Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Welcome to Church!

Yesterday I wrote a 'welcome' for my page on my church's new website. It forced me to think about, 'What could I say about our church that would incourage an unchurched person to come see us, and not lie?' I mean do we really know what the unchurched are searching for? Being that I was business major, I thought it would be a snap to market my church, but remember I wanted to be honest. I was farily pleased with what I was able to write, although there is much room for improvement. I was pleased, not content. Well, the project had two good outcomes: One- it caused me to take a real look at where our church is vs where it should be a year of two from now. Second-it made me think about what I think I know about what the unchurched need, and instilled in me a desire to get my church out into the community and find out for sure!
Here is what I wrote, tell me what you think:

Hello! I would like to welcome you to Albion Wesleyan Church! We believe that the Church is an extension of the family of God, and what better family to be apart of than God’s?! I mean, God invented the family so being in His family should be awesome! I would like to invite you to join our family anytime. You can always feel welcome and loved here in God’s family. We do lots of things together as a family such as having dinner together as a family on Thanksgiving or just because; celebrating the harvest season together with a Trunk or Treat on Halloween; worshiping the true Father of our family together every week; community service projects; or just hanging out together like families should do. We worship together and work together; and we pray together and play together. If you have a great family life at home you will find that same love and acceptance here at AWC. If you have less than a good family life then you find all that you have ever hoped for in a family here, people who will love you no matter what and will listen to you about anything and will try their best to understand where you are coming from in life. We love everybody and we have no requirements for you to meet before you walk in our doors. Now that you know what you will find here, here are a couple of things you will not find here. There will be no cover charge. It doesn’t cost any money to meet and/or worship God. There will be no bouncer to toss you out for any reason. All are always welcome in God’s house, He loves everybody and we are doing our best. No dress code. As long as you have on clothes we don’t care what they look like! No tender to cut you off and tell you that you have had too much Jesus, or God, or the Holy Spirit. No tab. What’s the point? Since we could never do or have enough to pay God back for what He has done for us He doesn’t ask us to. No blacklist, or A-list. After we ask forgiveness God never keeps a record of our wrongs to hold against us later. At the same token, He doesn’t love anyone more than anyone else, or hold anyone I higher esteem than anyone else; we are on the same plain with God. You also will not find perfection here either. We love and worship a perfect God, but that does not make us perfect and we know that. So, there will be no perfect standards of others shoved in your face to live up to. We are all broken and cracked jars of clay doing the best we can to live the best we can and hold as much of God as we can. You will find love and acceptance from the people and we will introduce you our best friend Jesus. From Jesus you will also find love and acceptance, but He can also offer you protection and salvation.
We are all God’s adopted children so come and hang with us and you can be adopted too!
God Loves you and so do I,
David
Pastor of AWC


1) Does this look like where a church should be? or at least be trying to get to?
2) Is this an appropriate welcome for a church website?
3) If you attend my church, does this look like an accurate and honest statement?
4) Any other thoughts you may have, honestly.

Thanks,
David
PS: Next Tuesday I will be starting a daily or semi-daily devotional here on Daniel. It is a gret book, more than all the end-time prophecy we hear about it.

1 comment:

peepsight said...

Pastor Dave,
I agree with everything you have said. I pray you will accomplish these goals/dreams.