The church house … that is …
Let me ask a pretty simple question … Who cleans your church?
I have served on staff in five Southern Baptist churches in my ministry career. In the first four churches, even the smallest one (and I mean REALLY small), we had a paid janitorial staff. Like most other churches tend to do, we paid people to sweep and vacuum our floors and clean our toilets.
But we don’t do that at Crossroads Fellowship. We have divided our LIFE Groups (home-based small groups) into a six-week rotation schedule. And on their appointed weeks, these small groups show up in mass on Friday or Saturday and thoroughly clean our facility. They wash, sweep, vacuum, scrub, and clean. And on top of that, they hand-fold and stuff all of our bulletins/worship guides for Sunday morning. Almost every small-group participant in our church takes part in the weekly cleaning. Then on Sunday morning those groups are responsible for greeting people at the entrance to our worship room and passing out worship guides.
It’s truly an awesome thing to see. And just one more example (I think) of how this generation that we are reaching at Crossroads would much rather be “hands-on” and serve rather than “hire out” tasks that they feel they should be doing themselves.
So, just a little word of testimony from my incredible church. I appreciate this opportunity to brag on my people.
I can’t wait to be with them again next Sunday.
September 3, 2007 at 9:19 am
geoff,
i hope the life group washes thier hands before the sunday greeting!
i shook thier hands that sunday i came…i’m guessing after they cleaned the toilet!
very interesting post…..maybe you have hit on something here. makes me think.
david
September 3, 2007 at 9:53 am
Geoff-
I’m guessing that the Life Groups are all adults–Is that right? Do you have the teens and younger children helping?
Kat
September 3, 2007 at 11:42 am
David,
Oh! Wait a minute! I was born and raised in Tennessee!
I’m sure they did. This is Kentucky, not Tennessee … we have indoor toilets and running water.
Kat,
They participate with their parents. But you’ve given me an idea. I’m going to talk it over with my youth ministry team leaders on Wednesday … I think the youth group may be added into the rotation (making it 7 weeks) after this Sunday. Good thinking!!
September 3, 2007 at 3:56 pm
After 10 years of grievances we sacked our janitor and do give our church a facelift ourselves now too in a similar rotation to yours.. and we love it.
Our offerings have gone up as a result!
We also have a “whole Church cleaning morning” once a quarter and give the whole place a thorough make over.
Its great for fellowship.
Steve
September 4, 2007 at 6:41 am
Hey Geoff,
Sorry… I have to “go there” but Jesus cleaned his church about 2000 years ago
.
As far as the building is concerned, according to the man who did the research, God called Merri-maids to clean our building.
God’s Glory,
Lew
September 4, 2007 at 11:04 am
Steve,
Those times of labor together are, indeed, awesome times of fellowship.
Lew,
I just found your comment. Sorry that it somehow got “spammed.” But, you’re posted now!
Now that’s just funny …
September 16, 2007 at 5:57 pm
When I was reading, I was thinking, “I hope they washed their hands before greeting the next day,” and I come to the comments and David was thinking the same thing. Great minds… (that might be too strong)
I think it is a terrific idea, or better yet, a good job for the deacons!