At the door, we were handed a bulletin by a "greeter" who didn't say a single word. There was no one else around, so I don't think he was overwhelmed by incoming people. He simply said nothing. In fact, he didn't even offer a smile.

Well, at least we got a bulletin.

As we entered the building, we were immediately assaulted by the combined odors of dust, mold and undeniable "oldness." Frankly, the smell made me feel so uncomfortable that I feared it would keep me from concentrating on the teaching and worship.

I couldn't help but wonder if the odors were symbolic of the spiritual condition of the church.

Unfortunately, what we saw was as bad as what we smelled. The paint and wallpaper were a "blast from the past" that forced me into a time warp-induced head rush. The furniture was dated and dingy, and the carpet and pew upholstery were old, stained and filthy. It was obvious that no one had bothered to vacuum or pick up last week's trash from the pews.

By now, I was having sensory overload. My emotions were running high, but for all the wrong reasons.

Then I made my worst mistake of the morning: I visited the restroom. I was aghast to find dirty fixtures and a trash basket overflowing with ... trash (I'll leave it at that). I'm still mystified by the condition of this room. How did it get into such a deplorable state without anyone noticing? We were among the first to arrive, so this catastrophe couldn't have happened that morning. Was it left from Wednesday night?

All this happened before the service even started. By the time we broke out the hymnals, my ability to focus on the wonderful truth of Scripture and commune with the one true Creator God was significantly stifled. To be honest, I hardly remember a word that was sung or spoken.

In fairness, the experience was slightly salvaged when a few people took time to be friendly and speak to us. I'm sorry to say those efforts couldn't erase the negatives indelibly etched in my mind.

By the time we left, I felt like a good, long, hot shower was the only solace for my soul and body.

The experience kept me reeling for the rest of the day as I reflected on the many turnoffs I had faced in just one hour. Why was this church in such bad shape? Why are so many church facilities in a similar condition? What can be done about it?

As believers, we understand and say we believe that everything should be done for the glory of God. The condition of a church's facilities reflects a congregation's view of God and influences an unbeliever's perception of God. Are we doing ministry in such a way that it reflects His glory? Are we satisfied that we are presenting our best?

Here are a few suggestions for avoiding the "Scary Halls, Walls and Stalls Syndrome":

1) Assess the current condition of your church facilities. Acknowledge if and where they need cleaning or improvements and commit yourself to doing something about them. Decide now that you will take action. Your mission matters and your guests deserve better. Continued...