Welcoming Church Visitors April 2009

© 2009 www.EvangelismCoach.org. You are free to share this information as long as this attribution remains and content is unchanged.

Rev. Christopher Walker

www.EvangelismCoach.org

Welcoming Church Visitors


Agenda

• Introduction– Who is Chris Walker?– What is EvangelismCoach.org?

• Evangelism and Hospitality• Casting Vision• Training Teams• Assimilation Processes


Who is Chris Walker?

• Ordained Presbyterian (USA) Pastor– Associate Pastor (7 years)– Youth Ministry (15 years)– Church planter (5 years)

• Master of Divinity • Master of Theology• Evangelism Training since 1997• 9 countries


What Is EvangelismCoach.org?

• Website Resource– Personal

Evangelism– Church Growth– Book Reviews– Free Downloads– Monthly Newsletter– Loyal Readers


EvangelismCoach.org

• Evangelism Training– Distance 1-1 Coaching and

Mentoring – Live Events– Alaska to Chile

Related Sites• ChurchHospitalityTraining.com• ChurchGreeterTraining.com• WelcomeChurchVisitors.com


Focus on Your Biggest Challenges

• Casting Vision for Hospitality– Recruiting– Church’s ownership– Church Culture– The why

• Training Hospitality Ministry Teams– The How to and the what to do

• Assimilation Processes– First Impressions– Get Contact information– Get a return visit (2nd, 3rd, etc)


Context of Your Church

• No two places are alike.• Context, Context.• Know your community.• Know your church.• Fit was is appropriate for your context.


Hospitality is not Evangelism


Evangelism

• Joyfully sharing the good news of the sovereign love of God, and

• calling people– to repentance– to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savoir

and Lord– to active membership in the church, and – to obedient service in the world.

Definition adopted by the 202nd General Assembly, 1990


Hospitality

• Entire Industries– Hotels– Cruise Ships– Restaurants– Big Box Retail

• Goal: – For Repeat Connection


Evangelism Hospitality

• Conversion• Proclamation• Information• Salvation• Faith• Life Change

• Repeat visit• Connection• Experience• Interaction• Fellowship• First Impressions

Rick Warren says, “Relationships are the glue that keep the faithful coming.”


My Definition of Hospitality

Taking the initiative

to welcome others

And

inviting others

to share in our community life.


The Problem --


What Church Consumers Want

• “Friendliness to Visitors” is– Extremely important: 71%– Somewhat important: 21%

• Add that up and for 9 out of 10 visitors, the friendliness of your congregation is important.

• Based on a national telephone survey of 1,015 people 18 or older;

sampling error of plus/minus 3 percent. Citation: Moody (Jan/ Feb 2002);


“We are a friendly Church”

• All churches think they are friendly• Google Search

– 127,000 results “friendly church”– 1,900 exact match on Google

• Review of Church Info Forms– Presbyterian System


Personal Experiences

• Talk around me.• No one said hello.• No acknowledgement.• Talk among themselves• Church Business• Secret Dress Code• CLIQUES


A Vision For Hospitality Ministries


Bible Studies on Hospitality

• Bible studies on Hospitality– Leviticus 19:33-34

• ‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

– They were not to oppress the alien because they knew how it felt when they were in Egypt (Exodus 23:9)


You Were the Visitor Once

• Visit other churches as a 1st time guest• Invite a friend to experience your church• Learn from recent newcomers


Relate Hospitality to Evangelism

• Not Evangelism• Supports the work of evangelism• Goal is relationships where people can

safely grow or explore their faith.


Casting Vision

• Pastor’s Role – Sermons– Newsletters

• Regular Greeter Training • Celebrating Newcomers


Recruiting Greeters / Ushers

• More than a warm body.• People invest time and gifts where they

see the benefit• What benefit does the person receive for

serving?• Ask, ask, ask.• Use what you learn to help refine.


Related Product

• EvangelismCoach.org/Store– Cast the Vision Mp3 Download


Training Hospitality Teams


What Teams do you need

• Door Greeters• Welcome Center Greeters• Ushers• Parking Lot• Campus Guides• Children’s Wing• Security


Recruiting your teams

• Team leader• Provide occasional training• Keep casting vision• Phone work• Matching gifts and passions


Training Your Teams

• What works for your context• Broad strokes, not a 99 page how to

manual.• Train the Heart

– Principles– Values

• Details come later.• Ongoing training == consistency.


Sample Training Ideas

• Personal visits to other churches• First Impressions Experiences• Remember what it’s like to be a guest• How to read body language• What to say


Tips for Ushers and Greeters

• Smile.• Fresh Breath• Make eye contact• Take initiative and greet.• Don’t say “Are you new?” • Avoid: “First time here?”• Say “I’ve not met you yet.”• No Hugs to strangers.


Debriefing you teams

• Thoughtful appreciation gifts / actions• Debriefing (to learn new things)• Develop a FAQ


Do you have usher/greeter training materials?

• Feel free to share them with me• [email protected]


Related Product

• www.ChurchGreeterTraining.com– Free Videos

• Ebook– Church Greeters 101


Follow-up Processes


Caveats

• Technique is not relationship• Vision helps relationship• Techniques lower friction


The Visitor Flow

• Attract the Guest Visitor• 1st Visit • 2nd Visit• 3rd Visit• Regular Attender / Membership


First Impressions

• http://www.WelcomeChurchVisitors.com


Last Impressions

• Fresh Coffee• Fresh Finger Food• Healthy Options• Napkins• Trash cans


Last Impressions

• Take the initiative– To notice visitors– To engage in conversation– “I’ve not met you yet.”

• Offer to pray if appropriate• Not the time for church business.• Introduce visitors to the preaching pastor.


Get Contact Information

• Pew Register• Contact Card• Welcome Center• Visitor Packet Incentive• Tear off slips on the bulletin• Prayer Request or Sermon

Response Card


Contact Information

• Name• Address• Email• Telephone

• Don’t need marital status, name and age of children, or 20 questions about doctrine.


Give incentive for contact info

• Free Gifts– Mugs– Downloads– Journal– Book


After the service

• Response varies to Visit #.• Example (Journey Church)

– First Visit• 36 hour email.• 96 hour snail mail.• 1 month for non-returners

– Second Visit• 36 hour email (different one)• 96 hour snail mail (different one)


Goal: Stickyness

• Small Groups• Relationship Building Events• Service Teams


Free Newsletter

• Free article download on hospitality• Series of emails over the month

introducing you to the website.• Settle down to monthly and webinar

announcements.


EvangelismCoach.org/Store


Contact information

Rev. Christopher Walkerwww.EvangelismCoach.org

804/335-1445Skype: WalkmanPTY

Self Improvement

Welcoming Church Visitors April 2009