After building a recreation facility, the next step is alerting the community to its existence. In their book, “Guidebook for Planning Church Recreation Facilities,” 2nd Edition, John Garner and Wendell T. Newman of the LifeWay Church Resources Group offer some suggestions for increasing community awareness about the new recreation center.
Invite someone experienced in church recreation in a facility to give testimony to ways recreation has ministered in a facility.
Prepare a model or large bulletin board to describe features of the new facility.
Plan special days to mark progress in construction.
Ask the pastor to preach on the possibilities of witness, in-reach and outreach through the facility.
Schedule testimonies by recreation ministry committee personnel concerning their concept of potential through the facility.
Enlist a volunteer coordinator to work with staff to enlist and train volunteers.
Plan a banquet three or four months before completion of the facility for all volunteers and their families.
Invite someone who specializes in church recreation to bring several volunteers to share their experiences.
Prepare a volunteer manual to standardize facility operation.
Develop guidelines for facility use. The committee should compile and adapt guidelines from other facilities.
Develop a philosophy of recreation to give direction to overall ministry.
Invite volunteers to discuss the guidelines with the staff and recreation committee in a forum-type meeting.
Make the proposed guidelines and philosophy available to all church members.
Have an all-church discussion meeting to give members a chance to react, ask questions and make suggestions.
The committee members will also have a chance to explain and in some cases defend the guidelines.
Revise the guidelines as necessary in light of member input. Recommend the guidelines for church approval.
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