Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 54

7 Things to Do When Church Leadership is Lonely

For me, ministry is most often filled with life change, faithful friends, and much joy. There have been times, though (even recently), when this work just feels lonely. If you ever feel this way, maybe one of these suggestions will help you like they’ve helped me over the years:

1. Don’t whitewash what you’re feeling by over-spiritualizing the situation. You might know the right words to say to yourself, but it’s also okay to just admit where your heart is. Healing doesn’t usually come before we’re honest with ourselves.

2. Cry out to God when you’re hurting. That’s what the psalmist often did (e.g., Psa 5:1-2, 18:4-6, 40:11-12, 69:1, 116:3-4, 140:6). If you’re feeling lonely, the answer is not to avoid God who so loves you; it is to run to Him. In fact, invite some prayer warriors to cry out to God with you.

3. Ask whether you have somehow contributed to your own loneliness. Sometimes the guilt of ongoing sin keeps us from wanting to be with others. For those of us who are introverts by nature, our choices to be alone don’t always help when we’re lonely.

4. Don’t lock your spouse and family out in the process. Loneliness has a way of strengthening like a coming storm if we don’t deal with it—yet we sometimes don’t turn to even those folks who love us most. At a minimum, be honest with your spouse.

5. Invite somebody to shepherd you through the loneliness. That person might be a pastor or a trusted brother or sister in Christ. Whoever it is, though, can’t help you much if they don’t know your situation. Trust that God has someone to walk with you.

6. Spend time ministering to someone who’s likely lonelier than you are. Loneliness is real, but it can also be self-centered at times. On the other hand, I’m struck by how serving others renews our hearts and brings us joy. As COVID regulations allow, visit a hospital with a chaplain. Give time to senior adults in retirement centers. Ask how you might assist in a local public or Christian school. Do something for someone else.

7. Reflect on times in the past when you were lonely, but God came through for you. Remember what the psalmist wrote: “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned” (Psa 37:25). God is just as much with you in the lonely moments as He is in the joyous ones. Trust Him to come through for you again.

Let us know how your Church Answers family might pray for you. 

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The Amazing Shift of Four “Front Doors” in Churches

A topic that does not get much attention is the dramatic shift in the front door of churches. By “front door,” we mean that place where a non-attendee or an unchurched person will first check out a church he or she has never visited. In the past few decades, we saw a change in the location of the front door. The change was gradual, almost imperceptible.

But, with the advent of the pandemic, we saw a sudden shift in the front door. We think this change will be sustained for at least a few years. Let’s look at the four major front door eras of churches.

Sunday School and Other Small Groups (1950s to 1980s)

To be clear, not all churches in this era emphasized Sunday school or small groups. Some were primarily worship-only or worship-primary. But tens of thousands of churches in North America alone sought to get guests to “check out” a church by visiting a small group or Sunday school class.

Those guests who took their first visit to a group tended to be sticky. They quickly developed relationships, the glue to getting people to return. And church members commonly would invite guests to their group before they invited them to “church,” the often-used verbiage for worship services.

Worship Services (1990s to 2000s)

For a number of reasons we will examine later, the front door shifted from groups to corporate worship services. Church members would invite people to “church” more than they would invite them to “class.” Many low-commitment baby boomers (born between 1946 to 1964) began shifting the front door to the worship services from groups in the 1980s, but the shift became noticeable around 1990.

As a consequence of this shift, churches began to pour significant resources into worship ministries. Some of the increase in resources was beneficial. Some were more concerned about production value than worship.

The Church Website (2010s)

Eventually, the front door moved from an in-person visit to a digital visit. Prospective guests went to the website of churches to check out the address, the time of the worship services, how attendees dressed, childcare issues, and other details. Churches that spent time and resources on a quality website with the guest in mind benefitted the most.

Fortunately, the cost of a quality website became affordable for all churches. Unfortunately, though, many churches viewed their websites as an information hub for members. For the most part, though, guests were the most frequent visitors. Some churches had low-quality websites with dated information. And even some churches today still do not have a website. For most potential guests, those churches do not exist.

