Spring 2001
In This Issue...

How Friendly Is Your Church?

Faith Needs of Older Adults

Our Promise to Ryan

Witness: Exploring and Sharing Your Christian Faith

A Journey of Faith Archive

My experience leads me to the conclusion that while most churches consider themselves friendly, few, in fact, are friendly to visitors. While there is little reason to doubt that the majority of our church members are friendly to one another, there is every reason to have serious concerns about how well we relate to the "strangers" among us. It is certainly not the intention of faithful church members to avoid or ignore Sunday visitors, however; it is far more natural (and much easier) to be friendly to people they know. In far too many instances, first-time visitors move in and out of Sunday services and are rarely noticed.

There are churches, however, that are very intentional about being friendly and receptive to all people, and these churches take the necessary steps to ensure that their "friendliness" is inclusive. This inclusive "friendliness" is a part of their discipleship system, and they build quality into the entire process.

Many of our United Methodist churches that are effectively reaching and receiving new people are implementing all or parts of the following strategy:

• Parking lot attendants. The attendants are the first line of hospitality. They assist people with parking, give directions, answer questions,help with special situations, and provide umbrellas and escorts in the event of rain.
• Warm, friendly people who are door greeters and ushers who have received training in how to establish eye contact, smile, speak words of greeting, and how to be especially watchful for visitors.
• A Visitor Welcome Center. Here trained people greet visitors (as well as members), offer directions, provide a packet of church materials, conduct tours of the facilities, and do all those things that make visitors feel welcome.
• Church leaders who greet newcomers. The leaders in these churches seldom sit in the same pew during Sunday worship; instead, they move each Sunday to a new area of the sanctuary where they have the opportunity to meet new people. They are constantly watchful for visitors, and they are quick to offer friendly greetings.
• New ways of identifying visitors. These churches recognize the folly of relying on friendship pads as the only means of identifying visitors.
• The church building is prepared for company. There is adequate space for winter coats; a first-class nursery; clean, well-supplied restrooms; and quality signs throughout the building.
• Visitor follow-up. There is a carefully conceived, and faithfully implemented, plan for following up on first-time visitors. Far too many churches claim to have such a plan, but they do not faithfully use the plan; and the people who are responsible for the plan are not held accountable.

Does your church have a plan for reaching the unchurched? Have you developed a discipleship system? Will the first-time visitor to next Sunday's worship service share in the "friendliness" of your church family, or will he or she walk quietly away, unnoticed?

Is your church willing to take those steps that will ensure that all people are included in the fellowship and friendship of your church family? Would you dare raise these questions at your next administrative council meeting?