There's so

very much in print about what people look for in a church. Many ministers

call the process "church shopping." We have found just in our

Fayette area community that people will shop for the right church upward

to two years. Just in our relatively small church, we have had people

to "shop around" for more than two years, but finally move out

to shop somewhere else.

People shop

for churches because they believe deep down in their heart that there

is a perfect church out there somewhere in God's vast universe. But I

am sorry to burst your bubble. There are not perfect churches, even the

ones with a perfect steeple, perfect landscaping, and a perfect promotional

piece.

People shop

for churches looking for a funland for their children. Often they discover

a church has only a few children, so they keeping on searching for Disneyland

Church. My only question: how did churches with multi-faceted children/youth

programs get their start unless some family decided to anchor their kids

to a kid-less church and decided to build and grow.

Although I,

along with fellow pastors, could pontificate long and hard about church

shoppers, this column today focuses on what pastors look for in new members.

That is, if were so privileged to go "member shopping" what

would attract us?

First, pastors

love folks who attend the main services of the church. My former pastor

once said to me, "There's sacramental power in a full house."

So true. When the church house is full, everything about the service carries

more potential. We like folks who are faithful to the services.

Second, pastors

love members who hunger and thirst for the things of the Lord. It thrills

us to see people come with Bible in hand, eager to participate in the

singing and worship, and on the edge of their seats as the message is

delivered. There's a sense in which the congregation hungry to hear the

Word of the Lord can actually pull virtue and power out of the speaking

minister just because they are eager to receive.

Third, pastors

look for members who want to serve. It's been often said that churches

have too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Members fall all over themselves

volunteering for the committee in charge of the blade over the pastor's

jugular vein. Too few, however, volunteer to clean the bathrooms, tidy

up the church kitchen, or canvass the neighborhood.

Fourth, pastors

get turned on by members who show evidence that their lives are been transformed

for the better. In fact, I know most pastors can make it through a ride

in ulcer gulch having heard about a member who has had a spiritual victory

of some sort.

Fifth, pastors

deeply appreciate members who demonstrate their gratitude for the church,

the ministries, and for the pastor personally. Pastors are not in it for

the money. They are in it because of the call of God on their lives. But,

it sure makes our calling much more of a joy when we hear those two rare

words, "thank you." We can make it a week on a genuine, "thank

you."

Therefore,

once you are done shopping for their right church, dig in and make yourself

the reputation of being a good church member.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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