Streaming Worship Services (2020s)

The new front doors today are our streaming worship services. The pandemic moved church members and guests to this medium in the millions. Potential guests today are still likely to visit churches digitally first. Instead of a static website, though, they are visiting a streaming worship service either live or recorded.

These guests can now check out the church’s music, preaching, and priorities in full by viewing a service. Though the number of views a church gets on its streaming services is likely lower than its peak during the pandemic, streaming services are more important than ever. People are “visiting” your church digitally before they visit in person. I pray that your church is prepared for these digital guests.

What do you think of these developments? Let me hear from you.

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Five Strategies for Being a More Approachable Pastor on Sunday Morning

Some pastors are naturally approachable. They have a certain charisma that draws people. Other pastors draw in people like an open-casket viewing. People approach but with nervous hesitation. Most of us are somewhere in between these two extremes.

Your approachability as a pastor is not limited to Sunday mornings, but it’s an essential time when people will develop perceptions about you. For example, I’ve heard one comment over and over from people who meet me for the first time after I preach: “You’re way taller than I expected!” I don’t know what it is about the stage or pulpit, but apparently, people don’t pick up on my six-foot-two-and-three-quarters-frame. (The three-quarters is important because that makes me the same height as my little brother).

There are several theories about how follower perceptions—whether correct or not—affect the realities in which leaders operate. The cliché is true. Perception is reality. Good pastors know this. They understand preaching alone, doctrine alone, and vision alone are not enough. Some of the most naïve advice out there is “Just preach the Word.” It’s tantamount to telling a teacher, “Just teach good lessons.” Some of the worst teachers are the ones who are only there to dump knowledge. There is a relational aspect to leading. People have to trust you, believe you, and yes, like you. Obviously, not everyone will like you, but a segment of those you lead should!

Approachability is only one facet of leadership, but it’s an integral part of being a pastor. Your weekend worship experiences are a concentrated time, meaning you have the most people on campus for a short duration. It’s your chance to interact with your congregation and for others to see you interacting. Not everyone will talk to you, but many will see you talking and assume you can be approached.

If you are a lead pastor, there will be many wrong perceptions about you. It’s impossible to stop. People will formulate ideas about who you are, often pulling from ideals and experiences—good or bad— with previous pastors. These perceptions will be corrected over time as you interact with people. Church members communicate with other church members about your true personality. I certainly haven’t mastered the art, but I make an intentional effort on Sundays. Here are some things to consider.

Take the initiative. The most approachable pastors approach others first. You’re not being approachable if you wait on others to come to you! Get to the service early and walk around and talk to people. Interact with your church between worship experiences if you have multiple services. Stay afterward and hang out with those who are talking in the room.

Sit and stand in different areas of the worship space during worship. Don’t get into a rhythm of sitting in the same seat every week. If you have a balcony, then go up there and sing with everyone. Take a seat in the back row. Sit with different people every week. I try to move around in this way once a month.

“Help” the first impressions team. The greeters don’t need your help, but it’s a great place to meet a lot of people as they come into worship. Shake hands. Smile. Hand out worship guides. Help someone find a seat.

Have an extended conversation with an early arrival. Most people who are seated in a worship service early are guests. Spend five or ten minutes getting to know them. Ask for their contact information and follow up with them. Most guests will appreciate the personal interaction with a pastor.

Invite people to talk after the invitation. At the end of our services, we have a time where we invite people to respond. This response time has many different forms. We often pray together. We often call people to action. Though I don’t say it every week, I will let people know during the invitation that they are invited to talk with me or another pastor after the service. While people respond during the invitation time, far more respond afterward.

Your persona on Sunday morning is not the whole of who you are, but it’s often the main way church members form perceptions about you. So use the time strategically to become a more approachable pastor.

 

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Five Reasons Your Current Church Attendance Is the New Normal

Many church leaders and church members share with me that they are looking forward to the day when everyone is back attending church like they were before the pandemic. Sadly, for most churches, that is simply not going to be a reality. I understand there will be differences according to contexts, but it is largely true.

