Week of July 4, 2010

  • Pastor Duane Cross
  • Jul 6, 2010
  • Series: Wonderful Words of Life

Web Article                                                                                        July 6, 2010

Mystery Visitor

AN UNBELIEVER REPORTS ON AN UNANNOUNCED VISIT TO A LOCALCHURCH.  COULD IT BE YOURS?

“I would say this feels like church from 50 years ago.  It is not relevant to how my life is today.”  -a 60 something female visits a small church in Fairfield, Ohio, on April 11 at 10:45am.

How did you learn about church before the visit?

I did a Google search to find the address and Web site.  When I did not find any information listed under the “services” menu, I tried calling.  An automated response only asked for me to leave a message.  It did not give the service times.

GRADE F

What were your first impressions of the church?

I found the parking confusing.  No one was stationed at the main entrance to welcome or direct me.  An older man with programs in his hands stood at the doors to the sanctuary, talking with someone.  I paused and looked at him.  He then welcomed me and gave me the program.  No one seemed to be designated to greet people.

GRADE C-

Describe the service.

The music and singers were average.  Ninety percent of the sermon focused on predictions that the world will be destroyed on Dec. 12, 2012.  In the last five minutes or so, the pastor tied it to the Bible and said he did not believe they had anything to worry about because they would be taken up in the rapture.  And he didn’t think the predictions were true.

GRADE C

Was there an opportunity to respond?

As a visitor, I had to guess at what was happening through the whole service.  As the pastor closed the sermon, he called someone up for the benediction.  I think somewhere in there might have been an “opportunity to respond,” but I’m not sure.

GRADE C

Did you connect with anyone at the church?

Near the end of the greeting time, one of the singers greeted me with a handshake, but no recognition she didn’t know me.  A second woman made good eye contact with me, introduced herself and asked my name.  Then she continued greeting others.  People were greeting friends warmly, but strangers not so much.

GRADE C-

Would you visit again?

No.  I did not connect with anyone except the second woman who greeted me.  Serving is a high value for me, and I did not hear any sharing from up front on what they are doing to help the community.  It was all internally focused.  They seemed like nice people, but I did not feel welcomed or even acknowledged except for those two women.  It felt like a closed community.

GRADE D-

 

How are we doing, Hope?

 

Duane's Photo-Signature

 

 

 

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