By Jason Allison

This is part 3 of my Casino & Churches series. We are looking at some of the parallels between my first-time experience at a Casino and the experience first-time guests at your church have.  

Parallel #1: I felt like I was walking on eggshells.

Parallel #2: Stranger Danger!

From the moment I walked in, I didn’t feel like I belonged there. I was definitely a stranger. 

The casino offered no obvious welcome. It wasn’t a place that made you feel comfortable or relaxed as you arrived. People clustered in small groups around tables and activities they weren’t inclined to invite a newcomer into.

Whether it was a Texas Hold ’Em tournament, a Blackjack table, or another game for a handful of regulars, the layout and activity reinforced exclusivity. If you weren’t part of one of those small groups, participating felt difficult.

Now imagine a first‑time guest arriving at your church. Consider their path from the parking lot to the main entrance: Is it clear where to park, where to enter, and where to go once they’re inside? What nonverbal cues do your regular attenders give? What impression does your lobby’s decor and layout create? What feelings are you signaling — intentionally or not — by how your entrance is arranged?

Remember: guests feel out of place before they step inside. Identify anything in your context that might reinforce that feeling, and remove or mitigate it.

Up next: Parallel #3 between your church and a casino — The Regulars.