My thesis is not meant to be fatalistic. I am hopeful that you will take your current attendance as your base, or new normal, and seek God’s power to grow the church from there. I see this new normal as an opportunity rather than a defeat.

So, why is your current attendance a new normal? Here are the five most common reasons we found.

1. The habit of attendance has been broken. Gathering with fellow believers is a spiritual discipline, not that different from prayer or reading the Bible. Once you get out of the habit, it is difficult to return.

2. If someone has not returned by this point, they are not likely to return. Simply stated, these persons are out of the habit. In most areas, they have had plenty of time to return. They are now part of the growing de-churched movement.

3. Many who say they are now digital attendees have really dropped out. I was speaking to a friend recently who said she now “attends” church digitally. She really likes being able to attend the services in her casual clothes or pajamas. I then asked her how long it had been since she viewed a service. She sheepishly admitted it had been about three months. She is representative of a new and growing group I call “the inactive digitals.”

4. If someone was not connected in a small group, they are likely not returning. Take note of those who are currently attending. Look at your record to see who has not returned. I bet you will find a strong correlation between small group involvement before the pandemic and in-person worship attendance today. We are certainly seeing that reality in the thousands of churches that connect with Church Answers.

5. Many of the dropouts were already on the fringes. The pandemic accelerated the pace for them to become a dropout. It likely would have happened anyway.

While we certainly would not advocate abandoning all contact with these recently de-churched people, we would encourage you to look where the harvest fields are ripe, to use Jesus’ metaphor. Yes, it can be discouraging to see members drop out, but the opportunities are great.

Jesus said to his disciples and, thus, to us today, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38, NLT). The past two years have been a challenge in many ways. But Jesus promises a bright future to those who are obedient to his Great Commission.

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Five Ways to Be a Happier Pastor Right Now

God does not promise happiness, so believers should not feel entitled to it. However, I don’t believe God desires for His children to be unhappy.

Happiness is about your emotions, while joy is a God-given posture. The former often rises and falls based on external factors. The latter is an internal stabilizer provided by the Holy Spirit. Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit and a greater pursuit than happiness. But seeking happiness is not a fruitless endeavor.

Pastors should lead with their emotions. Being a spiritual leader requires an emotional investment in people. Shepherding a church is more than theological truths and spreadsheets. Likely, you will experience a broad spectrum of emotions as you lead others. Sadness, anger, confusion, and other emotions will happen as you lead. But generally, I believe pastors should be happy.

What is your default emotion? How would congregants define you emotionally? My pastor is sad. My pastor is angry. My pastor is confused. My pastor is happy is the better option.

Leaders go out in front and show the way. Your emotions are included. If you are regularly happy, then people who follow you will also tend to be happier.

Happiness is tactical. Simple actions can often change your mood, even in the moment. Consider these five basic tactics to be a happier pastor.

1. Don’t weaponize social media. Posting on social media is just as loud as standing on a street corner with a megaphone. If you’re consistently angry and loud on social media, then your emotions will be heard by everyone. Literally everyone. The entire world. Social media anger should be used only in the most significant of cases. Would you take a megaphone into a grocery store and yell about an issue? If not, then keep it off social media. Being quarrelsome is a disqualifier from ministry in the same way as adultery. Consider a better option. Make your social media feed an encouragement campaign. Happy pastors are not social media trolls.

2. Be more generous with your one-on-one time. Check your calendar. How often do you spend time with church members individually? You should have one-on-one time with a different church member every week. Any pastor of any size church should have this time with people. Take the initiative to spend more time individually with various church members. Have a no-agenda approach. Happy pastors enjoy the presence of people.

3. Make a small gesture of appreciation every day. Handwrite a thank-you note. Send a grateful text. Stop and pray with someone. Purchase an unexpected gift card for a key volunteer. If you have staff on the church campus, practice management by walking around and giving random compliments. Happy pastors demonstrate regular appreciation to those around them.

