For the children of God, hospitality should be an overflow of the love and grace we have ourselves experienced. The heart and attitude of a church is displayed in the way its people connect with each other and with guests.

Hopefully, the people at your church are like family to you. I hope you feel eager to see them every week and that you have experienced the joy and depth of relationship Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, where he says they shared “not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Just as someone who is newly married hopes and expects to be quickly integrated into the family system, most guests who visit a church desire to find the warmth and acceptance associated with connection to a family. Guests will quickly decide if there is any hope for being welcomed as family through the first impressions they receive.

To put it another way, the church should be the ultimate host. When guests come to our homes, we make them feel comfortable. We put them at ease and make them feel important.

Guests who come to the house of God should be given the same care. We have the chance to offer them warmth and hospitality in exchange for the anxieties and uncertainties they have about visiting. For all who are involved in the “first impression” ministry, the comfort level of guests should be foremost in their minds.

In many churches, a guest could encounter at least six or seven personal touches or connections during the course of his visit and the two or three days following from parking attendants, greeters, information table attendants, coffee bar hosts, ushers, and follow-up hosts.

If you are involved in any of these positions in your church, your role is crucial. Your first impressions team is the face of your ministry to visitors, and it serves as a representative of Christ to those who do not yet know him. You may be one of the first faces guests see, and you have the awesome opportunity to make a first impression that reflects your church and your Lord. What a privilege and responsibility!

I recently connected with church consultant Thomas Harrison. Mr. Harrison sometimes conducts “mystery-worshiper” surveys to evaluate a church’s hospitality, cleanliness, appearance, and worship experience. His surveys help churches make a good first impression. Mr. Harrison believes guests look for four things when they visit a church: warmth, genuineness, friendliness, and an encounter with God.

The real message a church shares with its community begins in the parking lot, long before the minister delivers the Sunday morning sermon. From the restrooms to the greeters, everything guests encounter from the moment they arrive on the church property affects the worship experience.

Hospitality is one of the first things guests will notice about a church. The refrain, “We tried XYZ Church, but the people weren’t very friendly,” is uttered all too often. It is doubtful the people of XYZ Church were unfriendly. It could be more correctly said they were not friendly enough.

A genuine concern for guests should be paramount in recruiting and training greeters and ushers. The art of hospitality and putting someone at ease is something guests appreciate. Since guests may be shy and even a little nervous about new people and surroundings, we need to approach them with care.

The next thing guests notice is the cleanliness and maintenance of the facility. Whether it is a rented facility or a cathedral, how we maintain and care for the building God has provided speaks volumes.

The impressions we make are not line items in the annual budget, but are an outcome of a spiritual attitude and discipline. We are quick to care for those in our congregation who are facing surgery or other emergencies of life. We need to focus attention on our guests to the point where we not only care for guests, we cultivate and minister to them in every way we communicate or present to them.

What do your guests experience from all the presentations they receive?

There is little doubt that the minister’s sermon plays a major role in a guest’s first-time evaluation of a church. Visitors are looking for a connection in spiritual depth, style, doctrine, or vision. The style and authenticity of praise and worship also play a big role. It is important to remember, however, that other presentations made in and around the church—especially the first ones visitors encounter—are essential components of the whole visiting experience.

Each church member who makes a connection—from the parking attendant to the person who calls to follow up with the guest—can make a huge impact on a guest’s decision to return. The warmth behind a smile, a welcoming comment, or clear directions can make all the difference for a visitor.

If you are involved in any aspect of the first impressions ministry, greeting is certainly part of your role. Each member of the team has the opportunity to offer warmth, genuineness, friendliness, and even an encounter with God in the way he or she greets. Since greeting is such an important part of ministry, we will focus on the greeter position.

As a greeter, it is a good idea to work in teams of two so you can effectively handle the heavy traffic time that usually starts about 15 minutes before the service begins. Teaming up to greet with a friend or spouse can be quite enjoyable. I have served as a greeter many times in our church, and I really enjoy working with my wife Tammy. We even have our two daughters help us from time to time. If we have something to hand out, the girls keep us supplied while we focus on greeting the people.

I am an extrovert and I love to welcome people with a smile and a handshake. If you are not an extrovert, greeting may not come quite as naturally, but you can still do a great job. You will simply need to step out of your comfort zone a little and practice a lot.

Greeters give many brief impromptu presentations over a short period of time. Preparation and forethought will help you become a more effective greeting presenter.

Your ultimate objective will likely be to make guests feel welcome and comfortable. So do all you can to help guests and regular attendees encounter the warmth, genuineness, friendliness, and encounter with God they are seeking. Scripture shows that part of a person’s encounter with God can be experienced when he encounters one of God’s people. Second Corinthians 2:15 says that “we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” You are representing Christ in every encounter you have, whether or not you are prepared to do so.

Other possible objectives include offering clear and pleasant directions, reducing the intimidation factor for visitors, and helping people make connections with others or essential ministries in your church. Mr. Harrison offered another excellent piece of advice. He said, “The last time I checked, handshakes and smiles were still free and legal.” They are also effective. Give them out liberally.

Your first impressions team is the face of your ministry to visitors, and it serves as a representative of Christ to those who do not yet know him. Each church member who makes a connection—from the parking attendant to the person who calls to follow up with the guest—can make a huge impact on a guest’s decision to return. As you greet guests in your local church, make sure your body language complements your words and your tone matches your body language. All three need to be saying, “We are really glad you are here!” |L