Survey
This past Saturday, our church conducted a survey for the community in which we’re relocating. Our goal is to become a church that impacts our community. The first thing we want to do is choose a name that has meaning for our neighbors – so, we conducted a survey. We listed five options and asked them to choose which one sounded best for the community.
*Southside Community Church – this particular area of the Tree Streets is known as the Southside community (it’s the name of the school that’s the center of the neighborhood).
*College Park Community Church – ETSU is 5 minutes away.
*The Dwelling Place – edgy, postmodern feel.
*Crossway Chapel – the network of churches that helped plant Sonlife has asked that their membership consider changing their names to this
*Bridgepoint – not your usual church name.
In our church planting class, Dr. Jones suggested that neighborhood surveys can be more effective if you ask the person what their neighbor would think about something, or why they think their neighbor does/doesn’t go to church, etc. It’s supposed to give the person the freedom to open up about himself, but without really saying he believes that way. It’s some psychological thing.
So, I asked one guy to think which name his neighbors would find most attractive. He said, “None of them. They’re Orthodox and don’t care about a church name.” I tried to get him to think about what he liked, then. I couldn’t get him out of the mindset of his neighbors, though. I guess psychology doesn’t always work.
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College Park sounds like Maryland, The Dwelling Place sounds angry and Crossway sounds confusing, Southside sounds like we’ve got gangstas, and Bridgepoint reminds me of “Guideposts.”
I’m a positive member. 😉
Sonlife is too close to the name of the church that met before us in the fitness center (SonRise). There are some negative views about that church for some reason. Don’t really know why.
I personally wanted “That One Church Over There That Used to Meet in the Fitness Center But Now Meets in the Abandoned Auto Repair Shop”
No one went for it, though.
Frank wanted “The Filling Station,” but it was a little too offbeat.
I think the responses were divided between College Park (mostly from students), Southside (the people who had lived a long time there liked it), and Bridgepoint (I guess they read Guidepost).
Crossway Chapel is a place you go to get married, not a place to meet Jesus. Dwelling Place…well…I’m 99% certain this won’t be the name.
Great way to support your leaders, by the way 8{)} You got any better ideas?
We could all wear green bandannas (red and blue are taken – thanks Crips and Bloods) and walk around yelling, “southSOIIDE!” And have some funky hand gesture.
I like yours best, but I totally vote for the “southSOIIDE” answer because Lisa likes the color green… and I look good in it.
I’m gonna let you in ont top secret information, so don’t let anyone know. It’s strictly hush-hush…
At 9:37 p.m. on April 11, 2005, the staff of Sonlife Community Church agreed to officially become Southside Community Church.
Don’t tell anyone, though. It’s a secret.
We’re gonna have a cool introduction of the name this Sunday…be there or be square.
“southSOIIDE!” pumping my chest with my hand forming an “S” in sign language…peace out, yo!