Book Review: Serving as a Church Greeter Les Parrott

The church greeter surveys that I’ve been conducting on greeter training material reveal that there is a tremendous lack of easily available information on recruiting and training church greeters as of 2009 when I write this article.

I’ve read a series of books on the issue, and agree with that observation.

UPDATE:

I wrote my own book for greeters.

Les Parrot’s Serving as a Church Greeter

Recently, I’ve read Les Parrot’s Serving as a Church Greeter, as part of some training preparation for church greeters.

It is somewhat dated and some of the practices in it may not be in vogue anymore.

It is a short read, 5 chapters, with a few questions to think about at the end of every chapter.

The best parts are the 1st two chapters about

• the development of the greeter as a specialized ministry,
• the general attitudes of a greeter, and
• some organizational tips.

Chapter 3 is all on developing a “user friendly foyer.”

This stuff is helpful for first impressions ministry, and perhaps out of place for a book on greeter training.  In this chapter, one can find lots of good tips about preparing the foyer and functions of the foyer.

You can read more in my download ebook How to Welcome Church Visitors which is more focused on first impressions.

Chapter 4 is focused on the act of greeting itself — what is a greeter to do.

Many of these tips can be found, for example in 10 Tips for Church Greeter.

Most are common sense, but often need to be clearly stated in any kind of training manual.  However, this chapter read like a powerpoint slide and seemed absent of stories to demonstrate it’s principles.

Chapter 5 is a late addition, focused on the parking lot ministry.

As churches have gotten larger, this kind of specialized ministry has taken on a new role.  Thus a very short chapter is devoted towards this task.

This short little book can be consumed in one sitting.  Most of its contents are common sense organized into a readable format.

What is missing?

I had hoped this book would give me answers to how to run a training meeting for church greeters or how to recruit greeters for your church.

I also discovered that Parrot didn’t really get into helping a greeter know what to say.

I can’t tell you how many times my site is searched for welcome phrases, and different ways to say “Good morning”.

Recommendation of Serving as a Church Greeter

I would recommend this book for greeting team coordinators looking for some general ideas.

I’m not sure I’d get copies for the entire team or volunteers. Most of it’s principles and questions can be covered in a team training meeting.

Order your copy of Les Parrot’s Serving as a Church Greeter from Amazon and I’ll get a few quarters to support our work.

Want more Church Greeter Training?

Check out these Church Greeter Resources on my site.