Even with the challenges of the Delta variant of COVID-19, many are returning to worship services. But are churches prepared to receive members and guests as they return? Frankly, some churches were not prepared for guests before the pandemic. For some congregations, there is no sense of “expectation” regarding guests. I call this the “us four and no more” mentality. Sometimes, the Body of Christ needs to challenge themselves to think beyond the church’s walls and reach out to those who have yet to attend.
As people of faith, we must operate under the theological conviction that God uses his church to draw people to a saving relationship. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44, ESV). Therefore, we must be prepared to receive guests and expect God to minister to others through us!
Remember, each one of us had a first-time encounter at our current church. What made us want to stay and hear the message? How can we recreate that “sense of welcome” for singles and families who visit the church? When we expect guests to visit our churches, we actively partner with the Holy Spirit in God’s work of bringing people into a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ through the Gospel.
As Executive Director, I have had the privilege of visiting at least 200 churches within our region of Alabama. (I know, it is hard to believe!) My family can sympathize with church guests. At the risk of being too transparent, I have felt out of place and awkward on a few occasions.
It feels awkward for an unchurched person to walk into an unfamiliar building and encounter people they have never met to hear about a God with whom they do not yet have a relationship. Recently, a person told me, “A few churches I visited gave me the impression that I was crashing a family gathering. I just felt like an outsider.” But, it doesn’t have to be this way! Let’s allow the Gospel of Christ to be the only stumbling block.
Some churches do extraordinarily well in preparing for guests. Nevertheless, every church can improve. Below, I have included five essentials for a guest-friendly church. I have learned the importance of these essentials in my visits to churches across Birmingham. Most of these suggestions are possible for a normative-sized church with an attendance of 75 or less on a typical Sunday.
1. Post signs around your campus to direct visitors. No matter how small your facilities are, mark bathrooms, classrooms, worship areas, children’s ministry, and other prime locations. Most church buildings built before 1990 were constructed without a master plan. Signage helps people navigate the facility without having to ask strangers for directions.
2. Place a staff member or volunteer at a well-marked welcome center or security post. Consider posting a “guide” who is prepared to escort guests where they need to go.
3. Trained greeters are a non-negotiable for a church today. Men, women, or families who intentionally greet everyone—not just guests—set a positive tone. Trained greeters help guests quickly get to where they need to be. Guests don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb or feel like a problem to solve. Furthermore, guests don’t enjoy over-eager strangers “hovering” over them. They want help fitting in as the newcomer.
4. Have a strategic outsider review your worship guide, newsletter, website, and social media presence for clarity. Too often, our church’s insider cultures make us forget what it was like to be new. Make sure to clarify the next steps for guests. Better yet, set up a “next steps” kiosk or welcome desk in a prime location to guide attendees in their discipleship and church engagement.
5. Carefully explain how to give, join, sign up, or join in. Do this in print and from the platform. QR codes are back in style! Use them to point people to your giving platforms, registration forms, and online information. If you do not have a web and social media presence, you are invisible to most outside of your church culture. Frankly, most people won’t even visit a restaurant without looking it up; why would they visit your church if they can’t get the information they need online?
Can’t do all this right now? Start where you can. The Lord will bless your efforts in expecting guests at your church. May God use your love and hospitality to guests for his glory! If you want me to send an experienced “secret guest” to worship at your church and give your church leaders constructive feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at ChrisC@BMBAOnline.org.