How would you feel if you entered your church to see shoes of all different shapes, colours, sizes and cleanliness hanging from the ceiling? That is how we decorated our church last month for our "stepping out" series. We also had a boat with a pair of gum boots/wellies next to it as we thought about how we could "Step out of the boat".
Visuals are an effective way to help people in the congregation to ponder the overarching theme. However, there was some concern that shoes hanging in the church had taken the visual effects a step too far. Were shoes hanging from the ceiling "pleasing to God?"
Maybe you've had someone ask you a similar question when you've tried something new?
Obviously shoes hanging in a church strikes a chord with some people. However, I found that shoes hanging in a church are actually conversation starters. A new family at one of our Sunday services asked the person they sat next to what the shoes were for. Our playgroup coordinator told me that several care givers in our playgroups had asked her what the shoes were doing hanging from the ceiling and she was able to share the theme and the message of the shoes with the families. As different groups have entered our church I'm sure they've noticed the shoes hanging up and maybe they haven't been brave enough to ask what they're for but it may have triggered a thought for them. Maybe they'll ask about something else they see in the church in another series.
Shoes hanging in a church may not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye but they do open conversation. I would say those conversations are pleasing to God.
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