Meeting in a Public-School Building
Two weeks ago, as we drove around frantically searching for a church to attend, my wife suggested Church #2.
They had just relocated from their cozy storefront location in a small strip mall to rented space at the local school, a temporary meeting place as they raised funds to build their own facility.
Unfortunately, we didn’t know their starting time, so instead of risking another failed attempt, I opted for Church #4, which worked out fine, even if it wasn’t what my bride wanted.
On our first visit to this church a few years ago, they had one service. By our second visit, they had grown, needing two services to accommodate everyone.
Now, with plenty of room at the school, they are back to one service, a 10:30 a.m. meeting. So the timing would have worked out had we headed here two weeks ago, as my wife wanted.
I’m relieved when she doesn’t say, “I told you so.”
Going to Church (in a School Building)
Decades ago, I went to school here. Out of habit, I pull into the drive I used in high school, forgetting it’s now the exit, not the entrance. But with most people already parked, driving the wrong way isn’t a problem.
Despite only one entrance in the front, a banner hangs over the door to confirm we’re at the right place.
The morning is sunny, bordering on hot. I wonder what the auditorium will feel like. Two greeters, standing just inside, welcome us and hand us a bulletin, complete with a connection card and offering envelope.
The auditorium is straight ahead, only a few steps away. There are a couple hundred metal folding chairs on the floor, arranged in three sections. The bleachers can accommodate a hundred or so more.
“Sit anywhere you want,” I tell my wife, forgetting she’ll pick a spot towards the front, making it hard for me to observe the congregation.
After weaving around a bit, she picks the third row from the front. I groan. With no one sitting in front of us, I feel exposed and on display.
Don, the lead pastor, spots my wife and with a smile, heads over to talk. He often works in coffee shops, alternating between the nearby locations.
She frequently runs into him at the two closest ones and occasionally I see him at a third, which is my preferred meeting hangout.
Don follows up with my bride about a recent conversation they’ve had. Then turns his attention to me.
“How’s this space working out for you?”
“Really great! And now that schools out for the summer, we can leave everything set up from week to week.”
I appreciate his enthusiasm over rented space, a practice I wish more congregations would consider. I lament churches spending millions to build facilities, which are only fully used one or two hours a week.
Tapping into existing space is not only practical, but it is also a responsible use of member donations. Unfortunately, this church has already purchased land for a building and is currently raising funds for construction.
“They turned on the A/C for us this week,” says Don. “But I don’t feel anything yet.”
“I don’t either, but it’s not too warm. I think we’ll be okay.” I keep the conversation short, as I don’t want to distract Don before the service or monopolize his time.
His parting words are, “Let me know what you think of the service.”
I nod, wondering if he really means it.
No one else who appears available for conversation, something consistent with our first two visits. We sit down and wait for the service to begin. In a few minutes it does.
Familiar Format
The format is the same as before: an opening prelude by the worship band, announcements, message intro, and scripture reading by Don, and then worship. We sing contemporary songs to a light rock sound.
Don has already shared the church’s little-known mission statement: “Seeking more worshipers for our God.” This reminds me that the focus of our singing should be worship. I’ve always struggled with that.
After three or four songs, we have connection time, where everyone mingles and chats for a few minutes. Now we have a chance to talk to people.
Though this congregation is mostly preoccupied before the service, it’s as if they suddenly turn on their friendly switch and will interact with us.
Few churches greet well at all three opportunities: before the service, during the service, and after the service. This one does two out of three well, so they’re ahead of most congregations.
The message is from Genesis 42, about Joseph, now the second in power in Egypt, seeing his brothers again as they grovel for food. “This is one dysfunctional, jacked up family,” says Don.
Though his expository message is great, I spend most of the time squirming in my hard folding chair; I just can’t get comfortable. He concludes with the acknowledgement that “Joseph is the right person, at the right place, at the right time.”
Weekly Communion
The service ends with communion. They’ve had communion all three times we’ve visited, so this must be a weekly practice. The first two times, ushers passed the communion elements.
Today we go to one of four stations, positioned in each corner of the room, to get our cracker and juice (in small plastic communion cups). We return to our seats to partake privately.
After we sit, I look at my wife, gesture to the cracker and grape juice. “Jesus died for you.”
She smiles back, “And Jesus died for you too.” We pop the cracker into our mouths and follow it with the grape juice. Then we sing another song, and the song leader prays and dismisses us.
With the service over, we hang around to talk. Though we see people we know, we see few people from our prior visits. The lack of consistency troubles me.
While we enjoy the conversations we have, not being able to reconnect with people we met before makes it hard to form relationships.
Since we don’t plan to return, this isn’t a problem, but had we wished to make this our church home, it would make our transition more challenging.
Even so, it’s one of the more inviting churches we’ve visited.
Takeaway
Connecting with visitors is critical if they are to return. Even more important is them being able to reconnect with you when they do.
My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.