“Oh, I’m glad you’re here. I saved a seat for you,” he said, ushering my mother- and father-in-law into the sanctuary to two seats with bulletins laid out on them. He took his spot next to them and the service rolled on.
Sure, they were a few minutes late, and glad to have a seat, but there was no way he knew they were coming. They had never attended that church before, knew no one who did, and had not tipped anyone off. Yet his hospitality was exactly what they needed to feel welcome. And they stayed—for a decade, so far.
So how do you make your ministry the kind of place where visitors feel welcome, and return?
First, think of your visitors not as outsiders trying to get in, but insiders running a little late.
- Save a parking spot and a seat for them, not with a sign that singles them out as outsiders, er… visitors… but just a convenient place to park and sit.
- Use common language on your signs, in your publications, and in your speech. Referring them to the “narthex” to speak with a greeter or to the “Witherspoon Room” for childcare will only confuse people who aren’t familiar with your lingo. Instead, direct them with signage to the “Lobby” and with signs to “Child Care.”
- Ban the phrase “Join us…” While it may seem like a friendly invitation, it actually highlights the fact that there is an “us” and you’re not one of ‘em. Use the word us only when it’s clear that it includes your guests or potential guests.
Rebecca Van Dyck knows community; she’s the head of consumer marketing for facebook, and a soccer player. She plays every Sunday. “It’s a nice little thing to have in my pocket,” she says. “No matter where I’ve lived, I can always show up with my cleats, find a home, and be part of a community right away.”
This is part 1 of 3. In the blogs that follow, I'll address how to handle collecting offerings when guests are present, and how to be a welcoming person.