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Champions Fax ArchiveWelcoming New Guests
First impressions are important! Research shows that most people will decide whether to visit a church again based on their experience of the first 15 minutes. The most critical part of their experience is their "perception of their reception". Reception in churches occurs at three levels. On one level is the performance of the designated greeters or ushers. Unfortunately, these greeters are often senior adult men who may unconsciously view themselves as the "gatekeepers" of the church, with the responsibility of determining if this person would be acceptable to their church. Needless to say, their strength is not making people feel welcome. Churches should designate as greeters those with good relational skills, gifts of hospitality or encouragement, outgoing personalities, and smiles on their faces. These people should then be trained to be effective greeters. The second level of reception is by the church as a whole. The most common problem in this area is that churches are too friendly. But, they are friendly only to those they already know and overlook new people. Church consultant, Cliff Jenkins, puts it this way: "Unchurched people are not looking for a friendly church, they are looking for a church with friends." Long tenured members often have all the friends they want or can easily relate to. This is why it takes intentional effort to seek out and welcome newcomers. The third, and most important, level of welcoming new people occurs in Sunday School classes. Usually, the longer a class has been meeting together the harder it is for a new person to become a part of the group. This underscores the importance of shuffling or starting new classes. New people to a church are looking for avenues to feel loved, make friends, and have a meaningful role. The more ways a church provides these, the more welcome a person feels. Resources For Training Ushers and Greeters
1. Ushers and Greeters - $40 - John Maxwell; Three cassette tapes and outlines, INJOY - 800-333-6506 2. Get Ready for Company - $50 - Gary McIntosh; Four cassette tapes and workbook, CHURCH GROWTH INSTITUTE 800-553-4769 3. The Ministry of Church Ushers and Greeters - $60 - Terry Lindsay; Video and Kit, FORWARD LEADERSHIP RESOURCES 800-874-6359 4. The Inviting Church - $12 5. Make Lasting Impressions -
$125 - Stephen Parks is a consultant in Louisiana. He may be contacted at Stephen_Parks@compuserve.com
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