Dear Pastor Chris,
I just wanted to let you know that I did a power point workshop on Church Visitors a year ago after reading many of your helpful articles and downloading your book How to Welcome Church Visitors.
One of those aha moments was when we walked into the church as if we were first time visitors.
It was an eye opening experience in noticing so many things that were not very attractive.
Our building was built over 100 years ago. Our old bulky original pine pews were breaking and splitting. The warped paneling on our walls was an eyesore. It probably had been 30 years since it was even painted.
After we did this audit, we were able to make capital improvements:
- new sheet rock on the high ceiling and walls,
- new window frames,
- new cove molding around the ceiling,
- new wide mopboards,
- 4 new colonial doors.
- New chairs
- New carpets
- New fans.
We thank the Lord for this transformation. Not bad for a church of 35!
Thank you for your amazing resources that you so freely share. (I also enjoyed talking to you personally on the phone)
Sincerely,
Pastor Barb
Not all churches will have a timely estate gift that will let them update their building in one shot.
This particular church found the exercise of being a first time visitor so helpful it inspired them to make capital improvements when they received such a gift.
