First Baptist Church of Herndon

Did you go?

Linda Soller | Sep 16, 2013

So did you get to church yesterday? It was “National Back to Church Sunday” if you remember from my last blog. It’s always good to see new faces, and faces we haven’t seen in a while, mixed in with all the regulars. I think that is why I really like “National Back to Church Sunday.” The concept is a good one because it’s low pressure and festive. It’s a celebration of everyone who is attending. Sure there is a chance those new faces will never dart the door again, but isn’t great they came at least once? If a church approaches it with the idea that their rolls will suddenly grow from a one day event, then I think they are missing the point. Really if our goal at FBC was just to grow FBC then we would have a “Back to FBC Sunday.”  I think the goal is to encourage people to remember the value of church in their lives or to consider giving church a try for the first time.

There are few opportunities offered that are so open ended. These days if you want to take a simple class you usually have to commit to attend and/or pay for weeks or months at the very beginning. Some people say they don’t go visit a church because they don’t want to feel conspicuous or pressured by the regulars. But this was a chance to just show-up, knowing there would be plenty of other people visiting your same selected church who like you just wanted to check it out. Technically there was no cost involved as offerings are between you and God. At some churches you may have gotten the added benefit of food. We had a potluck lunch after the service. Hey, we are Baptists – it’s what we do.

Anyway it was a great day and a wonderful opportunity so I really hope you took advantage of it. If you did go back to church I hope you had a beneficial experience. I mean the kind of experience that helped you decide if the church you attended was right for you or just a nice place to visit. Maybe even the kind of experience that made you think you could get used to going to church again or for the first time.

Personally I like to think that every Sunday can be a back to church Sunday. Sure, now and then you may go somewhere and think to yourself that it isn’t right for me, but that in itself is a good thing to know. There are churches all over the place and to find where you want to be you have to know where you don’t want to be.  So if you missed “Back to Church Sunday” I’m sorry but it isn’t the end of the world. There is another Sunday just around the corner and it can be your very own personal back to church day. Go ahead, you can do it and it will be our little secret.  

Have a great week :o) Linda