Welcome! We’re Glad You’re Here

Over the last several weeks, we've seen a surge in the number of first time guests attending on Sundays. Maybe your church has too? This is an exciting trend and one that we want to see continue. One of the best ways to see the trend continue is to go over the top to serve our guests well and make it easy for them to get connected.

Every week is somebody's first week…and every somebody has a story. We have no idea what is going on or what God is up to in their lives. We just know they are with us and now we have an opportunity to be a part of what God's work.

The critical question for us to answer is, "Will we serve or ignore our guests?"

Here are a few ways we all can be involved in serving our guests well:

1. Be a "guerrilla greeter". You don't have to be an official member of the "greeter team" to greet new people. As you walk in the building, get coffee, check-in your kids, and sit in the auditorium, look for AND speak to new people. A simple hello, welcome, and introduction of yourself can go a long way.
2. Offer a hand. If you see a family with small kids coming in with arms full of bags, jackets, etc., offer to carry a bag. If it's raining, share your umbrella. If you see people who are unsure of where to go, walk them to the place they are trying to find.
3. Scoot in. This is especially important in the 10:45 gathering when seats are at a premium these days. As you find a seat in the auditorium, scoot to the middle of the row to make it easy for late arrivers and for guests to find a seat on the ends of the rows.
4. Come expectant and fully engage. One of the greatest proofs of the power of the gospel is our engagement in worship. Every Sunday when we gather for worship, we should come expecting God to move in our lives. This expectation leads us to fully engage – to be on time, to sing with passion, to receive the Word with gladness, and to respond to God in worship. There is no more powerful apologetic than God's people passionately engaged in worshiping Him.
5. Minimize distractions. Do everything you can to keep distractions to an absolute minimum. Visit the restroom before the service, arrive on time, stay to the end of the service, etc.

Walking into a church for the first time can really be a terrifying experience. We want to do everything we can to help our guests have a fantastic experience and most importantly, to experience God at work in their lives.

Every week is somebody's first week. Every somebody has a story. Let's serve them well and trust God to work!

(this post was written by my friend and colleague, Jay Hardwick - www.jayhardwick.com)