Next to personal evangelism, Church Hospitality is arguably one of the most important ministries of the local church. So many churches fail in this ministry of kindness. I’ve collected nearly 100 of these articles in a download resource for sale. Visit How To Welcome Church Visitors for information about this ebook
Most churches experience an influx of church visitors at Christmas time. Churches have special activities that are geared at increasing the number of personal invitations that members give. While your attendance may swell at Christmas time, the critical question is
I had an interesting experience the other night at one of those huge superstores. I was the first time visitor to that store and felt completely lost and out of place. What words might you accidentally use to make your first time church visitor feel clueless or ignorant? What words does “everybody” know that might …
Puzzled why your church visitors don’t come back? Maybe your members talk to each other and ignore the first time visitor. Maybe your volunteers are not serving the needs of visitors. Maybe your first time visitors don’t feel welcomed. In this audio sample from the Create a Culture of Hospitality MP3 download, I share other …
I recently spoke with a pastor of a medium size church of 300. He has often heard from people after 6-10 weeks this statement that broke his heart: “I have been here x number of weeks and no one has said hello.” (After a recent workshop on hospitality, one couple said “We’ve been in this …
At the beginning of every year, people make New Year's resolutions. Some want to start growing spiritually and they will check out churches that might help them grow.
Throughout the year, someone will attend your church for the first time.
Are you prepared for their visit?
Are you ready to receive them and welcome them with the love and message of Jesus Christ?
Why do your church visitors choose not to return to your church? Here are 8 reasons, 5 of which you can do something about.
Your Christmas Eve church hospitality can make a big difference in a visitor’s decision to come back. Your Christmas Eve Outreach is a wonderful opportunity to invite first time church visitors! Your members can invite their friends as well as strangers they meet out in public. Visitors come through your doors. Some will be out of …
A church visitor expressed a personal worry to me in a conversation. It led to an opportunity to pray with her.
Here are some steps I follow before praying with a church visitor that I have not met before.
Today’s guest article comes via George Bullard’s website at Bullard Journal. Below are excerpts from the article called “Why do People Leave Churches.” George Bullard of The Columbia Partnership, a Columbia, S.C.-based organization that helps churches pursue and sustain vital ministry, said churches face an “assimilation challenge” in the first year after new people begin …
Puzzled why your church visitors don’t come back? How do you create a vision for radical church hospitality that is beyond the pastor and church hospitality committee? How can you develop a passion within the congregation for welcoming first time visitors? Maybe your members talk to each other and ignore the first time visitor. Maybe …
Here is a brief word from one of the buyers of How to Welcome ChurchVisitors. She used the free coaching bonus and eventually gathered her team for some training, using the material in the book as well as a new MP3 file on Casting A Vision for Hospitality that’s now in the store. Reprinted with …
Want to grow your church attendance by 20% this year? I once coached a church that set 20% as their goal. Is 20% growth a realistic? Visitors are the key to growing your church. Without keeping your first time church visitors, your church will not grow. Likewise, you will not replace the members who drop out, move to …
If you have a church hospitality committee or welcome committee of some kind, consider using this video in your training. It captures the private thoughts of a first time church visitor as they prepare to come to your church. Check out this video (the volume on the final credit page gets really loud. . .. …
Today’s Guest Article is from Steve Fogg: Clear and Simple. He is a blogger from Australia, focused on communications and PR for churches. I first found Steve through a Blog Carnival on OurChurch.com While I’m away on vacation, there will be a few guests posts this week. This list is an awesome compilation of factors …
Do your first time church visitors come back for a second visit? For a third? For a fourth? You can’t grow your church if your visitors don’t come back again. Hospitality to first time visitors is one critical element to growing your church. It plays a huge role in helping visitors decide to make that all …
Today is part two of a series on four substitutes for Evangelism. This may sound funny coming from me, because I write so much on this topic (and even sell two ebooks). But as I’ve consulted with churches, I run into this substitute regularly. #2: Church Hospitality Ministry. In many churches, we have substituted evangelism …
Looking for a good book on church hospitality and first impressions ministry?
These are some of my favorite books on the subject. Updated in 2023.
I read a newsletter some time ago (source lost) that described what it is like to be a church visitor: Why is it so difficult to walk into a new church? Even if you’ve been steeped in church culture for years, being in an unfamiliar environment is unsettling. If you get there a few minutes …
I visited a church that I hadn’t been to in a while. It was packed full of people, many of whom I had never seen before during prior visits. To many people that morning, I was a first time church visitor. When the service was over, I was speaking to a church member, whom I …
Today’s guest article about being a church visitor comes from Fran, who is currently visiting churches after many years with one church of one brand. Here are her observations after visiting. Reposted with permission.
Many wise leaders of church hospitality teams know that a regular review of your systems is a good way to make sure things flow smoothly.
Inertia and inefficiency always creep in, and churches are no different.
Are you starting a church hospitality ministry, or wondering how to start a hospitality ministry in church?
Maybe you are taking first steps to rejuvenate a stale approach?
Check out this list of different ways you can support the work of evangelism in your local church
I’ve taken up a pattern of walking most mornings to help clear my head and gather my thoughts during this season of the year. I’ve subscribed to the podcast from Church Talk Radio, and most segments are about 45 minutes to one hour. I’ve got it on my MP3 Player and while walking, I consume …
