I've been thinking through how to make church more accessible to people who've never been before. A couple of recent posts have explored this topic, with more to come:
- It's time to stop assuming people know
- Brainstorm: questions and quotes to engage passers-by
- 8 posters to engage people new to church
After I wrote the content, our designer created 8 posters that are now printed and in the church noticeboard, and in the A1 snap frames we lean against the fence outside the church. For example:
I wrote the content for this poster with a particular person in mind - someone who's never been to church, and who is curious, but a little nervous about what actually happens. Let's face it - many Christians are nervous going into a church different to their own - let's spare a thought to those who've never been to church! I wanted to provide these people with an insight into what happens and what their involvement should be. In the long term, I'd like to provide a very short, time-lapse video, that people can watch on our website to see for themselves what takes place in a normal service. Kind of like an orientation session.
Helping people know what to expect is just one way to love them. It's one barrier we can remove to make church more accessible. It's worth doing, isn't it?
I like how Blue Sky Church has create a 'what to expect section on their website' (h/t Kiri), and how they've used photos and text to explain what newcomers should expect.
See the full details of 'What to expect at Blue Sky Church' here.
Question: what steps has your church taken to be more accessible to people who've never been to church before?
