Church bldg use

[Salty]

On another thread Deacon stated:
"
My previous church had a philosophy developed when someone asked, "If your church suddenly disappeared today, would your community notice?"

Since then, whenever anyone asked to use our facilities, the answer was usually, "Yes!"

So many different groups, including Boy Scouts, Local HS Cheer Leader teams, Motor Cycle Clubs, AA groups, a Korean-Language Church community, various Home-Schooling groups, Police Bomb Squad training, a Revolutionary Parade squad, and many others.

The church facilities did not sit empty during the weekdays."

So what organizations would your church allow to use your church facilities?
What organizations would your church not allow to use your church facilities?

Open for discussion

 

[Ben1445]

Community functions that would not cause a stumbling block I think are commendable.

I personally am not a fan of fundraisers as public events. I would put the bingo games and whatever else fits in that category on the tables to be flipped list.

 

[Salty]

Community functions that would not cause a stumbling block I think are commendable.

I personally am not a fan of fundraisers as public events. I would put the bingo games and whatever else fits in that category on the tables to be flipped list.

What do you think of yard sales at a church?

 

[Ben1445]

What do you think of yard sales at a church?

I’m not actually going around telling people what to do and not do. For myself, I don’t ever want to be in charge of a table that deserves to be flipped.
It doesn’t really matter to me if another church does it because I don’t answer for or with them. Personally can see where it could be helpful but it isn’t worth it to me. But there are so many different ways that it could be handled that my answer may not apply to a lot of situations.
The church is for building up believers, caring for the brethren and importantly prayer to and worship of God.
It may be a church activity that draws people together.
It could be used to confront people with the gospel. But when you get to the money side of it, red flags go up for me. Which personally is a good reason to avoid it.

 

[Deacon]

The church I attended did not charge for the privilege of using the facility.
Most of those that used it gave a donation.
At one point we considered asking a fee, but afterwards realized that the donations covered more than we would have asked.

We did turn down some requests.
One that I remember was a Jewish congregation that asked if they might use the facility to worship on Saturday's, (we didn't have a decorative cross in the building at the time).
We couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't encounter evangelization, since that was the very purpose of our offering the facility.

The site was available. A medium sized county-owned lake was near the property - a good place to fish.
There is always somebody parked in the lot.

Rob