Today I went to Blinn Campus Ministry. Pastor Mindy Roll has one day a week here, at this college of about 5,000 students in Brenham, a short walk from St. Paul’s.
Today Mindy set up in the atrium of the student center with brownies and cookies baked by some kind ladies at a local congregation. She invited people to comment on a something that she asked me to create: Describe the church you’d actually like to be a part of. It was fun to interact with the students and talk with them about their impressions of the church.
We had unchurched folks, Lutherans, Catholics, Baptists, non-denoms, traditional black churches folks, and one Antiochan Orthodox guy with a great attitude about church.
I took a three photos of their responses which I’ll paste below. They are interesting. The things I heard them saying the most:
1. They want a welcoming church.
2. They want a less judgmental church.
3. They want a diverse church.
Take a look at the comments and tell me what jumps out at you. Feel free to add your own thoughts to the query: Describe the church you would love to attend.
Bishop Michael Rinehart 
April 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Comments typed out:
Describe the church that you would actually love to be a part of. How is it different?
1. Where everybody comes together as a family.
2. Don’t be too open about wanting money.
3. One that teaches quick sermons straight out of the book.
4. Where everyone is in one peace of mind and filled with love.
5. More activities.
6. Interact more with each other.
7. Make it fun for young people to actually understand.
8. My home church.
9. Where everybody loves each other.
10. The church that Jesus would be a part of.
11. One that is loving and not judgmental.
12. Acceptance of all without judgment.
13. People don’t judge others.
14. People be more welcoming and not so judgmental.
15. One that doesn’t judge.
16. Socially active.
17. Afternoon service (12:00-1:35).
18. My home town church.
19. Diversity.
20. One that I honest and likes you for you.
21. I would like to be part of a humble church where the people try to be more like Christ.
22. An Orthodox Church, closer!
23. We need to spread the love more all around the world to everyone of all kinds to join together as a ____________? To make peace and overcome the hate.
24. THE WELCOMING AND LOVING, ACCEPTING PEOPLE OF CHRIST.
25. It’s the body of people coming together to serve one person! Run toward the goal!
26. Where everybody loves God.
27. Mix of learning and having fun.
28. One that helps you grow.
29. Accountability partners.
30. Diversity.
31. Alacrity.
32. Diversity.
33. Strong being?
34. Welcoming.
35. Loving.
36. Non-judgmental.
37. Expect everyone to be very loving and accepting.
38. Diversity.
39. Comprehension.
40. Lack of bigotry.
41. Committed to loving me well.
42. One that is more accepting of non-believers.
43. [Not] being judgmental about the things we wear.
44. More young people in leadership.
45. I’m already in love with mine.
46. People don’t judge what you believe in.
47. Be more social and more outgoing.
48. Be more in tune with the Bible.
49. Be strong and more trustworthy with what go by.
50. A more active church in the community and more helpful.
51. A church that has a lot of youth activities and cater to the youth needs.
52. One that makes good brownies and also teach me something new.
53. The one that God is over so that I can see him in person for myself.
54. More youth pastors.
55. Lots of _______________?
April 3, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Observations
1. 55 comments by 42 people.
2. 419 words
3. Most used words:
a. Judge, judgmental, etc. 8x
b. Love 5x
c. Accepting 4x
d. Diverse, diversity, etc. 4x
e. Welcome 3x
If you wanted to create a church that was magnetic for young adults, I would pay attention to these things.
April 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Love it, love it, love it. Went to them and asked during Lent a time of self examination and reflection. I want church geared to children, young people and young families needs,
They had no problem saying what they need honestly so now the question is what are we going to do about it?