Sending the wrong message

I'm going to start off by saying that I understand that in this day and age I know people have to always be cautious.  I know even places like churches have to worry about things like vandalism and thefts.  But the more I think about the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Palmyra I really feel they are sending the wrong message to nonmembers with in the community.

     A little while back they expanded their church, and also their parking lot.  In doing this the two side entrances to their lot connected the two sections of Pajabon Drive.  Up until this point if you were someone, like me, who regularly traveled from one part of Pajabon to the other you had to go completely around  the church's property.  I'm sure once the lot was open they had an increase of traffic traveling through their parking lot to get from on side to the other.  That's when they put up a gate on one side, and the signs seen in the pictures below.

Gate blocking off one entrance.

Private Property sign on gate.

Private property on stop sign

     Now  I know there are various reasons as to why they probably put these up, like I touched on above, but shouldn't a church be open to the public.  The gate on the one side makes it look like they don't want any outside people, Then you read the signs. The one says "Private Property No skateboards bicycles, dogs, loitering", and the one on the gate says "Private property. Do Not Enter. Not a through street."  Then on the other side of the parking lot there are two similar signs.

Sings on other entrance

     These signs make it sound like they don't want any outsiders at their church.  I know as a person that passes them on a regular basis that's exactly how I feel.  Now I know I was told at one point in time that if a person or business lets the general public use their property as a street that eventually that state/local town can change it into a public street and you can lose that part of your property.  So I can see the point of the "Not a through street sign", but not the point of the gate or the "Do Not Enter" part of it. I would think as a church they would want outside people coming through, and who knows maybe entering the church.

     A church should be encouraging people to come onto their property.  They should be inviting you into the church, and trying to get you to know Jesus.  If they unofficially let people cut through their parking lot it would be a great way to "advertise" to people.  I know like most churches they have a sign that they post things on, but a lot of people don't pay attention to it.  By letting them drive through the lot they could put signs up with biblical sayings on them, or with church events.  I feel this could actually reach more people.

I looked for contact information for the church, but couldn't get their website to come up.  I would kind of like hearing their side of this.   So if anyone reading this can pass it onto the church that would be great.  And if you are from the church, please post your comments.  A church should be open and inviting, and not sending the wrong message like it seems this one does.