Church hospitality is not evangelism. The welcome ministry has a supporting role in the work of making disciples, but it is not evangelism.
Does your church hospitality committee call itself something like:
- Evangelism Committee
- Evangelism and Outreach Committee
- Witness Committee?
Church Hospitality Job Descriptions I’ve Seen
I’ve encountered several church hospitality committees with similar descriptions like this:
(Evangelism) Ministry Team is responsible for greeting visitors to our church.
Visitors receive a visit from a member of our congregation who brings them cookies, a church brochure, a newsletter, and a pen. They also receive a letter from the pastor thanking them for coming and asking if they would like a more formal visit from the Pastor and a lay person.
It is a group of men and women called to use their gift of hospitality to welcome visitors and members one Sunday morning each month.
We organize a post service lunch to help visitors feel welcome, and need team workers to organize, serve, and clean the tables.
Hospitality Ministry is not Evangelism
Evangelism, defined as I use it here, is focused on the verbal proclamation of the message of the cross.
Hospitality ministry is focused on the experience of your first-time church visitor, repeat visitors, and members who attend your church.
Evangelism deals with themes of:
- Personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord
- Repentance
- Active service in the Kingdom of God
Church Hospitality deals with themes of:
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Visitor Centers
- Receptions
- Connecting Visitors to your church.
Evangelism ministry and hospitality ministry are not the same! Stop calling it that!
Reignite Your First Impressions Ministry
We all want our church visitors to come back. But to get that to happen you need to improve your first impression ministries.
But where do you start?
Get these 7 Secrets to Effective Church Hospitality to give you starting points and ideas that you can implement this weekend.
Hospitality Ministry Serves the Evangelistic Purpose of the Church
Part of my work as a church hospitality coach allows me to be a first-time visitor in churches.
I’ve also listened to many people who make visits to churches as the first-time visitor.
One thing has consistently risen to the surface.
The ability of a first-time visitor to connect to the worship service was directly impacted by the warmth of the welcome experienced.
- When no one says hello, the perceived coldness hinders your ability to remember what the sermon was about.
- When people stare at you for not dressing right, you want to hide and you feel trapped.
In both examples, the ability of the first-time hearer to interact with the sermon (the central part of most worship experiences) is hindered.
However, when a guest experiences:
- a warm welcome,
- a safe place for their children
- ease of finding their seat in the sanctuary
- a chance to make friends at a coffee hour
- a personal invitation to Sunday school
there remains
- a greater openness to listen to the sermon
- an ability to engage and comprehend the sermon
- an openness to relax and participate in the signing
- a distraction-free environment to enjoy the entire worship service.
There is a greater likelihood (from a human point of view) of greater connection to the local church during that stage of their spiritual journey.
A warm welcome is thus part of the pre-evangelism work necessary in a church’s mission to help people find faith in Christ.
Hospitality ministry helps with the evangelistic work of the church because it encourages a return visit.
Get Your Church Hospitality Ministry Moving Again
Has your church’s hospitality ministry lost momentum? Are you stepping into leadership for the first time and wondering where to begin?
The Get Started Program for Church Hospitality Leaders is a LIVE six-week coaching process 1-1 with me designed to help your team move forward with clarity and confidence.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing an existing ministry, this program gives you the structure, accountability, and practical steps you need to develop a welcoming culture in your church.
You’ll work through a clear plan—evaluating what’s working, identifying what needs attention, and setting achievable goals that fit your church’s context.
Read more about the Get Started Program for Church Hospitality Leaders here.
A Comparison of 3 Evangelism Methods
Welcome to this particular ministry in the local church! I’m glad you are excited.
Before buying anything, start with these 2 tutorials to help start framing the general areas:
1. https://www.evangelismcoach.org/resource-links-for-church-hospitality-committees/
2. https://www.evangelismcoach.org/fix-your-church-hospitality/
I have a third one particularly for greeters and church greeter training.
3. https://www.evangelismcoach.org/improve-your-greeter-ministry/
This will begin to start framing the issues.
As to the first product if you are starting up the hospitality ministry, I’d suggest
https://www.evangelismcoach.org/store/ebook-welcome-church-visitors/
It’s nearly 100 pages long that looks at the big picture of church hospitality and identifies the major areas for someone in your position to start looking at.
Chris
Dear Chris, What a blessing you are!! – I am on your site because today, I have been nominated by our pastor, as the head leader of the Hospitality / Greeters ministry team for our Calvary Church. The Lord gave me the gift of hospitality in serving people and “strangers among us”, but I really have no clue how do do it right in the church! – I am looking and reading your website right now and I am blown away of your talents and special gifts from God in this area! – You are such wonderful source! – So what do you recommend I do first, besides praying for God’s wisdom? – Which of your books should I read first? – I need your help please! – Thank you so much!!! – May God richly bless and reward you! – Lea