5 Lessons From First Time Church Visitors
"Good morning, welcome to _____ Church.
" "Excuse me I am not sure that we've met; my name is ____" "So glad you worshipped with us today.
Please come again.
" Do any of these greetings sound familiar? If you have heard them several times, then you've possibly experienced a warm, welcoming congregation.
After numerous conversations with first time visitors, several lessons can be given to congregations who seek to live out Romans 12:13 that reminds us to "practice hospitality.
" What makes a church appear friendly and welcoming? This question gets asked a lot by pastors and ministry leaders who seek to be even more faithful to the Great Commission.
The other question often asked is "Why do first time visitors return a second time?" Interestingly, the answer to both of these questions dwell in the responses heard when asking first time visitors why they may describe a church as "warm, friendly and welcoming.
" "When I visit a church and almost everybody smiles, speaks and invites me back, I feel like they really welcomed me," says Yolanda (Not her real name) who recently joined a church.
Similar to many of the church visitors interviewed, the words, "I feel" seem to be a part of the conversation.
The on-line dictionary, definition.
net defines welcome, "to greet in a friendly way.
" Taking this definition further, it appears feeling welcomed speaks to how we feel not just what was written.
In other words, congregations that are described as warm, friendly congregations do not stop at just putting up signs and saying "welcome" in the bulletin or on beautiful banners in the entrance.
Instead, the leaders and members go out of their way to share their Christian love.
As ministry leaders seek ways to grow more effective hospitality ministries, usher training and greeters, five themes seem to serve as lessons that can be taught from the experiences of first-time visitors.
Lesson #1 - Be Friendly.
Welcoming congregations demonstrate friendly behavior meaning the members are pleasant, kind and show interest in newcomers.
Ron, a former first time visitor who is now a new member says it this way, "Friendly congregations seem to have the best attitude.
You don't see people frowning and looking like they do not want to speak.
Instead everyone seems to smile.
" Creating a welcoming environment may require consistent reminders on hospitality shared from the pulpit to small groups and one-on-one.
Lesson #2 - Be Available to Assist.
Welcoming congregations seem to anticipate new comers need help.
From directing people to restrooms to having ushers and greeters at entrances ready to assist, first time visitors seem to appreciate the help that comes when hospitality teams and members make it their job to come to the aid of visitors.
Creating a welcoming space may mean equipping ushers, greeters and people who sit in the pews to seek ways to assist others.
Lesson #3 - Speak First.
How does it feel when someone greets you even if they do not know your name? Members of welcoming congregations know how to approach visitors with a smile, eye-to-eye contact and the kind words.
Donna, a former first time visitor said it this way, "I feel welcomed when someone sees me standing at a church reception and comes over and says hello.
It feels good when someone notices you.
" Equipping members to greet may require training on what to say and not say to visitors.
Lesson #4 - Be sensitive to how visitors are recognized.
Public recognition of visitors can be the most awkward experience for many first-time visitors.
An August 2006 study conducted by Lifeway Research found "only 11% of formerly unchurched would be willing to identify themselves as visitors when visiting a church for the first time.
" In speaking with first time visitors, positive comments were shared about worship leaders who simply welcome visitors and do not ask visitors to say their name, church home or anything else seem to be viewed as very welcoming.
Being intentional with how visitors are recognized may mean looking at recognition from the eyes of visitors' needs.
Lesson #5 - Show Christian love.
A congregation has a better opportunity of being called, "welcoming" if the people are focused on God's Word and practice a spirit of love and generosity.
Whether sitting in the pew, standing in line at a reception or sitting next to a crying baby, practicing acts of kindness and love matters.
Conversations with first time visitors and worship evaluators often reveal what Donna shared, "When I go into a church and someone goes out of their way to speak or welcome me I feel like this place may be different than going to just any place.
" Healthy congregations committed to welcoming even strangers in their midst, seem to communicate and welcome with an understanding of Matthew 25:40 which states, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,*you did it to me.
