TOP PRACTICES OF WELCOMING CHURCHES

TOP PRACTICES OF WELCOMING CHURCHES

06/19/2008

Anxiety.  That’s the one best word that would’ve described what Mike and Melissa were feeling as they were commuting to a church service.  Why?  Shouldn’t the gathering of the Body of Christ be exciting?  Of course.  But, Mike and Melissa were not yet part of the “Body of Christ.”  They had both grown up in church, but as they went to college, found each other, and started a family of their own, church had gotten lost in the mix.  It had now been well over 10 years since they had been to a church service.  Today was a big day.

How would your church welcome Mike and Melissa as they reach out for a life change?  Too many times our own ideas and prejudices can actually get in the way of reaching those like Mike and Melissa.  We’ve been given the great responsibility each week to provide an experience that brings people like Mike and Melissa to Christ, rather than distracts them from Him.  Let’s examine some of the top methods that welcoming churches are using.

THEY EVALUATE THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE

Realize the visit does not begin with the first song.  The visit begins from the moment the guest pulls into the parking lot.  Train yourself to pay attention to the details of every element of the guest’s experience.  For example:
• Is the landscaping neat and in order?  Are the grounds free from trash and debris?
• Does the building appear inviting or neglected?
• Are the entrances clearly marked and easy to find?
• Is there guest parking?  Is it clearly marked?
• Is parking difficult?  If so, are there attendants present to help direct cars?
• Is there a logical flow to the traffic?  Is it clearly indicated?
• Are there any means to help the elderly or disabled into the building?

Evaluate in detail every moment of the experience to see if there is anything you can do to help facilitate what God wants to accomplish in the guest’s heart that day.

THEY THINK THROUGH THE MIND OF THE GUEST

I used to have a favorite sandwich shop.  They always featured a daily special.  All the regulars knew that you had to order “The Special” to get the special pricing.  If a club sandwich was on sale and you ordered a “Club Sandwich,” you’d get charged the regular menu price.  The words “The Special” were the password that got you the discount.  Does your church have any practices that newcomers would be oblivious to?

Try to think through everything as if it were your first time at your church.  Sometimes, this can be extremely difficult.  Consider having some trusted friends from outside your congregation visit your church and give their unbiased opinion.  You may want to even prepare some questions for them to keep in their minds prior to their visit.

THEY DON’T SINGLE OUT THE GUEST

Nothing can be more intimidating to a newcomer than to be singled out as an outsider.  Sure, you want to make them feel special and you want your congregation to recognize the guests and welcome them, but find a way to do this without having the guest stand, speak, wave, or wear any badge, ribbon, or article that identifies him or her as an “outsider.”  Most guests arrive and want to blend in like a chameleon.  While many guests do not mind special treatment (e.g., close parking, a special gift, the attention of staff, etc.), they do not want this special treatment to single them out.

THEY TEACH EVERYONE TO BE HOSPITABLE

Hosts and greeters are wonderful!  They are never a replacement for a close, hospitable community beyond the church doors, though.  This takes the message of your church beyond the “professionals” to the “users.”  When the “name tag” people are nice, I assume that they’re probably supposed to be that way while wearing the name tag.  It’s when the average church member takes time for me that I feel special.  Good leadership is able to model open community and inclusiveness in a way to be contagious to the whole congregation.

THEY FOLLOW-UP

A great follow-up program can help solidify what God has started to do in a newcomer’s heart.  It can also be one of many steps in a process of connecting the guest to your congregation.  If you have collected data on the guest, use this data to customize your follow-up approach to them.  For example, if Mike and Melissa indicated on their communication card that they have two elementary aged children, present them with the most exciting aspects of your children’s ministry.  Give them information about how they can connect to your congregation as a couple with young children.  The most effective follow-up occurs within 36 hours of the church visit.

THEY HAVE GREAT SIGNAGE

You may have a logical, excellent layout for your church building, but without proper signage, it will be difficult for the guest to navigate.  Here are some questions guests may have that proper signage would answer quickly:
• Where should I park?
• Which door is the entrance?
• Where is the auditorium?
• Where are the restrooms?
• Where do I take my children?
• Where do I find more information about this church?

In creating signage, go beyond simply labeling doors and entrances to providing directional signage to help guests navigate your facilities.  These signs should be simple and easy to read. 

THEY CREATE CONNECTING ENVIRONMENTS

In education, the hallmark of a great school is a low student-to-teacher ratio.  When more students are added to a class, the odds of a student slipping through the cracks academically increases.  Think in these terms with your assimilation process.  Although you may have a large worship gathering, the welcoming church creates multiple environments for people to connect with each other.  Many times these consist of medium sized groups and small group environments.  Find ways for people that have things in common to connect.

THEY RESPECT THE CONGREGATION’S TIME

A full-time job is 40 hours per week.  A salaried professional typically puts in much more than 40 hours each week.  After factoring in commute time and America’s obsession with extra-curricular busyness, many families find it difficult to find time for each other.  In this time-pressed environment, many can come to view the worship gathering and other church activities as an added bonus, rather than a necessity.  Help your guests realize the importance of coming together as a Body to worship.  Beyond this, help them realize that you respect the time they are investing by not wasting it.  If something is not uplifting God or contributing to the evangelization or spiritual development of those in attendance, consider if it really deserves a part in the service schedule.  If you find yourself adding “fluff” to your sermons to fill a specified amount of time, consider cutting the fluff and sticking with the things that matter.  Your guests will have a better understanding of what you’re trying to communicate and you will show that you value their time.

THEY MAINTAIN THEIR WITH-IT-NESS

As I was checking out from a store last week, the cashier left the register just after ringing my last item and just before receiving my payment.  He’d gotten distracted and left me hanging in the middle of a transaction.  Ever have anyone do that to you in a conversation?  Maybe they’re physically with you, but you can tell from their glazed eyes that their mind is somewhere else.  It’s essential to maintain your “with-it-ness” with your guests!  Nothing speaks to someone’s value more than individual attention.  No marketing campaign or clever service element can ever take the place of a personal heart to heart connection.  Take time to be in the moment with your guests.  It could be what it takes to move them closer to a relationship with God.

Source/Author: Mark Forrester
Publication: MinistryDirect
Submitted by: Jimmy Abrams