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Your Turn: How to Identify Church Visitors in a Large Church

Recently, a reader submitted a question via Ask Evangelismcoach about how to identify church visitors in a large church:

What are some ideas for identifying visitors?

We are a 2500 member church and many of us don’t know the difference between a visitor and someone who is a member who we just have never met?

I have heard of using name tags, colored coffee cups(ugh!), asking visitors to stand during worship…

I spend time talking with people I do not know/recognize but they end up being members, not visitors. Any suggestions?

[Read more…] about Your Turn: How to Identify Church Visitors in a Large Church

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Your Turn: So Your Church Greeter Stinks!

I received a good question via email the other day.  (Ask your question here).  If you have a suggestion to help our reader, please add it to the comments below.

How do I approach an usher who smokes and it smells on her?

I am not the President of the usher board but would like to know the correct way to approach the situation.

Please help.

[Read more…] about Your Turn: So Your Church Greeter Stinks!

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When Church Greeters Object: I don’t know who the visitors are

If you are involved in recruiting and training of church greeters, you will likely run into a church greeter who says

But I don’t know who the first time visitors are!!!!

They may use that to avoid answering your call to recruit them for a given Sunday or for a given rotation on your schedule.

It is offered as an excuse that really is meant to say “I don’t know what I’m doing.“

It might even be offered as a rationale for not serving as a church greeter.

[Read more…] about When Church Greeters Object: I don’t know who the visitors are

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Your Turn: What to say to latecomers to church

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.

Ask EvangelismCoach Question from Ed:

“How do we greet late comers?

Do we need to mention that worship service has started?”

My thoughts

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!”

Your Turn

Add your comments below to help answer Ed’s question.

What would you say to Ed?

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10 Most Important Minutes to Church Visitors

Church growth books on first impressions often stress the first 7 minutes of a visitor’s experience.

But this surprise result indicates that the something else is more important than first impressions.

Charles Arn has surveyed thousands of people: (Source: 3 Questions for Charles Arn)

We also asked the focus groups when they decided that the church was friendly or not.

From the answers we got, there’s a ten-minute window that is pregnant with opportunities for a church to make a good impression. And it wasn’t the ten minutes I expected. [Read more…] about 10 Most Important Minutes to Church Visitors

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