Evangelism Coach International

During these first several days in January, I am on a mission trip in Nicaragua.  In my absence, I have scheduled a few posts and guests articles.

Today’s article gets into Welcoming First Time Visitors in your Sunday school class.  It comes from Sunday School Revolutionary.com and I have their permission to reprint it here.

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Greeting church visitors is everyone’s responsibility. However, it doesn’t always get done so many churches have organized greeting teams to serve a few weeks in a row.

The same principle applies in Sunday School. You would think this would not be a problem in Sunday School. Classes are smaller than worship attendance. The group should be able to recognize when someone is a guest. But, as I have said before, when it is everyone’s job this often results in no one taking responsibility for the job. It often has to be assigned in order for the job to be done. And frequently when it is someone’s job, then many others will join in carrying out the work–in this case greeting guests.

I believe Sunday School class greeters need training. Some people are naturally gregarious and yet they still may not know the best things to say and do as a class greeter. That is why I wanted to share the points from the above-mentioned article. It offers some concrete suggested which are directed toward welcoming “church visitors” but which can easily be applied to welcoming Sunday School guests. The article mentions three times/places where we need to greet guests: entrances, the front, and after. Allow me to adjust the article’s suggestions to apply to the class:

• ENTRANCE: As members and guest enter, welcome them to the class. Use the name of the class. It can help them to know which one they liked and want to return to. Look them in the eyes. Make sure you smile. Put in a breath mint. Don’t be afraid to shake hands, but don’t squeeze too hard. Don’t pound people on the back–I learned this lesson the hard way with a lady who had just had shoulder surgery. Tell guests that you are glad they are here today. Share your name with those you don’t know. (They will usually share their names in return.)  Listen carefully when guests speak. If the class uses name tags (recommended), make sure you complete one for them or ask them to do so. Call guests by name and tell them you (or the teacher) would like the privilege of introducing them to the class in a few minutes and ask if they would be willing to complete a registration card. Sit with them during class–if possible. Introduce them to others around them. Don’t be afraid to ask if adult guests would like to join (on the first and successive Sundays). Invite guests to join you at the next class fellowship or invite them to your home for dessert or a meal.

• FROM THE FRONT: During announcement time, make sure to introduce guests to the group (so everyone has an opportunity to hear the guests’ names hopefully again). Keep this somewhat low-key for the guests who may be a little less comfortable socially. When you (or the teacher) introduce them, make sure you avoid embarrassing them. Check on any uncertainty in name pronunciation. Don’t be afraid to look at the guest registration card to make sure you call the correct names. Give the teacher the card so he/she can thank guests for joining in the group at the end of the lesson. Include them in small group activities. Be open to their input during the lesson without forcing them to talk.

• AFTER CLASS: Ideally class greeters are not choir members who have to leave class early or rush out at the end of class. The teacher’s words of appreciation of the guests at the end of class should be a reminder that members should also affirm the guests’ attendance. These moments just after the end of class are critical for conveying your interest in guests. Don’t rush out of class and ignore the guests. Smile. If possible, call them by name (especially easy when they are still wearing name tags). What to say can be as simple as shaking their hands and saying, “My name is … and I glad you were in the … class with us today.” (Can be easier for them to remember your name when you are still wearing your name tag.) As the class greeter, ask guests if they need you to help them locate their children and/or restrooms. If so, walk them there. If worship is after Sunday School, ask if they are staying for worship today. If so, walk them to worship. Engage in casual (not nosy) conversation and express your own appreciation of their attendance in Sunday School. When you arrive in worship, ask if the guests would like to sit with you. If they do so, casually introduce them to others in worship before the service begins. In worship, watch guests to see where they may be confused or need help. Do so to encourage and help without embarrassing. After worship thank them for attending. Ask if they have any questions or prayer requests. Contact them within 72 hours to express your appreciation, remind them of the upcoming class fellowship, and pray with them about prayer requests.

What else have you found helpful to say to (or do with) a guest? Engage in active listening. Care–do it and have it. Be present. Don’t embarrass. Be sensitive. Help. Be revolutionary!

Source: Sundayschoolrevolutionary.com, by Darryl Wilson, Kentucky Baptist Convention.

One of my readers (Darrell Davis www.onlyfoundation.org) is at the Rosebowl parade for an outreach.  He sent me this video about prayerwalking prior to the outreach on New Year’s eve.

What I like about this video is the description of praying and while walking how the Lord led them, how they lingered on a street corner for a little while.

“Finished 90 minute walk, and we had come to a corner and didn’t know where to go.  We asked God what direction to go in, and we waited  . . . just like in Acts when Paul was prevented from moving on.  About 10 minutes later ” they had a divine appointment to encourage a pastor and his wife.

If you’d like to know how to do your own prayerwalking, may I recommend the following links?

Prayer Walking and Growing the Church

Prayer Walking — Developing An Evangelistic Vision

Book from Amazon: Follow Me: Becoming a Lifestyle Prayerwalker

Last year, a blog I read asked:

Do you have an Evangelism Strategy for 2008?

In the that article, the writer’s specific action steps in his plan:

1. Study and Read.  Do you need books?  Check out our books on evangelism page.
2. Evangelism Journal. Make notes of quotes, books, and experiences.
3. Evangelism Plan.  Make a plan to be intentional about sharing your faith.

I like Gary’s idea of an evangelism Journal.  I keep a file on my computer that captures thoughts, quotes, and stuff like that.  I need to find some additional form of capture when I don’t have my laptop with me, or when I’m traveling to and from Evangelism seminars.

Church Evangelism Strategy

• Send your church leaders to an evangelism training seminar.
• Host an Evangelism Training Seminar. 
• Find an evangelism program like the Alpha course and implement it.
• Conduct a church hospitality assessment and seek ways to improve the welcoming of visitors.
• Set a goal for the number of professions of faith, conversions, or baptisms (whatever statistic is an important measure of growth for your church or denomination).
• Host a regional Evangelism training event.
• Invite speakers on Evangelism to share a passion.
• Set your outreach events that are intentionally geared towards your target audience.
• Host “Invite a friend” Sundays.
• Develop your holiday sermon series (Easter, Christmas, Mother’s day, etc)?
• Develop an Evangelism Coaching Group in your church to nurture the passionate.  (See Evangelism Training in the Local Church)

Personal Evangelism Strategy

• Read at least 3 books on personal evangelism (see our Evangelism Books Page for some ideas).
• Participate in a group like the one described in Evangelism Training in the Local Church
• Pray daily for those who do not know Christ.
• Look for the daily opportunities to have a conversation about your faith.
• Think through your witnessing conversations and consider what you might have done differently.
• Journal your evangelism conversations to reflect and learn.
• Learn a default setting — a basic evangelism gospel script.
• Instead of counting conversions, count the number of conversations you have.
• Review your day to see if you missed an opportunity to share your faith.
• Spend time “doing life” with people apart from the church.  Quit doing Bible Studies all the time. (See: 10 Ideas to Reach Out To Your Neighborhood)
• Build genuine relationships with your neighbors.

Grab our Free Evangelism Newsletter and you can stay in touch with at least one source that will be reminding you monthly about evangelism to help keep your passion high.

If you need some help developing a plan, consider a mentoring or coaching program.  See the Evangelism Mentoringpage to explore our services.  Do you Need Evangelism coaching?

Let me ask you this?

What would you add to this list?