It was Easter Sunday.
We attended a traditional church in a mainline tradition.
It was the traditional service, one of 3 main services on a Sunday morning. Full robes were worn by the hand bell team and the full choir. The pastor wore a suit and tie. We sang the awesome hymns of Easter accompanied by the choir and full organ.
We were an invited guest.
Recently, I was asked the following question via Ask The EvangelismCoach.
I’ve posted this to the community Facebook Page, but wanted to give you all a chance to help pitch in. I hope to do this on a more regular basis.
“How do we greet late comers?
Do we need to mention that worship service has started?”
The basic principle that guides all your hospitality ministry is respect for the person coming late.
I have been in some churches where ushers close the sanctuary doors when the service starts, and then reopen them at certain points for latecomers.
Typically, they politely mention that the service has started. It’s an explanation for the shut doors and the pause before entering. They mention that in a few minutes, they will let people in at an upcoming point in the service. It is part of their custom and practice.
I have been in some churches where people come in and go out at all points of the service. Ushers seat them at any time. The causal nature of these churches don’t really require an explanation about how the service has already started.
Above all, the key point is respect for the latecomer and finding ways to communicate respect and honor.
We certainly don’t want to communicate: “Your are LATE!”
Add your comments below to help answer Ed’s question.
What would you say to Ed?
Over at http://www.ChurchHospitalityTraining.com, I’ve released video Number 3.
In today’s video, I address one of the biggest barriers that churches put up to visitors who do come back for several weeks in a row.
I once attended a local fellowship for nearly 6 months and still had no friends. It was a fellowship with about 100 people at the service we attended.
In fact, not one person made an effort to talk with us. This church had all the right hospitality systems:
They were doing all the right things, but there was not a single person who said hello to us. Even the pastor remained a stranger to us during this time.
That’s unacceptable.
Today I’m releasing video #3 at
http://www.ChurchHospitalityTraining.com
It’s called “Can’t Get in!”
I give some lessons I’ve learned as a result of this, and two ways that I’ve seen churches try to address it.
The fourth video will be out in a few days.
You should be able to straight to the video by clicking the link. If you can’t get it, simply provide your email address, click on the confirmation link and you’ll get the most current video.
These videos will be up only for a short time, so be sure to get them. They run about 10 minutes each.
Earlier this year, a church hospitality committee leader called me up to have chat about how to restart their hospitality ministries.
Perhaps you have the same challenge they had:
People come for the first time, but they don’t come back.
What can we do to fix that?
This church began looking for solutions
They were a large church that had several systems in place, but still visitors were not coming back.
Perhaps you’ve read hospitality books, but they seem
They talk about systems and processes that just seem out of reach for your church.
If you are asking the same question, I’ve put together a free video series for you
http://www.ChurchHospitalityTraining.com
It’s called 9 reasons your visitors don’t come back and what you can do change some of those.
There is a free download available at the end of the video to give you a practical starting point.
I want to send these videos to you over the next 10 days, but only if you are interested,
which is why I’m asking for your email address again before sending you the first one.
The second video will be released by email on Monday, and it’ll focus on three quick fixes to your greeter ministry
You can get the videos only by signing up for them at
http://www.ChurchHospitalityTraining.com
The Institute For American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?”
Their replies were:
Source: lost, but it’s been in files for a while.
So, who are you inviting to church this weekend?
Send this to a friend