Most congregations I visit, as I give over 200 messages a year across the country, of a variety of denominations, think of themselves as friendly to outsiders – but are they?
Having a friendly welcoming church has never been more important. Canadian churches today must focus outward on mission with relevant evangelism and honest outreach into their communities. The old “attractional” model of church growth no longer works as it once did – but, at some point, spiritual seekers and new believers might want to come into our buildings. When they walk through our church doors will they find genuine love, understanding, acceptance, nurture and, specially, friendships? Will they want to return, invite their friends to come next time and, ultimately, become a growing part of our faith community? If what they encounter seems less than genuine, irrelevant, not understandable or they are made to feel as outsiders they will never return.
A young couple with two little children, like many first time visitors, arrived early at the church I was leading in a major Canadian city. They made their way into the empty sanctuary and chose the third pew to the left. No sooner had they sat down than one of the old members of the church who had been talking to her friends in the lobby and ignoring the new family now walked down the aisle towards them. The couple stood expecting a greeting and possibly help with finding the right Sunday school room for their children. Instead, this “pillar” of the church said: “Would you move. You are in my pew!” The new family graciously moved but never returned. Sadly I hear horror stories like this all the time.
A doctor friend of mine from Ghana went to a church in BC for the first time with his family and the greeter at the door told them to go to the black church down the road. The Dr.obviously never went back to that congregation.
At one church I spoke at all the regulars came early to chat and put coats, bibles, purses etc. across the best seats (I counted close to 100 "taken" seats). The message this gives to any new person (who usually arrive early) is “this is for us. You are an outsider and not welcome here”. This church had far more seats saved than people each Sunday.
Knowing that those seeking for God and new Christians touched by our many outreach efforts will show up for a service at our church and can be either attracted and encounter Christ amongst us or repelled by how we interact with them makes us realize how extremely important it is to regularly “Friendly-ize” (I invented this word as the title of a leadership seminar that I have developed on effective retention) our church. Souls hang in the balance. We cannot take it lightly.
So how do we “Friendly-ize” a church?
Here is a simple group exercise that I developed that could could start the process for you.
1. Tell your worst department store shopping experience.
2. List what things would make you never want to go back to a certain department store.
3. Tell your best shopping experience in a department store.
4. List what the store did or did not do that made you want to go back and tell all your friends.
5. Apply what you just learned to your church.
To book David to speak at an event:
e-mail: arrol.mac@hotmail.com
Cell: 519 503 8380
Having a friendly welcoming church has never been more important. Canadian churches today must focus outward on mission with relevant evangelism and honest outreach into their communities. The old “attractional” model of church growth no longer works as it once did – but, at some point, spiritual seekers and new believers might want to come into our buildings. When they walk through our church doors will they find genuine love, understanding, acceptance, nurture and, specially, friendships? Will they want to return, invite their friends to come next time and, ultimately, become a growing part of our faith community? If what they encounter seems less than genuine, irrelevant, not understandable or they are made to feel as outsiders they will never return.
A young couple with two little children, like many first time visitors, arrived early at the church I was leading in a major Canadian city. They made their way into the empty sanctuary and chose the third pew to the left. No sooner had they sat down than one of the old members of the church who had been talking to her friends in the lobby and ignoring the new family now walked down the aisle towards them. The couple stood expecting a greeting and possibly help with finding the right Sunday school room for their children. Instead, this “pillar” of the church said: “Would you move. You are in my pew!” The new family graciously moved but never returned. Sadly I hear horror stories like this all the time.
A doctor friend of mine from Ghana went to a church in BC for the first time with his family and the greeter at the door told them to go to the black church down the road. The Dr.obviously never went back to that congregation.
At one church I spoke at all the regulars came early to chat and put coats, bibles, purses etc. across the best seats (I counted close to 100 "taken" seats). The message this gives to any new person (who usually arrive early) is “this is for us. You are an outsider and not welcome here”. This church had far more seats saved than people each Sunday.
Knowing that those seeking for God and new Christians touched by our many outreach efforts will show up for a service at our church and can be either attracted and encounter Christ amongst us or repelled by how we interact with them makes us realize how extremely important it is to regularly “Friendly-ize” (I invented this word as the title of a leadership seminar that I have developed on effective retention) our church. Souls hang in the balance. We cannot take it lightly.
So how do we “Friendly-ize” a church?
Here is a simple group exercise that I developed that could could start the process for you.
1. Tell your worst department store shopping experience.
2. List what things would make you never want to go back to a certain department store.
3. Tell your best shopping experience in a department store.
4. List what the store did or did not do that made you want to go back and tell all your friends.
5. Apply what you just learned to your church.
To book David to speak at an event:
e-mail: arrol.mac@hotmail.com
Cell: 519 503 8380
