What was your experience in being a Church Visitor

You were a first time church visitor.

I can say that because most of my regular readers (through my Newsletter) are actively involved in their local church.

At some point in time, you visited for the first time.

Do you remember your experience?

Do you remember the emotions you felt being in a new space for the first time surrounded by dozens, if not hundreds, of people you didn’t know?

Before getting into the practical steps on giving welcome to Church visitors I want to share a few more devotional thoughts about church visitors and Christian Hospitality.

You were the church visitor

Leviticus 19:33-34 commands Israel to welcome strangers because of their experience in Egypt.

‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

They were not to oppress the alien because they knew how it felt when they were in Egypt (Exodus 23:9)

While this verse can say much towards the current national debate on immigration in the US and perhaps the immigration debates in other countries, we can stretch it to speak about visitors who come to your church.

(It’s not proper exegesis, but a great point can still be made).

You might be a long term member of your church.

At one point you were not.

You were a visitor for the first time. You had a need and somehow, you found your way to that church.

You were the “alien.”

Now the coin has been turned.

You have integrated yourself into the community of faith, and other people are coming to your church for the first time. Now those visitors are the “alien.”

How can you treat visitors as one of your own?
How can you “Love them as yourself, for you were aliens . . . ?”

Jesus welcomed people

Notice what Jesus did with visitors in Luke 9:11 (Feeding the Five Thousand)

The crowds . . . . followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

In fact Jesus welcomed so many people into his presence, that he was accused of welcoming sinners (Luke 15:1-2)

Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Acts 28:30 points to Paul’s practice of welcoming people

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.

McIntosh makes the point that several different Greek words used for “welcome.”

together, they suggest the meaning of gladly welcoming someone to one’s home as a guest . . . [Welcoming newcomers] is a theological demonstration of God’s grace. . . .when we welcome newcomers to church, we are demonstrating the gracious love and care of God (p. 12)

Source: (Assimilating Church Visitors: Beyond the First Visit)

Let me ask you this?

How does your church welcome visitors?
How do you personally welcome visitors?
Do you see your welcome as reflecting God’s grace?

Improve Your Church Hospitality

Do you want more first time church visitors to come back a second time? Taking care of your hospitality systems can help you keep more of your visitors. I’ve put an ebook together to help you review your hospitality systems.

Image credit: xiaohuan / 123RF Stock Photo