Are you looking to create a more welcoming environment for church visitors? If so, you’re not alone. Many churches struggle with creating a welcoming environment for visitors, which can lead to a decrease in attendance and membership. In this article, we’ll explore three questions to examine how your church is doing when it comes to welcoming visitors. By answering these questions, you can identify areas where you can improve and create a more welcoming environment for all.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Why Welcoming Visitors Is Important
- What Does Your Church Look Like from the Outside?
- Assessing Your Church’s Exterior
- Enhancing Your Church’s Curb Appeal
- How Are Visitors Greeted When They Enter Your Church?
- Evaluating Your Church’s Welcome Team
- Improving Your Church’s Welcome Process
- How Do You Follow Up with Visitors After Their Visit?
- Assessing Your Church’s Follow-Up Process
- Enhancing Your Church’s Follow-Up Process
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- Access More Prompts
Why Welcoming Visitors Is Important
Before we dive into the questions to examine, let’s first discuss why welcoming visitors is so important. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. This includes welcoming visitors to our church with open arms. Creating a welcoming environment can also lead to more visitors becoming regular attendees, which can help grow the church’s membership and outreach efforts. Additionally, welcoming visitors can provide an opportunity to share the love of Christ and make a positive impact in their lives.
What Does Your Church Look Like from the Outside?
The first question to examine when it comes to welcoming visitors is what your church looks like from the outside. This includes assessing the exterior of your church and enhancing your curb appeal. Visitors will often make a snap judgment about your church based on its appearance, so it’s important to make a good first impression.
Assessing Your Church’s Exterior
Start by taking a walk around your church’s exterior and assess its appearance. Is it well-maintained, or does it look rundown? Are there any signs of neglect or damage, such as peeling paint or broken windows? Take note of any areas that need improvement and make a plan to address them.
Enhancing Your Church’s Curb Appeal
Once you’ve assessed your church’s exterior, consider ways to enhance your curb appeal. This can include adding landscaping, painting the exterior, or installing new signage. Make sure your church’s name and address are clearly visible, and consider adding a welcoming message to greet visitors as they approach the building.
How Are Visitors Greeted When They Enter Your Church?
The second question to examine is how visitors are greeted when they enter your church. This includes evaluating your church’s welcome team and improving your welcome process.
Evaluating Your Church’s Welcome Team
Start by observing your church’s welcome team. Are they friendly and welcoming, or do they seem disinterested or unapproachable? Do they make eye contact and introduce themselves, or do they avoid contact altogether? Take note of any areas where your welcome team could improve and provide feedback or training as needed.
Improving Your Church’s Welcome Process
In addition to evaluating your welcome team, consider ways to improve your church’s welcome process. This can include providing clear signage to direct visitors to the sanctuary or restrooms, offering a welcome packet with information about your church, or providing a designated area for visitors to ask questions and get more information about upcoming events or programs. It’s important to make sure visitors feel valued and have the information they need to make the most of their visit.
How Do You Follow Up with Visitors After Their Visit?
The third question to examine is how your church follows up with visitors after their visit. This includes assessing your church’s follow-up process and enhancing it to make sure visitors feel welcomed and valued.
Assessing Your Church’s Follow-Up Process
Start by evaluating your church’s follow-up process. Do you have a system in place to collect visitors’ contact information, such as a guest book or online form? Do you follow up with visitors after their visit, either through a phone call, email, or letter? Take note of any areas where your follow-up process could be improved.
Enhancing Your Church’s Follow-Up Process
Once you’ve assessed your church’s follow-up process, consider ways to enhance it. This can include sending a personalized letter or email thanking visitors for their visit and inviting them to upcoming events, providing a gift such as a book or CD, or assigning a member of your church to follow up with visitors personally. Make sure to follow up in a timely manner, ideally within a week of their visit.
Conclusion
Creating a welcoming environment for church visitors is an important part of growing your church’s membership and outreach efforts. By examining the three questions outlined in this article, you can identify areas where your church can improve and make a positive impact on visitors’ lives. Remember to assess your church’s exterior, evaluate your welcome team, and enhance your follow-up process to create a welcoming environment for all.
FAQs
- Why is it important to welcome visitors to your church?
- Welcoming visitors is important because it can help grow your church’s membership and outreach efforts, as well as provide an opportunity to share the love of Christ and make a positive impact in visitors’ lives.
- How can I enhance my church’s curb appeal?
- Enhancing your church’s curb appeal can include adding landscaping, painting the exterior, or installing new signage. Make sure your church’s name and address are clearly visible, and consider adding a welcoming message to greet visitors as they approach the building.
- What should I include in a welcome packet for visitors?
- A welcome packet for visitors can include information about your church’s history and mission, upcoming events and programs, and contact information for church staff.
- How should I follow up with visitors after their visit?
- Following up with visitors can include sending a personalized letter or email thanking them for their visit, providing a gift such as a book or CD, or assigning a member of your church to follow up with them personally.
- How soon should I follow up with visitors after their visit?
- Ideally, you should follow up with visitors within a week of their visit to make sure they feel welcomed and valued.
