One way to introduce your church to the neighboring community and makes use of the building on other days is to offer your church facilities to outside groups. This is one of the best ways to literally bring non-members into your church. Remember the first day at a new school? Just walking into a building for the first time can be intimidating and filled with anxiety. When you invite someone to church services, that person is expected to enter a new and sacred space (the sanctuary) and go through ceremony and ritual (church service) that may be completely foreign and certainly non-routine. This can be intimidating and filled with anxiety.
Now imagine that new person enters a casual room that resembles a gymnasium (fellowship hall) to meet with a group (PTA, AA, book club, small group, etc.) of friends. The less formal room and familiar people will make the guest more relaxed and comfortable. Hopefully, while there, the new person will take a curious look at the bulletin boards advertising church resources, groups and other ministries.
Whether or not your church’s activities draws that person to regular Sunday attendance is not guaranteed, but you certainly have introduced your facility and its other offerings to the members of the group. To learn about other ways to expand your reach in the community, join us on the weekly Foundation Leadership Series call. To register and receive a link, go to our website at www.na-umf.org.
CHURCH MANAGEMENT ISSUE
When lending church facilities to outside, non-church sponsored groups, protect the church organization by:
- Knowing the name and purpose of the group
- Having contact information for the group
- Provide a written agreement between the church and the group
o Date, time, parts, and use of facility
o Hold-harmless, indemnity and defense clause for any liability claim
- Require a certificate of insurance with proof of liability coverage