A church should be a welcoming place where new parishioners feel free to shop around and meet new people. Since many of us have forgotten what it means to be new to a congregation, we often forget to put ourselves in the shoes of the newcomer and make him feel welcome. Learn to welcome new members and introduce them to your church, to make the experience memorable and avoid some common mistakes that may discourage interested people from joining your community.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Introducing Your Church to New Parishioners
Step 1. Assign the task of welcoming specific people
The welcome should be given to new parishioners when they get out of the car after parking. Going to church can be a bewildering experience for many people, so you should try to make newcomers feel as welcome as possible. To this end, many churches instruct some people to stand in their parking lots to welcome them so that newcomers have an idea of where to go and do not feel discouraged before they even set foot in the building.
- Assign the assignment to members of the congregation who know how to be warm and kind. An excellent choice would be to choose from the younger, more lively members to give them something to do before the service, or to choose from the older members to make them feel useful.
- Ask the welcome committee to avoid using any kind of language that could be misunderstood as an accusation by making newcomers feel unwelcome. Phrases such as "What are you doing here? - or - What do you need?" Instead, it should always be assumed that newcomers are where they should be. One should say, "Hey, there! Welcome! How are you today?" It is necessary to know how to listen to others and help them.
Step 2. Introduce yourself
Avoid putting pressure on newcomers by making them feel compelled to show up first. They should feel comfortable relaxing, be left alone if that's what they want or talk to others and make new friends if they want. Don't let them feel pressured by going to them and introducing you, introducing them to your family, and asking for their names.
Treat the new parishioners as if they were people, not as "guests". They came to your church hoping to feel welcome, not to be treated as if they were strangers to the congregation. Ask them questions and learn as much as you can about newcomers to try to make them comfortable. Try to find points you have in common to establish a dialogue and make them feel like they are already a part of the community
Step 3. Take them for a spin
Many parish members forget what it means to enter a church for the first time. Most newcomers are not interested in discussing profound philosophical issues and the content of the sermon. They just try to figure out where to park and where to sit to listen to the function. They just want to feel welcome. Go with the lead and focus on how to go about helping them get comfortable and make the experience enjoyable and stress-free.
- Make sure newcomers know where to park, grab a cup of coffee, and hang up their coats. Prepare a booklet describing that day's function and be available to answer any questions.
- Weather permitting, take them for a tour of the building. Show newcomers the room where the function will be held and other interesting features if they are interested. Some show interest when the congregation story is told to them.
Step 4. Let newcomers know that they are welcome to join your congregation, but don't put pressure on them as long as they do
Different churches require different procedures to join their community, and you shouldn't assume that all newcomers will know how to join. Some may not even know they need to follow a procedure. Make sure newcomers know what to do, but avoid trying to coerce or force them.
- Ask newcomers if they are interested in further information by asking them questions and trying to find out what exactly they want. If one of them had come to church because he was visiting some relatives and lives in another city, it would be useless to try to provide him with material on your community. Make them feel welcome, but don't worry too much about letting them join the congregation.
- This can be quite a difficult step in welcoming newcomers, because you shouldn't assume that every newcomer is interested in joining the community. Your best bet is to try to get them involved and get them to sign the guest book so you will have their contact information available and you can contact them later.
Step 5. Decide when to back off
Everyone is different, and some guests may simply want to hear the sermon and be left alone. If they have lived the experience as a pleasant one, they will come back and you can try to get to know them better next time. Do not assume that newcomers who are on their own or are not too talkative behave this way because they feel uncomfortable. Perhaps their purpose was to sneak among the other parishioners to listen to the service in complete tranquility. Try to recognize those newcomers who belong to this category and leave them alone. Just introduce yourself and provide your name, so they have someone to contact in case they ever want more information.
Part 2 of 3: Making the Experience Memorable
Step 1. Establish a direct dialogue
The welcoming committee should be able to listen to new parishioners and seek to establish an open and genuine dialogue with them. Open up to new members of your parish to make them feel welcome by showing a real interest in them to know where they come from, what they are looking for and who they are. Learn the names of the guests and remember them.
Step 2. Help newcomers meet new people
Probably the most effective way to make a newcomer feel welcome is to help them form bonds with existing members of the congregation. One of the main reasons people feel intimidated by joining a new church is because they don't know anyone. These fears are quick to disappear as soon as they get to know others, so do your best to make it happen.
Newcomers to a church should always meet with the pastor before leaving if they are interested. Make introductions after the sermon is finished. If newcomers aren't interested, don't force them
Step 3. Invite newcomers to sit with you
After introducing yourself, invite newcomers to sit with you and your family so that they feel welcome, as if they already have a friend among the congregation members. Standing in front of crowded church pews can be overwhelming for newcomers, but if you give them one less cause for concern, the experience will be better for them.
Step 4. Provide a daycare during the service
Many large churches have daycare services available, so it would be a great idea to have one ready for newcomers to help them decide to join your community in case they have children. It may be quite embarrassing for them to make such a request and many may not be aware of the possibility of using this service.
If newcomers feel uncomfortable leaving their children in a kindergarten at a church they have never attended before, try to be understanding. While this is rarely the case, try to meet their needs as much as possible
Step 5. Invite newcomers to church-organized events and occasions
Sunday morning Bible reading and weekly meetings are classic examples. You can also invite them to one-time events, such as a weekend picnic or a church-organized vacation. Make them feel welcome and keep them informed.
Invite newcomers out for lunch, or to a meeting of members after the service. If dinners where each guest brings a dish or similar events are a custom in your community, invite newcomers as if they were already members of the community so that they feel more than welcome. Even an informal gathering at a buffet can help them feel part of the congregation. This sense of belonging may be just what they seek
Step 6. Contact them again
Message newcomers if they have left their contact information in the guest book. Don't send them the weekly newsletter and church bulletins without getting their permission, but send them a short note letting them know how much you enjoyed your meeting and, in doing so, invite them to come back to church.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid These Common Mistakes
Step 1. Don't pressure newcomers to join the community right away
Even if you find that they are looking for a new church and would like to join your community, don't give them a bunch of paperwork to fill without even giving them time to hang up their coat. Focus on making the experience enjoyable and stress-free for newcomers and let them decide whether to join or not. Be available to answer their questions and help them, but don't try to force them.
Step 2. Don't make them sit in the front row
Putting the spotlight on newcomers is something you shouldn't do. Nobody would enjoy being treated like an animal in a zoo the first time they step into a church full of strangers. Don't make things worse by having them sit in the front row for all to see.
Step 3. Don't let newcomers have to show up on their own
Forcing newcomers to stand up to present themselves in front of a room full of people they don't know is the best way to make them flee. Try not to ask guests to stand up and talk about themselves, even if you're only doing it to welcome them. If you have to say something, just make a joke like, "It's nice to see some new faces today!" But don't draw too much attention to them or you'll end up making them feel uncomfortable.
On the other hand, some people are very talkative and want to open up to others. Encourage them to do this with enthusiasm if they show an interest. Accept their prayer requests and give them other opportunities to contribute to the function if they wish
Step 4. Do not ask staff or deacons to identify new arrivals
Some churches ask staff to check people present during the service and make note of any new arrivals who have not been noticed before. Try to prevent new arrivals from feeling like intruders who have to present their documents to the carabinieri. If guests just want to hear the feature and leave right after, let them be free to do so.
Step 5. Don't have a welcome song sung
Some churches organize actual rituals to welcome newcomers. These include songs that are sung whenever there are new faces in the audience. This is very embarrassing; do not do it.
