Several weeks ago we included a survey in our "West Valley Connection," to get your reactions to a new approach to our church logo/color/branding. The survey asked a single question, which is listed below:
 
"On a scale of one to five, one being "I hate it!" and five being "I love it so much I want to paint it on my bedroom ceiling so it's the first thing I see when I open my eyes each morning!" please rate our new colors/logo."
 
Twenty-nine people responded to the survey, and the results are as follows: 24% selected a rating of 5; 38 % selected a rating of 4; 24% selected a rating of 3; 14% selected a rating of 2; and none selected a rating of 1.
 
So, a clear majority of church seem to really like the new logo. However, several expressed concerns regarding our "new direction" as a church. Some felt we might have misplaced priorities; that, as a church, we were becoming more concerned about buildings and paint than we are about reaching people.
 
At first, I cringed a little when I read these comments. But after the initial knee-jerk defensiveness wore off, I had a different reaction: pride. Not a single comment betrayed a disgruntled church member who was sore because his favorite color wasn't chosen or her suggestion for neon signs was ignored. People who made comments were concerned with exactly the things they should be concerned about, namely, how will this make WVACC more effective in expanding Christ's Kingdom?
 
I can't fault good people for asking a good question. In fact, this was the very question the Communications Task Force has been wrestling with for the past few months. We concluded that, while appearance is not what's most important, how we present ourselves can help -- or hinder -- our ministry.
 
To illustrate, let me share my personal philosophy on dress. I can't recall ever preaching without wearing a tie. In fact, before I moved here, I always wore a suit. Now that I'm on the "casual West Coast," a sport coat seems OK.
 
Unfortunately, my clothes don't help my preaching. But wearing a tie does help in two ways. First, I feel better about myself in a tie. I feel like I'm giving the Lord my best; I'm making a special effort; my clothes reflect the value I place on my actions and role. I often say "I may not be qualified, but I can at least look qualified!"
 
Second, my tie tells the people I meet that I care about them; that I made an effort to coordinate my attire in a manner that would be pleasing to their eyes. I hope that, in some small way, my clothes reflect the high value I place on the activities we are engaged in together. I don't expect everyone in the church to dress like me, but I do think the pastor's dress can help or hinder a church's ministry.
 
Sadly, many of my colleagues feel the same but lack my fashion sense. I shudder to think of the color-blind clergy who shoot themselves in their mismatched feet by wearing a lime green six-inch-wide tie with a burgundy polyester leisure suit. They're trying to dress for success, but they're not succeeding.  Or maybe they are. Quite often, these same pastors have churches filled to capacity with similarly color-blind leisure-suit-wearing parishioners. So God's Kingdom is expanding! (Luckily, polyester expands as well!)
 
So, picking the church's logo/colors is kind of like picking the pastor's tie. It may not help the sermons but it still communicates something. Since I have to get dressed anyway, I figure I might as well wear things that show how much I care about what I'm doing. Likewise, since our church has to maintain its appearance, we might as well put some thought into showing how much we care about our ministry. Otherwise, I might as well preach in shorts, a tee shirt... and that lime-green tie I got for my ordination!

We have not had many Sunday night youth meetings in July but we are planning a fun day hike for this Thursday. We will be going to the Denny Creek natural water slide near Snoqualmie Pass. There is a 1 ˝ mile hike and then we will see how the water is. It should be a great day to enjoy each other and God's creation.
 
 
Youth Prayer Requests:
 
Continue to pray for students and leaders at Young Life Camp.
 
Stephanie - Pray for her upcoming trip to Thailand. She will leave July 23rd and be gone for a month.

 

 

 

 

 
Michael - Michael is enrolled in Driver's Ed. Pray that things will go well for him.

 

 

 

 

 
Arie - Arie will be traveling to Maine to visit her grandparents. Pray for safe travel and a good trip.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Oscar - Oscar is preparing for the upcoming CrossCountry season at TJ. Pray that his knee and hip will not bother him as he trains and competes.
 

 

 

 

 

Aimee - Aimee is in the process of transferring to Auburn Mountain View this school year.  She isn't moving but will be traveling farther to school.  Pray for a smooth transition.