4. Lead with levity more often. Tell a joke. Pull a prank. Be silly with a kid. Ask an elderly member to tell you a funny story. Levity is one of the most significant ways pastors can connect with the people they lead. Happy pastors laugh a lot and help others laugh as well.

5. Celebrate little wins in a big way. Organizational culture typically changes in steps, not leaps. When you make a big deal about the little steps, then the little steps happen more often, and you tend to move more quickly. You go farther with speed walking than the long jump. Bring donuts to committee meetings and thank members for progress made. Incorporate more stories into your sermons involving the impact of behind-the-scenes volunteers. Create an appreciation award for a church leader and present a trophy or plaque. Happy pastors take many small steps but make big progress over time.

 Spiritually, joy supersedes happiness. But I also believe happy pastors are better shepherds for their congregations.

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8 Things I Love about Serving as an Interim Pastor

I recently finished a 17-month interim pastorate in Raleigh, North Carolina. Because Church Answers emphasizes training intentional interims, I want to talk about why I love this role. If your situation makes this possible, maybe my thoughts will encourage you to serve as an interim as well:

1. I’m grateful for the opportunity to offer consistency to a congregation looking for guidance. It’s tough for a church to look forward with intentionality when they’re hearing from a different voice each week—voices often from outside their church. Just the stability of the same preacher can help a church in transition regain hope.

2. As a pastor at heart, I look forward to proclaiming the Word to the same people for several months (or longer). That’s because you get to walk with them in their spiritual growth, even if the interim pastorate is shorter than expected. There’s just something special about seeing non-believers saved and believers mature during an interim.

3. The role allows me to “call out the called” to go to the nations. With 4 billion+ people in the world having little access to the gospel, we pastors must work harder to challenge our members to consider this calling. Even in my role as an interim, I’ve seen church members who had never considered missions begin to take steps in that direction.

4. In general, my prayer life is more focused when I’m responsible for the spiritual care of a congregation. The responsibility is weighty enough that it regularly drives me to my knees on behalf of others. And, I pray for the pastor search process to lead to the next pastor God has already set apart for the task. My prayer, I trust, also leads the church to pray more.

5. I grow daily in appreciation for pastors who faithfully serve God through His church. Even an interim carries some of the burdens a full-time, bi-vocational, or co-vocational pastor carries. No one but a pastor gets access to others’ lives from birth to death while also sharing their every heartache and every celebration through the years. That pastors will give account to God for the souls of those they lead (Heb 13:17) is a heavy weight indeed.

6. I remember what I need to remember: the “Dr” title I carry doesn’t matter much. One of my ministry joys is to hear kids, teens, and adults call me “Pastor Chuck” in the local church and “Uncle Chuck” on the mission field rather than “Dr. Lawless.” It’s humbling to lead the great people who make up God’s church.

7. It allows my wife to be briefly in the role of the “pastor’s wife.” Nobody I know is more patient, more loving, more hospitable, and more supportive than my wife, Pam. Even if we’re in an interim situation for only a short time, I love her having the opportunity to use her gifts in this role.

8. I pray I’m a better professor because of my interim pastorates. Frankly, it’s easy for professors to get a bit disconnected from the realities of day-to-day ministry. Especially in these days when the church is facing all kinds of issues, it’s good for me to be in the leadership trenches for a while.

 If you’ve been an interim pastor, what do you enjoy about the role?   

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12 Do’s and Don’ts When You Preach a Funeral

I went to social media to listen to pastors. It is always rewarding and instructing to hear from these church leaders.

My question was simple: What are some do’s and don’ts for preaching funerals? Several hundred pastors responded. I have attempted to rank the responses in order of frequency. Here are the top twelve.

1. DO preach the gospel. This response was an overwhelming number one. Pastors view a funeral as a unique time to talk about eternal matters. Many of the pastors had recommendations on how to preach the gospel in this setting.

