areas of messiness and disorganization, and pay close attention to the rest rooms. Evaluate your signage from the perspective of someone who has never been inside the building before: Where’s the information center? Children’s check-in area? Rest Rooms? Church Office? Auditorium? Café? Most people don’t enjoy wandering aimlessly in a new place or even having to ask questions about where to go. Make sure the main entrance is clearly marked. I recently visited one of the newest high schools in Oregon. It was a beautiful campus by all measurements except it took me several attempts and the kindness of a teacher giving me directions to find the main entrance and office.

Another important aspect of a FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY church involves the people who serve in welcoming guests. There is no excuse for people who are unkind, unkempt, and unhelpful. If you have an EGR (extra grace required) type of person who volunteers to serve on your welcome team find a way to direct them to a less critical area of ministry. As the saying goes, you only have one opportunity to make a first impression. Provide regular training for those who serve on your welcome team and communicate to them how important they are to creating a positive environment whenever the church gathers.

The final aspect of a FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY church that I want to address in this post is the reputation your church holds in the community. When the Apostle Paul shares with Timothy about the qualifications for church leaders [“overseer”], he addresses the importance of reputation: “He must also have a good reputation with outsiders.” (1 Timothy 3:7) I say it is equally important for the church to have a positive reputation in the community. A reputation is something that is earned over time. As a church is involved in its community a reputation will be created. Church leaders must constantly look for opportunities to be engaged with their community in activities that will contribute to the type of reputation they desire to cultivate. In a time when the church often has no choice but to take strong positions on moral issues it is vitally important for churches to avoid being labeled by outsiders as the church that is “against” everything. As vocal as the church is “against” sin a church needs to be visible in their community regarding the things they are “for.” In many neighborhoods there are homes that have been identified (often by the kids) as the place where the mean woman or the dirty old man or the big bully lives. Or there’s the scary house or the place with the mean dog. Don’t be that church that is identified with negative messages.

In conclusion, consider the signs that are located near the front door of some homes: “Beware of Dog”; “Do Not Enter”; “No Trespassing”; “No Solicitors”; “Security Camera”; and more. Unfortunately there are many churches that are anything but FRONT DOOR FRIENDLY. They might as well have these signs hanging at the front door of their church. While they may sincerely desire to see people come to know Jesus Christ, they don’t even get the opportunity because people never make it to and through the front door.

Is the front door of your church FRIENDLY or UNFRIENDLY?