This is written from the perspective of a visitor.
A few years ago, my family and I took the entire month of February away from local ministry and travelled to various congregations, both near and far, and enjoyed some time with our brethren. We learned much about the attitudes of congregations towards visitors and it is reflected in the words below.
Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you think they are right, get up and change the way your congregation is seen in your community.
Here the are, “6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation”
- “When I visited, you asked me to full out a visitor card, talked about how much you appreciate visitors but no one spoke to me.”
- “I saw no joy in your congregation. As the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no one was smiling and they sang like a funeral. I thought living for Jesus was a joy not a bore.”
- “I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I thought Christians were people who studied the book not talked about studying the book.”
- “Your services talked about being lights in a dark world, but I never heard of your congregation before today. You said your church has been around for 50+ years and I grew up here and never knew of you.”
- “I felt awkward because I had to sit on the second row because all of your members sat in the back and on the aisle seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”
- “You saw that I had children and no one helped me find a Bible class for my children. There were no signs on the doors to help along the way.”
Just some thoughts,
