Is Your Coffee Hour Chaotic Enough?
Researcher Kirk Hadaway has discovered that coffee hour in rapidly growing Episcopal churches is different than in the average congregation. It tends to be more…
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Making Outsiders Feel like Insiders
Growing churches are churches that have learned that God intends for us to be a people for others. The church needs more than its pastor…
The Over-Stuffed Bulletin
Do you remember those prank peanut cans? You would buy one at a novelty store, and then give it to one of your friends. When…
Can New People Navigate Your Worship?
Many churches have a way of doing things that doesn’t allow for new people to connect. Without even knowing it, we exclude those we truly…
The Greeter Gauntlet
I have visited churches where I approach the front doors and am immediately met by my first greeter. The eager greeter hands me a bulletin…
10 Best Practice Tips for Hospitality Teams
Fiona Haworth and Jim Ozier, authors of Clip-In: Risking Hospitality in Your Church, offer ten tips for improving the work of your hospitality team and…
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Last summer I joined a large group of extended family and friends at the beach. There were, on and off, about twenty-five to thirty of…
Host Bridge Events to Reach New People
One of the disciplines of a disciple of Jesus Christ is to establish relationships with people we do not know — the unconnected — therefore…
The Ten Minute Rule
The first impression guests leave with determines whether they will be back. So what is it that goes into a good first impression? We interviewed…
Do New People at Your Church Need a GPS?
Have you ever asked for directions? The practice was much more common in pre-GPS days. As a pastor in small towns and rural areas of…
Thinking Like a Host
From beginning to end, the Bible teaches us how to be hospitable. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we find stories of people acting as…
Five Must-Know Facts about First-Time Guests
Healthy and growing churches pay close attention to the people they count as members, as well as those people who are not yet a part…
An Open Letter to Churches Seeking New Members
My husband and I moved to the city a few years ago and have been “between churches” ever since. We’ve been to visit quite a…
Your Website is Your Church’s Welcome Mat
Increasingly, those looking for a church begin their search online. Therefore, a congregation’s website must function as a satellite of their church. Consider every part…
The Ministry of Greeting is for Everyone
In many churches, the approach to greeting worshipers assumes that the main focus should be on greeting guests and that seasoned church members make the…
Top 10 Learnings about Welcoming Newcomers
Churches often define their success in welcoming newcomers by the number of people who become members of their church. At Redeemer we have shifted our…
Travelers’ Christmas Eve Service
The Travelers’ Christmas Eve Service is quite the tradition at Park Avenue United Methodist Church in New York City. It is part of our Space…
Ways to Welcome Worship Guests Warmly
Greet guests when they first arrive in the parking lot. Greet guests as they arrive at the door, saying “Good to see you. Glad you…
Who is Visiting Small Churches These Days?
When small church lay and clergy leaders gather, the first comments you often hear reflect an understandable anger, defensiveness, and dread of an imminent future.…
Everyone Welcome?
Many congregations truly do believe they are open to everyone until someone different comes along making them feel uncomfortable. I meet people all the time…