2. DON’T have an open microphone. I did not expect this issue to be so pervasive, but it was a clear second recommendation. One pastor told the story of having to pull someone away from the microphone. The speaker was both inebriated and incoherent.

3. DO talk with the family before the funeral. The pastors emphasized how important it is to get to know the deceased through the words of his or her family.

4. DON’T make the funeral about yourself. A number of pastors expressed frustration when other pastors use themselves as the focal points of illustrations or as best friends with the deceased.

5. DO mention the deceased by name on several occasions. The pastors reminded us how much the family appreciates hearing the name of their loved ones. It is both assuring and comforting.

6. DON’T mispronounce the deceased’s name. It only takes a few minutes to confirm with family members exactly how his or her name is pronounced.

7. DO keep the message brief. Most of the recommendations were in the range of ten to twenty minutes. One pastor reminded us that a funeral is not the place to try your latest sermon.

8. DON’T preach the deceased into heaven. Many pastors admit they are often unsure about the deceased’s relationship with Christ. They emphasize that pastors should not attempt to frame the sermon as if the person was a Christian if they are unsure.

9. DO show up early for the funeral. Showing up late can be a sign of disrespect for the deceased and the family. Show up early, the pastors encouraged, and spend time with the family.

10. DON’T assume the funeral details are perfectly planned. Check with both the family and the funeral director about the order of the service and the specific requests of the family.

11. DO make personal comments and share anecdotes about the deceased. Again, it is best to get these from the family. Honor the deceased and comfort and respect the family.

12. DON’T read the obituary. Many of them are long. Most of them are boring. Incorporate key points about the deceased into your funeral message.

I am appreciative of the hundreds of pastors who shared these points and many others. I would love to hear from you about some additional insights.

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Ten Low- or No-Cost Ways to Improve Your Church’s Hospitality

When it comes to quality in ministry, many of our minds automatically gravitate to plush facilities, a/v systems that would rival a U2 concert, or a kids area that looks like something straight out of Disney World.

But I believe that churches of all shapes, sizes, and budgets can deliver a great first impression without breaking the bank. As one leader recently asked me, “I know we need to make improvements, but how do I get started when there’s just no money?”

Here’s the reality: many of your best improvements are easier, cheaper, and more immediately-accessible than you think. We tend to focus on physical gifts to our guests when we should be thinking about the spiritual gifts of our people.

Will some of these things require elbow grease or mental maneuvering on your part? Well, sure. But the most worthwhile things usually do. Here are ten ways that you can make significant steps forward without having to go begging to your finance committee:

1. Clean up your property. 

It takes a grand total of zero cents to pick up trash. Every church janitor’s closet has at least twelve half-empty bottles of Windex (I assume it’s symbolism: one for each disciple, maybe?). Schedule a work day and freshen the place up. Your guests might not notice when you do, but they will certainly notice if you don’t. Plus, it sends a signal to your people that company is coming. [Related post: Pick Up Your Junk.]

2. Train your volunteers. 

No, I’m not talking about handing Deacon Bob a stack of worship guides and saying “stand here.” That’s asking him to mindlessly perform a task. Instead, gather Deacon Bob and his friends and let them know why they’re handing out worship guides. Use the free resources on this blog to cast vision to your teams. When was the last time you offered a “Why?” training? [Related post / free download: 5 Plumb Lines for Guest Services]

3. Meet ’em where they are. 

I’m not talking about a Welcome Center that’s buried and forgotten in the church basement next to the HVAC access room. Take all of the already-purchased supplies at that Welcome Center and move it front and center in the lobby. Or better yet, go outside so your guests encounter you before they encounter whatever’s lurking on the other side of your front door. [Related post: Don’t Waste Your Welcome Center]

4. Address your guests from the stage. 

Maybe this should be titled “The number one free way to scare people off.” I’m not talking about pointing people out, but rather training your lead pastor, worship leader, and announcement guy to (a) acknowledge that guests are present and (b) send subtle signals to the congregation that they should be watching for those guests. Starting this habit leads to good things…trust me. [Related post: Six Times to Talk to Your Guests]

5. Walk them around.

When a guest shows up at your church, that visit comes with a lot of anxiety and a lot of questions: Where do I go? What do I do? What will they ask of me? Reduce the “new here” factor by giving them the inside scoop on your facility’s footprint. Rather than pointing them to the kids area, take them there. Instead of assuming they won’t get lost, assume that – because they’re new – they probably will get lost. [Related post: Don’t Point…Take!]

