I would like to direct attention to a great article on Christianitytoday.com.
Visitor Assimilation, it's not rocket science, is a great look at what we as church members should be doing to attract and keep visitor attention. And as it says, it's not rocket science. It is actually common sense that requires constant vigilence.
Visitors make their descisions about a church in the last ten minutes they spend there. So we have all that time to make good! Try and start a three minute conversation after service with a new visitor and that conversation will probably last five time that long and be something that can truly affect that person's spiritual path.
If every member chooses to recognize three new faces each Sunday, we would never have anyone fall through the cracks. Everyone would be welcomed and invited to join, eager to return and happy to get involved.
This should be our goal because we have all been there and we know what wonderful things Epworth can offer to all.
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3 comments:
I find this article very helpful as it describes itself - a good look at the basics that are simply not rocket science. This would be excellent foundational material for leading our "hospitality" team. The thing that concerns me is the potential of seeing certain techniques that will solve our "friendliness" quotient. If we are not motivated to want to get to know and assimilate new persons, the techniques can all stay in a box! Wouldn't it be a wonderful goal to help members and regular participants of Epworth to yearn to welcome new people and follow up with them. If we are not full of passion to meet new people, why not? If we do love to meet new people and include them, what would help us activate this? Maybe some of the ideas of this article will assist us to activate.
I think another no-brainer is that we can NEVER be too friendly. Almost every congregation or evangelism committee or welcoming group can cite at least one experience where someone described how they had sought anonymity in their first few visits or knows someone who felt smothered by too many people welcoming them. I don't think there is any evidence suggesting that persons ever rejected genuine contacts, welcoming, follow through with unpressured options for persons to get their needs met. If welcoming becomes translated into how the church or groups of the church will get THEIR needs met through the participation of the visitor, look out! Many people have radars for this kind of superficial "caring."
I find this article very helpful as it describes itself - a good look at the basics that are simply not rocket science. This would be excellent foundational material for leading our "hospitality" team. The thing that concerns me is the potential of seeing certain techniques that will solve our "friendliness" quotient. If we are not motivated to want to get to know and assimilate new persons, the techniques can all stay in a box! Wouldn't it be a wonderful goal to help members and regular participants of Epworth to yearn to welcome new people and follow up with them. If we are not full of passion to meet new people, why not? If we do love to meet new people and include them, what would help us activate this? Maybe some of the ideas of this article will assist us to activate.
I think another no-brainer is that we can NEVER be too friendly. Almost every congregation or evangelism committee or welcoming group can cite at least one experience where someone described how they had sought anonymity in their first few visits or knows someone who felt smothered by too many people welcoming them. I don't think there is any evidence suggesting that persons ever rejected genuine contacts, welcoming, follow through with unpressured options for persons to get their needs met. If welcoming becomes translated into how the church or groups of the church will get THEIR needs met through the participation of the visitor, look out! Many people have radars for this kind of superficial "caring."
I find this article very helpful as it describes itself - a good look at the basics that are simply not rocket science. This would be excellent foundational material for leading our "hospitality" team. The thing that concerns me is the potential of seeing certain techniques that will solve our "friendliness" quotient. If we are not motivated to want to get to know and assimilate new persons, the techniques can all stay in a box! Wouldn't it be a wonderful goal to help members and regular participants of Epworth to yearn to welcome new people and follow up with them. If we are not full of passion to meet new people, why not? If we do love to meet new people and include them, what would help us activate this? Maybe some of the ideas of this article will assist us to activate.
I think another no-brainer is that we can NEVER be too friendly. Almost every congregation or evangelism committee or welcoming group can cite at least one experience where someone described how they had sought anonymity in their first few visits or knows someone who felt smothered by too many people welcoming them. I don't think there is any evidence suggesting that persons ever rejected genuine contacts, welcoming, follow through with unpressured options for persons to get their needs met. If welcoming becomes translated into how the church or groups of the church will get THEIR needs met through the participation of the visitor, look out! Many people have radars for this kind of superficial "caring."
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