Churches aren't accessible. This article examines the reasons for their lack of availability -- offering some practical solutions

Barna Research Group phoned 3,764 randomly selected Protestant congregations to test theiravailability. They were unable to establish contact with anyone at 40% of them, despite repeatedattempts. Nearly half the churches where no person could be contacted lacked an answeringmachine. In other cases, voice messages were unanswered.

These results paint a dismal picture of church readiness in meeting needs of communities -- apicture we must change. To do so, we must examine the reasons for our lack of availability andthen implement some practical solutions.

Reasons

* Pastor Is Bi-vocational.

Many churches surveyed were small with a bi-vocational pastor. One thing bi-vocational pastors have little of is time. Their presence on the church grounds is usually limited to Sundays and Wednesdays. With no secretary, the phone goes unattended throughout the week. * Small, Rural Churches Have Yet To Embrace Technology.

The church is usually the last public institution to accept technological advances. Believe it or not, very few fax machines can be found in city banks and businesses in parts of the Mississippi Delta, mountains of West Virginia, and other poor communities across America. As go fax machines, so goes answering machines. Some churches refuse to provide these technological wonders because they are perceived as impersonal. With senior adults making up a good number of church memberships, their abhorrence to cold devices hinders placement of answering machines. They don’t want them in their homes and especially in their churches.

* Indifference

To Community Needs Why would any church that is self-absorbed want to provide a way for others in need to contact them? They don’t. Decades of taking care of their own has made them oblivious to ministry opportunities. Their indifference to the wants, cares, and needs of lost humanity has perpetrated an unconscious attempt to hide their presence -- to make difficult asking for help -- and to limit the expenditure of limited resources.

* Fear Of Being Overwhelmed With Problems

Becoming available means a willingness to grapple with people’s problems. The dilemmas of today’s culture are much more complex. Churches have a legitimate fear they will be overwhelmed if they make themselves more accessible. With limited funds, people resources, and skills, they shun being overtly interested in addressing complex social ills. An answerless phone provides this evading.

* With The Belief, “Church Attendance First, Then Get Help”, Some Churches Feel Accessibility Through The Week Is Unnecessary.

Unfortunately, legalistic church members are guilty of feeling if a person needs help, they ought to first be in church. They see individuals who fail to worship as people unworthy of help. They think, “Why should we be available during the week when most people we assist will never darken the doors of our church? Come to church and get aid. Don’t come -- and expect an incessant phone ringing. It won’t be answered.”

* Failure To Return Left Messages

Answering machines installed for outreach and ministry purposes get a response. Those installed for serving the local church may or may not. Those calling outside the local church family with pressing needs probably will go unanswered. The last three reasons above would also apply.

Solutions

* Prepare People’s Hearts

Becoming more accessible never reaps rewards until first, people have been strangely warmedto the needs of hurting humanity. This may require some heart preparation. Pray, pray, pray until your heart overflows with compassion. Preach a series of sermons. Focus on any perceive indifference. Give it your very best effort. Constantly emphasize people over programs, outreach over in-reach, and hurting humanity over pampered saints.

* Educate People On The Benefits Of Embracing New Technology

Your congregation doesn’t have to fear new technology. Point out the advantages. Indicate the cost comparison of hiring a secretary to answer the phone with purchasing an answering machine. Record some upbeat messages. Play back to your congregation. Lead them to understand how left messages is better than the community having no way to reach your church.

* Install An Answering Machine

This obvious solution is ignored by many. For $29.95 you can install a basic system to receiveincoming calls. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to set one up. Follow the enclosed instructions and a ready receptionist is at your service. A quality, recorded message is an effective way to minister to the incoming call and obtain the data necessary for further ministry.The pastor can check his messages daily, Wednesdays and Sundays, or weekends. Some higher priced systems can access your calls simply by phoning in. In either case, information phoned in is readily available. No longer can it be said you are inaccessible.

* Secure A Cell Phone Or Pager For Pastor And Staff

An additional means of contact is cell phones and pagers. Pastor and staff should not leave home without it. Though mainly used for church family emergencies, it can be dialed in times of community crisis. It becomes another tool in your arsenal to stay available.

* Use E-mail

Most homes have personal computers. Easy access is available to the Internet. If your church is without a computer, your pastor can publicize his e-mail address. If neither are available, canvass your members for a computer whiz. He may offer his e-mail address.To make sure the e-mail residence is widely circulated, put it on all correspondence, printedprograms, and church advertisements as possible. Be prepared for some unwanted e-mails -- knowing your accessibility comes with a price. The resulting ministry opportunities is worth the cost.

* Commit To Respond

The only thing worse than being unavailable to our communities is receiving in-coming request and not responding. Common courtesy dictates a answer. Though some will seem frivolous, to the caller they are important.Your pastor can’t answer every request. Indeed, it would be impossible. Train some lay-leaders who have a burdened heart for their community to handle the non-ministerial request. Steer serious calls to your pastor.

*  Plan Specific Actions

Most calls will require a definite action. Nearly all communities have food and clothes closets. Others have mental health agencies and Christian counselors. Still others have churches that budget money for community needs. Make use of what’s available. Never leave a caller without hope. If your church is unable to provide a service, say so. But be ready to refer them to a community or government agency.

Call back in a week. If the emergency still exists, approach your church about making a heroic effort to eliminate the need.

No church should be overwhelmed with addressing community problems. By having a systematic process of dealing with food, clothing, lodging, and counseling issues, needs are addressed as they arise. Giving referrals to community, government, and church agencies will handle the rest.It is sad when the local bank is more accessible than the local church. Inaccessibility doesn’t have to be your lot. By addressing the reasons for lack of availability -- determining where your church stands -- and by implementing concrete solutions, you will have taken giant strides toward becoming a reachable church -- a growing church. Go for it!

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