6. Help them take a next step.

Once a guest has shown up, help answer the “What’s next?” question. Maybe their “What’s next?” is simply showing up for a second visit. Perhaps it’s getting involved in a small group or coming to a newcomers event. Regardless of the specific step, commit to walking with them until they find it. Don’t leave them to fend for themselves. [Related post: What’s the Point of Point A to Point B?]

7. Send them a note.

Maybe you can’t afford to hand out a first time guest bag to every guest that walks onto your property. But can you afford 75 cents? That’s the cost of a notecard, an envelope, and a stamp to write a thoughtful follow up to thank your guest for coming. And don’t just sign the name of your church; put your name and contact information so they can get in touch with you. (Can’t afford the three quarters? A phone call or email is free…just don’t cut and paste that email. Make it personal!) [Related post: How Do We Get Guests Contact Information?]

8. Invite them out for coffee.

So this one can cost you a few bucks if you head to a high-end coffee shop. But most of us hang out at Starbucks or the mom and pop shop anyway, so why not invite someone along? I once knew of a pastor who handed first time guests a $5 gift card to a shop around the corner, and included his phone number and a note. The point was he wanted to make the low-pressure offer that he would be glad to join them for caffeine and conversation.  [Related post: Don’t Just Intersect]

9. Update the outdated.

Maybe you can’t afford a $100,000 renovation of your property. Perhaps it’s too expensive to refresh all of the old signage throughout the building. But as a second option: can you get rid of what no longer fits? I once consulted with a church that had signs in the parking lot pointing to the sanctuary. Which wasn’t an issue until you considered that the signs pointed to the old sanctuary which was now a fellowship hall. Even if they didn’t update signs, a screwdriver or sledgehammer could have taken care of the confusion. [Related post: All Signs Point To…What?]

10. Align your ministries. 

Circle your wagons and pull together leadership from kids, students, worship, and other ministries. Figure out what each of you are doing well in the area of guest services, and replicate what’s working across the board. If you provide great guest services and your student ministry does nothing for new families, it can be jarring. It can cause your guests to ask the question of whether or not you have your junk together. Exhibit A: several years ago we realized that we were asking for guests’ information at the First Time Guest Tent, and five minutes later our kids team was asking for the exact same information. One five minute strategy conversation allowed us to combine our efforts and lower our guests’ frustration. [Related post: Stop Muddying Your Messages]

You don’t have to raise funds in order to raise awareness for guests. The point is not your money, the point is that your guests matter. Start discovering your already-there and free resources to help people feel welcome.

This post originally appeared on dfranks.com . 

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The Right Way to Own a Ministry Mistake

I struggle with mistakes. It’s not that I fear mistakes. On the leadership risk tolerance scale, I lean towards taking more risks. Messes, mistakes, and outright failures come with taking regular, calculated risks. My struggle is not the fear of making a mistake. My struggle is the responsibility of owning the mistake.

My desire to be right supersedes my desire to take risks. In other words, I’m fine with admitting failure so long as I don’t have to deal with the problems it can create. So my attitude ends up being something like, It didn’t work. Can we just move on now? In the zero-sum game of commodities trading, or in the fast-paced race of venture capital, such an attitude might be beneficial. In the church, however, you’re being selfish when you have this attitude.

Your mistakes—my mistakes—involve people. Time, resources, and energy were poured into whatever endeavor failed. The church placed hope into something you said would work. If a ministry initiative failed because of your leadership, then you need to own it. Owning a ministry mistake is more than simply admitting it happened. Even if there was no malice on your part, even if your heart was completely pure in motive, as a leader, you must take steps to own whatever ministry mistake occurred. The four steps below will help.

