3 Principles of Radical Hospitality
…to their needs, and consistently following up after their visit. What does exceptional hospitality look like in practice? Radical hospitality is hospitality that goes beyond being friendly; it is welcoming…
Search Results: welcoming (144)
The Case for Church Membership
…is adapted from a blog post on Ministry Advice, Jan 23, 2017. Used by permission. Related Resources Be the Welcoming Church Video Tool Kit Top 10 Learnings about Welcoming Newcomers…
Leading Ideas: Top Lewis Center Resources of 2019
…with worship, community events, ministries, and service. Read, share, and download free now. Be the Welcoming Church $75 through Jan. 6, 2020 with coupon code TOP2019 Learn to make visitors…
Top Leading Ideas Articles of 2019
…more now. Support the Lewis Center Leading Ideas is made possible by contributions to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership from readers like you. Thank you. Donate now. Welcoming Is…
5 Practices That Help Newcomers Get Involved
…decision making. They may say they want new people involved, but the way they operate makes church systems and activities unwelcoming and impenetrable to newcomers. At the core of each…
Unsticking a “Stuck” Institution
…a torture chamber. We wanted to project a more positive, welcoming image to the many people who stream through our building each day, going to the nursery school, classes, or…
Top “Leading Ideas” Articles of 2017
…welcome desk volunteers need to be friendly and welcoming. And most of all, they need to know how vital their role is to the mission of the church. Read more….
5 Keys to Cultivating an Environment Irresistible to Emerging Generations
Scott Crostek, pastor of Resurrection Downtown in Kansas City, says environments that are safe and welcoming for emerging generations are characterized not only by hospitality and authenticity, but also creativity,…
3 Keys to Congregational Success: Meaning, Belonging, and Values
…belonging, and explicit values transmission are key to a successful congregation. Yet so is welcoming the experiences and learnings of those who are also finding such things outside of the…
50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor
…that welcoming your new pastor in genuine and effective ways lays the ground work for a healthy and vital relationship and the development of stable, long-term ministries together. Plan for…
Preparing to Receive a New Pastor
Welcoming a new pastor in genuine and effective ways lays the groundwork for a healthy and vital relationship and for the development of stable, long-term ministries together. The following suggestions…
Do You Need a New Worship Service?
…welcoming atmosphere for your target demographic. The time also has to work for those you want to involve. Test out some options. Adjust if you get it wrong in the…
From Assimilation to Acculturation
…of inviting, welcoming, and incorporating new participants into the life of the congregation were a key strategy for reversing declining membership and attendance patterns. Assimilation was understood to be the…
From Where Did All These Young Adults Come?
…to put my finger on two things that changed my thinking. People Were Welcoming … Really Welcoming When I started to walk out of the building, a man in his…
The Missing Person in Worship Planning
…member preferences rather than what might be needed to make their church more welcoming for those who need its message and ministry. Nowhere is this more evident than in worship….
The Ten Minute Rule
…This is nice but not particularly helpful in terms of welcoming newcomers. Most people simply turn to the persons next to them, smile, shake their hands, say good morning, and…
All Are (Not) Welcome
Church people might see themselves as welcoming, because they run promotions claiming, “Our doors are open,” and “Our lights are on,” or maybe they hang banners and sing songs proclaiming,…
Planning for Attendance Seasons in the Church Year
…the church is always seeking to become a more inviting and welcoming place for all to worship God throughout the year. Big Days There are two times when attendance normally…
Five Must-Know Facts about First-Time Guests
…leaders, far more time and energy are spent on the plan and execution of the worship service, with only minimal time spent on preparing for the greeting and welcoming of…
The Welcome Table
…the Lord’s Table ensures that there is a welcoming table set for a changing world. Dr. Eileen Guenther, who teaches church music at Wesley Seminary and was part of our…
Friendships and Reaching New People
Every church believes itself to be a welcoming and friendly fellowship, but this isn’t always true. If our churches are to become spiritual communities where faithful friendship is expressed, we…
Are Young Singles Invisible in Church?
…the congregation and related the story of these young visitors. They realized that very little in their congregation was welcoming to young, single people — and they decided to do…
The Rhythm of Home Creates a Sense of Welcome in Multicultural Congregations
…all the persons of color in the church (and others from outside the church) and asked what made our church welcoming or not welcoming. I asked them to be truthful,…
5 Reasons Millennials are Drawn to Mainline Churches
…welcoming communities of faith. I know from firsthand experience with ministries across mainline traditions that our congregations have a lot to offer younger people. God has equipped you to minister…
The Right Start: Beginning Ministry in a New Setting — COVID-19 Supplement
…for example to bring welcoming items. If a previous resident had COVID-19, the parsonage may need to be unoccupied for a longer time. Movers Ask any professional movers what guidelines…
Nurturing a Dementia-Friendly Church
…of support Adult day care and respite care ministries represent important responses, and they involve significant investment of institutional resources. Less intensive but no less significant means of welcoming people…
Will Your Christmas Visitors Feel Celebrated or Shamed?
…include prayer about and discernment of how we might reflect the heart of our Father in welcoming all who seek the Christ Child at Christmas. You know what I’m talking…
First-time Visitor’s Survey Invites Feedback and Holy Conversation
…Phil Schroeder. Used by permission. The book is available at Market Square books. Related Resources Be the Welcoming Church Video Tool Kit Top 10 Reasons Visitors Don’t Come Back by…
4 Ways Preaching Can Boost Worship Attendance
…article written for Preaching Rocket. Related Resources Be the Welcoming Church, a Lewis Center video tool kit resource 5 Lessons for Better Preaching by Charley Reeb 4 Tips for Preaching…
5 Keys to Great Online Worship Hospitality
…by permission. The book is available at Cokesbury and Amazon. Related Resources Be the Welcoming Church Video Tool Kit “Dream Big to Reach New People,” a Leading Ideas Talks podcast…
