Use Other Door

Recently I attended a city wide civic event that is held at a local church.  The church has been gracious to let a civic group used their fellowship hall and kitchen for their big annual fund raiser each year. It is attended by several hundred people. The double doors into the building where the event was being held had a sign on one of the doors.  A hand lettered sign said, "Use Other Door".  One of the doors was broken.  I was struck by the sign and what it seemed to say.  Now, I do know it could have been broken earlier that day or the day before and there had not been time to repair it.

However, in previous years when I attended this event, I saw an old broken pew leaned up in one corner.  This year and previous years I noticed the need for paint and the thread bare carpet. This is a "First ___________ Church" on one of the most traveled streets in our city.  I know nothing else about the church.
I just know if I were looking for a church I would not go back on Sunday.  I get too many negative messages when I am there.

So, what does this have to do with college ministry?  If you have a campus center or a regular meeting area in a church, what does it look like?  Is there an old broken pew or a rusty folding chair leaned up in the corner?  Are there silk plants that are burdened down with dust?  Does the front door need paint.....OR, is it broken?  I will confess a pet peeve of mine is double doors at an entrance where one of the doors is always locked.  Why have double doors if one is always locked?

Why does it happen that we have rusty chairs or broken pews leaned up in the corner?  We get used to seeing them.  We don't even see the first thing that first time attenders see!  So, what do you do?

-Invite someone who does not attend your events or perhaps has never been into your meeting space to come and make notes of what they notice.  They can tell you things that need to be moved, removed, cleaned, straightened, or hauled off.

-Most college ministries are short on money.  So, it may be that painting the whole interior is not an option.  What about painting an accent wall?  Get someone known for their good taste to make a suggestion about painting one wall....what color to paint it, etc.

-A few bright and new pillows put on some old furniture might give them a whole new look.

-Lighting is huge.  Is the room too dim or is it too glaring?  Changing the light in the area can give it a whole different feel.  A few lamps here and there can be a plus rather than just glaring overall lighting.

-Re-arrange the furniture.  Rotate some pieces in and out occasionally.

I am totally convinced that when a first timer walks into a meeting space they consciously or sub-consciously register an opinion that affects their whole feeling about being there.

What does your space say to first timers?