10 Non-traditional Reasons To Join a Local Church
1. Be a better musician. Many of the top names in music got their “start” in church. Even if your aspirations are not that high, what you will get is lots of opportunities to perform and a supportive, appreciative audience. Ok, so, no, “Stairway to Heaven” is not actually a church song, but the point is to hone your mad skills to uber mastery so that when you audition for that lead role in the next band to take the world by storm, you might just get the gig.
2. Be a better speaker. You don’t actually have to worry about having to give the sermon unless you really, really want to. That is almost always done by the same person. Same as the musicians, churches offer many opportunities to speak to crowds. Nice crowds. Supportive and appreciative crowds. And the church offers opportunities at many skill levels from reading directly from a short, written text to making an announcement, teaching, a committee meeting, or even a full-blown message. Guess what? You should project, speak slowly and clearly, and all the same things you could pay thousands of dollars for in professional training—for free and at your own pace.
3. Observe people on their best behavior. Sure, the rest of the week they may look like complete hypocrites, but at least they can muster up some manners when they want to. We see plenty of people behaving badly everywhere else, anyway. Drama used to be a respected term in the entertainment industry. Look what it means among teenagers now. The world desperately needs to see the world through something other than a TV screen. And, by the way, maybe some of that best behavior will rub off on that “special someone” you know, if you know what I mean. Wink, wink.
4. Network. Churches are often criticized for being like country clubs. Well, at least they are cheaper. But, the basic benefit is still true: who you know can really make a difference in your life. And all kinds of people go to church, for all kinds of reasons—and the church actually encourages all those people to interact positively with each other! Gasp! Shocker, I know!
5. Advance your professional development. There is a lot more to churches than singing and speaking. Churches need all kinds of skills. Want to move into management? Churches need managers. Want to gain experience at project management? Budgets and financing? Team building? Mastering the boardroom? Presentation technologies and techniques? Churches need all of that. In fact, they need that so badly, they won’t make you interview or climb a corporate ladder to get started. Even if all you really want to do is grow pretty flowers in the summer, the church has room for you to grow.
6. Broaden your horizons. Too many people incorrectly think of churches as being narrow-minded. Those observations may appear obvious, but have you ever noticed where churches are going these days? Churches travel on mission trips. Where do you want to go? Somewhere, there is a mission trip for that. Granted, that is no leisurely vacation, but it is adventurous travel. Check into it. You may find it to be much more satisfying than a vacation, and other people may be willing to pay to send you.
7. Stay young. Don’t laugh! Yes, many churches are full of people older than you. But, every church ought to be spending time and effort on young people. Some are just better than others. Whether it’s teaching pre-schoolers the words and actions for their big number on Easter Sunday or fostering a group of adolescents to be all they can be and none of what they shouldn’t, nothing brings the youth out of you like sharing it with young people. It’s a little like that line Grandparents always say: you enjoy them for a short time, and then you get to send them back home.
8. Get out of the house. Maybe I’m biased because my church recently remodeled, but many churches have nicer facilities than”affordable” homes. Many new churches even have movie-theater seats, big bright screens, and state-of-the-art sound systems. They often serve food. It may not always be free, but neither is the stuff in your fridge. Still cheaper than a hotel stay.
9. Plenty of free advice. You already knew that, I know, but I’m not talking about that kind of advice. Have you noticed how many churches offer programs and services to try to help with the struggles of life? For as little as asking in many cases, you can get help with raising kids, dealing with stress or loss, financial planning, cooking, entertaining, or even a hobby. Churches are trying to reach out in so many ways, that almost any hobby that interests you could very well have an organized small group at the church. If not, they’ll likely help you start one.
10. Salt and pepper. If you’re counting, maybe I already covered this with a few of the others, but good-old church folk bring spice to life. Salt of the earth in their compassion, humanity, and outreach. Zippy pepper in their challenges and convictions. But, under the flaky crust, just a lot of savory flavor and all the comforting aires of the best Thanksgiving meal-- if you’re willing to make the journey, settle in, fellowship a bit, and have a little patience.
