Someone once said, "Good fences make good neighbors." The meaning is obvious. Fences help us maintain proper boundaries. The is true for churches. Most pastors I know want to be good neighbors. Sometimes that can be a challenge. Years ago Prestonwood Baptist Church was growing so fast they filled their onsite parking every week. As their growth continued many people began parking in a strip mall parking lot across the street. Obvious the business owners in the mall were upset, believing the church members were taking spots that should have been used by customers. The issue finally resolved itself when a group of businessmen who attended Prestonwood bought the strip mall! Not many churches can do that!
I thought about that a few weeks ago as I drove by the Village Church near my home one Sunday. The Village Church is one of the fastest growing churches in the country. Their pastor is Matt Chandler a dynamic preacher and visionary pastor. Many of you know he is battling cancer. The first Sunday of December Village Church held their first service in their new worship center, located in a shopping center in a former grocery superstore.
As I drove past one Sunday morning recently on tyhe way to my church, I noticed the Village Church parking crew helping worshippers park that morning. What stood out to me was their obvious effort to protect the parking spaces of a local Mexican restaraunt. They were doing there best to be good neighbors. I should confess: it was important to me because it's my family's favorite place and we eat their almost every Sunday. Never get between a sixth generation Texan and their favorite Tex-Mex place, but I digress. Way to go Village Church!
Is your church a good neighbor? Your church may not be located in a shopping center, but that's OK, you can still be a good neighbor. Here's three areas to consider:
1. The public school nearest your church. How do they feel about your church? How often are your members and staff on campus. It's important you know and follow their rules for access. Increase your visibility. before you can be an agent of change they must know you care. Ninety percent of life is just showing up. Quit bellyaching about the state of our public schools, roll up your sleeves and get to work. Imagine what would happen if every church in America adopted and commiitted to serve the school nearest to them!
2. Restaraunts. Do you and your staff patronize eating establishments near your church? How well do you know the managers and staff? Build good relationships with them. Get to know them. Look for opportunities to minister to them.
3. Open your facility for community events. Let your buildings and property work for you. The best marketing tool your church has is the community grapevine. When you allow your community access to your property to get goodwill and that's something no marketing plan can pay for.
Good fences make good neighbors. But for churches it's not fences to build but bridges to your community that's criticical.
