Making Outsiders Feel like Insiders
Growing churches are churches that have learned that God intends for us to be a people for others. The church needs more than its pastor…
Browsing: Welcome/Hospitality
Articles
Can New People Navigate Your Worship?
Many churches have a way of doing things that doesn’t allow for new people to connect. Without even knowing it, we exclude those we truly…
The Greeter Gauntlet
I have visited churches where I approach the front doors and am immediately met by my first greeter. The eager greeter hands me a bulletin…
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…
10 Best Practice Tips for Hospitality Teams
Fiona Haworth and Jim Ozier, authors of Clip-In: Risking Hospitality in Your Church, offer ten tips for improving the work of your hospitality team and…
The Color of Your Advent Candles Doesn’t Matter
I have no patience for debates over the color of Advent candles and whether or not to sing Christmas songs in Advent. God became incarnate,…
Create New Entry Points
Churches have long assumed that new people would engage their congregations by first attending worship. When they are not growing and attracting new people, people…
Why Community Engagement Matters
This five-minute video by Lewis Center Director Lovett H. Weems, Jr., provides an overview of the importance of community engagement to the church. Download this…
The Ten Minute Rule
The first impression guests leave with determines whether they will be back. So what is it that goes into a good first impression? We interviewed…
Welcoming Newcomers to Your Congregation
How can you best welcome the next newcomer who crosses the threshold of your congregation? Consider Jesus’ call to the disciples. When he said, “Follow…
Shifting Entry Points
Traditionally, worship has been regarded as the primary venue through which individuals enter the life of a congregation. In The Inviting Church (Alban, 1987, 74-75),…
Five Must-Know Facts about First-Time Guests
Healthy and growing churches pay close attention to the people they count as members, as well as those people who are not yet a part…
An Open Letter to Churches Seeking New Members
My husband and I moved to the city a few years ago and have been “between churches” ever since. We’ve been to visit quite a…
Top 10 Learnings about Welcoming Newcomers
Churches often define their success in welcoming newcomers by the number of people who become members of their church. At Redeemer we have shifted 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…
Opening Doors on Christmas Eve
When our two grandsons were seven and three years old, they would often race the thirty yards or so from their house to ours. The…
Ways to Welcome Worship Guests Warmly
Greet guests when they first arrive in the parking lot. Greet guests as they arrive at the door, saying “Good to see you. Glad you…
How Do New People See Your Church?
With all the strengths of a church, the challenge is always to think of everything from arrival through departure from the perspective of someone who…
Parking Lot Hospitality
Most churches give attention to welcoming newcomers to church once they reach the church doors. Often they will be welcomed by both greeters and ushers.…
Where Would Jesus Shop?
I was intrigued recently to read of conversations going in the Church of England. Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Reading, received considerable media attention when he…
17 Ways to Welcome College Students
Your church can make a big difference in the life of a college student! Here are some fun and easy ways to welcome college students…
Everyone Welcome?
Many congregations truly do believe they are open to everyone until someone different comes along making them feel uncomfortable. I meet people all the time…
The Rhythm of Home Creates a Sense of Welcome in Multicultural Congregations
A pastor discovered incorporating familiar elements of worship from each segment of a multicultural congregation created a sense of welcome for all. have learned that…