In Steve Macchia's book Becoming a Healthy Church, he tells the story of a pizza delivery person walking into the new ministry center of Community Covenant Church in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Just as people can sense the presence of evil, they can sense the presence of God. For some who have never before experienced God, this single characteristic may determine their choice of church. Experiencing the supernatural is such a high priority in today's culture that its importance dwarfs everything else in rating a church's atmosphere. Experiencing the supernatural dwarfs everything else as people rate a church's atmosphere.
Some churches are self-centered.
Some are others-centered. It's not hard to tell the difference. The people were talking and laughing and having a good time. They liked their church, but they never noticed her. After a few minutes of uncomfortable invisibility, she proceeded to the worship center where she sat in a pew alone for ten minutes.