Jay Keopf and Teresa Brown have done a wonderful job putting together high-quality displays of our addition's building plans in the foyer. I'd like for us to think about what this extra space will communicate to those we invite to Bible Class. What happens when we invite people over to our homes for dinner? We usually clean up, vacuum, set the table, we might even make sure that the lawn looks presentable, and that the porch is swept. What would happen if we didn't do those things? Our guests would probably come to the conclusion that we weren't prepared for them. It shouldn't really matter how our house looks to others, but it does, because we care about the message we are sending to our guests.
Now, what if we invite someone to attend Bible class with us? Don't we want to send the signal that we have put thought, effort, and prayer into that class session? People are much more likely to return to a Bible class if we show them we care enough about their presence to prepare for them. There are many ways we try to send that positive message in our congregation - our greeters, our Welcome Center, friendly Bible class teachers, and this new addition will be one more tool we can use in that effort.
Here is one example. Out of necessity, we have an adult class meeting in the 2040 Building. We are thankful to all those who have faithfully attended that class. Earlier today, I counted 165 steps from our front door to the 2040 Building. A round trip would be roughly 330 steps. So, when we invite someone to that class, we are asking them to come into the foyer and then walk 330 steps to attend class. Should that matter? Maybe it shouldn't. We all know that God's Word is more important than a classroom, but it does matter, doesn't it? It matters because of the message we want to send.
What about those who are not able to go up and down stairways? Think about the message sent when we have an elevator that makes all our adult classes accessible without climbing stairs or walking across two parking lots. It is likely that our guests will not have the same understanding of the church that we do, and their impressions will be formed when they see whether or not we are prepared to host them. This doesn't require an elaborate, ornate building, but it does require a congregation to invest the appropriate resources to provide a welcome for visitors that communicates a positive message. Building is not an inexpensive venture these days, therefore this project does carry a price tag with it. Our Elders have been prayerfully diligent about selecting and approving a plan that meets our needs without going overboard on our budget. I am thrilled that we are investing in those future visits by people whom we have yet to meet, and you do realize the best way to decorate these new classrooms, don't you? The best way is for us to fill them all with friendly members, and every one of us can help with that. See you in Bible Class!