Think About it -- Leave Your car in a Church Parking lot?

Resources Think About it -- Leave Your car in a Church Parking lot?
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Carl Chinn

Apr 12, 2025

This past week I was looking to rent a car for travelling to an upcoming speaking event. It is sometimes cheaper to rent a car than reimbursement for my mileage (much less an airplane ticket and all that goes with that).

As I checked with different car rental sites in Wichita, I looked for one with secure parking for my personal vehicle while I was away. Before making my final decision, I talked with one rental site that replied they didn’t have a place for my vehicle in their lot, but the church next door let their customers park there. They said, “the lighting isn’t great, and they can’t take responsibility for your car, but they do let our customers use it.”

I declined.

I’m glad the church lets the community use their parking lot. That nice gesture is observed and appreciated. And I understand why any church doing that must declare they are not responsible for cars parked there. Good business practice.

Besides, my car is 16 years old. It has significant hail damage, been backed into by another car and has over 315,000 miles on it. But that old car gets 25.5 mpg. I couldn’t get more than $500.00 for it if I sold it and I wouldn’t want to do that to anyone anyway. But it’s worth more than that to me. It’s more dependable than an old horse, eats a lot less hay and doesn’t have an attitude.

I just don’t want it stolen or damaged by criminals or bored kids with nothing better to do on a Friday night.

We all know many churches continue reluctance to any type of security presence or secure property. Parking lot lighting is a low priority for most churches. Many churches still maintain a property that seems to say to local troublemakers, “Think of me when you want to act up. I am low risk for mischievous behavior being noticed, let alone stopped or identified.”

Think About it

When I park at a grocery store at night to go in for a little bit, I choose a place not prone to my vehicle being damaged or missing when I come out and need it.

I wouldn’t leave a worn-out low value car at most churches overnight. Why would anyone leave their children or grandchildren for a youth service at a place they wouldn’t leave a low-value vehicle?

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