Thailand Hotel Attempting Church Relevance

This picture is an actual flyer I got in my hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I absolutely love it. In case you can't read it - here are some excerpts.

• Dear My Guest
• Beverage rate in refridgelator
• "another beverage and snake you can buy at office"
• Please bring your cloth to office
• Free coffee in small house every day
• For another question you can ask me later

I think this stuff is so cute. But still... I'm wondering if my "refridgelator" will hold my beverage and "snake" that I buy at the office. And what "cloth" do I take to the office? Is that near the small house with the coffee? I only see a hotel with a clubhouse-sort-of-building. Honestly, I didn't have any questions until I read this unsolicited flyer in my hotel room. The last thing I want to do is get "another question" from this gal later.

Sound familiar? I think many churches, including Impact, can communicate in very similar ways to our 'target market.' As a church in Elk Grove and Sacramento, how many times have we used language that the people we are trying to reach just 'don't get?'

Communication is a KEY to reaching others. How are you doing? Do you use a lot of words like 'blessed' and 'hedge of protection' and 'my walk with God?' I'm really thinking that this type of language is like the well-meaning office manager who put that flyer in my room.

Oh - just so you know, I appreciated the effort of this office manager and  did take her up on doing my laundry. I looked past the miscommunication and to the heart of her message. It was actually helpful. But are our neighborhoods as apt to overlook our miscommunication? If we communicate more intentionally, we won't have to worry about it.

Comments

[K]

I agree, too often we talk in such a way that "outsiders" have no clue as to what we mean. "Lost" "Saved" "Close to God" "Cursed" "Born again" "Joy in the trial" there are many others, but have to admit I am very guilty of this. Even the word Christian these days has a very confusing message... So, now what? How do we change what most of us have done for years? hmmm, do i see the birthing of a new message series?

[Laurie Ellis]

Was the other beverage in the office a "Mountain Dew?"

[Lisa]

This is a great metaphor. So much meaning gets lost when we resort to "churchianity" in our conversations with others. I find the best way to avoid this jargon is to speak of God relationally. So instead of saying "I'll pray for you," I say, "Let me ask God to help you with that." Or, rather than calling myself "born again" or "saved" I say that "God's love for me has changed me forever." Stuff like that. It's the relationship that is most important anyway, not our ability to use correct vocabulary. Thanks for this perspective!