As the old saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression.
I recently read an interesting article about a church that saw a 30 percent increase in attendance immediately after giving their facilities a remodel. From the article, the carpet and pews were dated and dingy, the windows were drafty and the HVAC unit was noisy. You may not notice these things, but I guarantee your guests do.
As someone who visits quite a few churches each year, I get the opportunity to view the facilities from the perspective of a visitor. From the time a guest pulls into your parking lot, what does the condition of the building and grounds communicate? Is the foyer clean and inviting? Have you considered the condition of the bathrooms lately? Does the building have an old or musty odor or one that is clean and fresh? Are the ceiling tiles stained? Are light bulbs burned out or missing? The nursery should be impeccable, especially if you are trying to reach young families.
If you aren’t sure what impression your facilities have on new guests, have someone who doesn’t regularly attend the church walk through and tell you. According to the article, it can have a significant impact on the number of guests that return and decide to call your church home.
Delano Sherley is a CPA and president of Delano Sherley & Associates, Inc., He can be reached at 513-737-1314. Delano Sherley & Associates, Inc., 8240 Beckett Park Dr., Suite A, West Chester, OH 45069.
Email: Delano@dsacpainc.com
Website: www.dsacpainc.com