"
" "Excuse me I am not sure that we've met; my name is ____" "So glad you worshipped with us today.
Please come again.
" Do any of these greetings sound familiar? If you have heard them several times, then you've possibly experienced a warm, welcoming congregation.
After numerous conversations with first time visitors, several lessons can be given to congregations who seek to live out Romans 12:13 that reminds us to "practice hospitality.
" What makes a church appear friendly and welcoming? This question gets asked a lot by pastors and ministry leaders who seek to be even more faithful to the Great Commission.
The other question often asked is "Why do first time visitors return a second time?" Interestingly, the answer to both of these questions dwell in the responses heard when asking first time visitors why they may describe a church as "warm, friendly and welcoming.
" "When I visit a church and almost everybody smiles, speaks and invites me back, I feel like they really welcomed me," says Yolanda (Not her real name) who recently joined a church.
Similar to many of the church visitors interviewed, the words, "I feel" seem to be a part of the conversation.
The on-line dictionary, definition.
net defines welcome, "to greet in a friendly way.
" Taking this definition further, it appears feeling welcomed speaks to how we feel not just what was written.
In other words, congregations that are described as warm, friendly congregations do not stop at just putting up signs and saying "welcome" in the bulletin or on beautiful banners in the entrance.
Instead, the leaders and members go out of their way to share their Christian love.
As ministry leaders seek ways to grow more effective hospitality ministries, usher training and greeters, five themes seem to serve as lessons that can be taught from the experiences of first-time visitors.
Lesson #1 - Be Friendly.
Welcoming congregations demonstrate friendly behavior meaning the members are pleasant, kind and show interest in newcomers.
Ron, a former first time visitor who is now a new member says it this way, "Friendly congregations seem to have the best attitude.
You don't see people frowning and looking like they do not want to speak.
Instead everyone seems to smile.
" Creating a welcoming environment may require consistent reminders on hospitality shared from the pulpit to small groups and one-on-one.
Lesson #2 - Be Available to Assist.
Welcoming congregations seem to anticipate new comers need help.
From directing people to restrooms to having ushers and greeters at entrances ready to assist, first time visitors seem to appreciate the help that comes when hospitality teams and members make it their job to come to the aid of visitors.
Creating a welcoming space may mean equipping ushers, greeters and people who sit in the pews to seek ways to assist others.
Lesson #3 - Speak First.
How does it feel when someone greets you even if they do not know your name? Members of welcoming congregations know how to approach visitors with a smile, eye-to-eye contact and the kind words.
Donna, a former first time visitor said it this way, "I feel welcomed when someone sees me standing at a church reception and comes over and says hello.
It feels good when someone notices you.
" Equipping members to greet may require training on what to say and not say to visitors.
Lesson #4 - Be sensitive to how visitors are recognized.
Public recognition of visitors can be the most awkward experience for many first-time visitors.
An August 2006 study conducted by Lifeway Research found "only 11% of formerly unchurched would be willing to identify themselves as visitors when visiting a church for the first time.
" In speaking with first time visitors, positive comments were shared about worship leaders who simply welcome visitors and do not ask visitors to say their name, church home or anything else seem to be viewed as very welcoming.
Being intentional with how visitors are recognized may mean looking at recognition from the eyes of visitors' needs.
Lesson #5 - Show Christian love.
A congregation has a better opportunity of being called, "welcoming" if the people are focused on God's Word and practice a spirit of love and generosity.
Whether sitting in the pew, standing in line at a reception or sitting next to a crying baby, practicing acts of kindness and love matters.
Conversations with first time visitors and worship evaluators often reveal what Donna shared, "When I go into a church and someone goes out of their way to speak or welcome me I feel like this place may be different than going to just any place.
" Healthy congregations committed to welcoming even strangers in their midst, seem to communicate and welcome with an understanding of Matthew 25:40 which states, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,*you did it to me.
"
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