Let it Glow!
For eight years, not only did I serve as youth pastor in my church, but I also worked as the building custodian. And this wasn't some building that was only used twice a week! Space was rented out on an ongoing basis to a preschool, an ESL course, and an after-school learning centre on top of special events and regular church activities. Needless to say, it kept me pretty busy, and I saw a lot of things that you just can't ever un-see. One of the strangest things I ever found in a washroom was a relish fast-food packet. Was someone actually eating a hotdog...in there?
Believe it or not, I actually really enjoyed that aspect of my job. It certainly wasn't glamorous, but I understood that first impressions were (and are) important. As a parent, this became something I valued all the more, since I became aware of how much time kids spend rolling around on the floor and putting things in their mouths.
It might seem weird to suggest that the cleanliness of your church building might actually become a barrier to someone plugging into your church community, but it's true-- ESPECIALLY for young families. I've seen nurseries with disgusting floors covered with all manner of stains. I've seen toddlers playing with toys that were in an incredible state of disrepair. I've seen a baby suck on the nose of a stuffed animal that looked like it should have been incinerated years ago. Pastors and church leaders, the state of your nursery and kids ministry room says a lot about how much you care about children. If the paint is peeling off the walls, if the room smells musty, if the floor is dirty, if the washrooms are filthy, if lights are flickering, these are all warning signs...and parents will notice.
Of course, even if you don't have kids, you can probably appreciate meeting in a space that's clean and comfortable. Are some of the washrooms consistently out of order? Are the walls covered in a 20-year-old coat of paint? Are the glass doors and mirrors smeared with smudge marks and fingerprints? The next time you enter your building, look at things from the perspective of a first-time guest. See things through the eyes of a parent. Is it a safe and clean environment? You would be amazed at how something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can change the ambiance of your meeting place!
If you're like me, there are days when you would be horrified to have a friend or family member decide to drop by for a surprise visit. We've all experienced those frantic moments of hiding dirty dishes inside the oven, praying that nobody accidentally opens the bedroom door to stumble across what can best be described as a "crime scene". Why do we do that? Why is it so important to us? While, in truth, we might be trying to create an illusion of perfection in order to impress our guests, at the very least, we don't want to give our guest a bad impression of us or our homes. We don't want our guest to leave and tell horror stories of their experience. "Did you hear about the time I went to visit a friend and found a moldy grilled-cheese sandwich hidden under a couch cushion?"
Obviously, that's an over-embellishment, but you get the idea. First impressions are important. Ensure that your building is clean and well maintained, giving special attention to the nursery and kids ministry space. Don't let something as simple as failing to replace broken toys become a barrier to someone becoming a part of your church community.
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