1. Apologize without an excuse. I’m sorry, but. . .  I’m sorry if. . .  I’m sorry, however. . .  All wrong! These statements aren’t apologies; they are political posturing. When you make a mistake, the first step to owning it is simply saying, “I’m sorry.” Also, only address the group affected. If your mistake involved three people, then apologize to them, not the whole church. Conversely, if your mistake affected the whole church, don’t just apologize to three people.

2. Briefly explain why. Most people in the church understand leaders make mistakes. You likely won’t get much sympathy, such is the nature of leadership, but if you explain yourself, then people will understand. After apologizing, explain your actions. But don’t camp there. When you explain too much, you sound—and likely are—defensive.

3. Offer a corrective path forward. Explaining why a mistake occurred is a backward perspective. This step is a forward perspective. Tell the affected group the safeguards you’re putting in place to help prevent future, similar mistakes.

4. Don’t dwell on it. Don’t look back. Move down the corrective path and don’t wallow in the past. Some may even bring up past mistakes. Once you’ve owned the mistake, however, it’s time to move on from it. When someone mentions the previous mistake, a simple “thank you” is all you need to say.

Obviously, mistakes come in varying degrees. Taking a big risk with 25% of the church budget is completely different than trying something small with a few people. Making the same mistake five times is different than making a mistake once. The degree to which you apologize, explain why, and offer a corrective path is proportional to the size and frequency of the mistake. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake. It will happen. You just need to own it as a church leader.

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Six Reasons Your Church Welcome Ministry Is More Important Than Ever

“We are the friendliest church in town.”

That sentence or something very similar is the most common statement we’ve heard in interviews we conducted with church members during consultations. Most people active in a church really do think their church is friendly. These members have relationships and interactions that give them that perceived reality.

But when we interview guests of the same churches, we hear a different story. These guests often think the members are “unfriendly” or “cliquish.” They don’t have the established relationships members have. They are not familiar with the church facilities. They don’t know what to expect.

The church welcome ministry (or whatever your church calls it) has always been important. But the ministry is more important today than it’s ever been. Look at six reasons this level of importance has risen.

1. Church members are returning to church after a long absence. The pandemic kept them away. Many have returned, but not all have. Some are easing back into church cautiously and slowly. It is critical for the welcome ministry to encourage these returning members to get back into a rhythm and habit of gathering regularly.

2. More new guests are arriving. During the quarantine, a number of new residents moved into your community. They have not had an opportunity to visit a church, but they are ready now. For some unchurched people, the angst of the COVID era has them asking questions about God, church, and faith. Some will show up at your church.

3. Context has changed. Yes, the world has changed. The local church is a microcosm of some of the contextual changes of our society. Specifically, the ways we greet people in many contexts have changed. Hugs are mostly out. Handshakes are in some places and out in others. The availability of visible sanitizers is necessary in most churches. Those who participate in the welcome ministry are aware of the best ways to greet guests.

4. First impressions are more important than ever. Because some of the guests have not been in a church for months, perhaps even a few years, the first few moments they arrive on the church property are critical. They could return repeatedly, or they could decide it’s not worth the risk and effort.

5. Few church members are naturally welcoming to guests. They naturally gravitate to people they know. They may be uncertain if a person is a guest or a member they don’t know. Leaders can exhort church members to be friendly, but the challenge for it to happen will always be there. The welcome ministry fills this void, and the void has been exacerbated during the pandemic.

6. It is biblical. While we don’t see a formal welcome ministry per se in the Bible, the importance of hospitality is clear and powerful. For example, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13). Additionally, Paul’s qualifications for church leaders include hospitality (see 1 Timothy 3:2-3).

Your church’s welcome ministry has always been important. But it is likely it is more important than ever.

What is your church doing for its welcome ministry? I would love to hear from you.

The post Six Reasons Your Church Welcome Ministry Is More Important Than Ever appeared first on Church Answers.