In this 4th video, I want to address some of the most common problems I have run into as a trainer of church greeters.
As I have spent time with various churches over the years, these are three common problems that most of you need to address:
- A Stinky Church Greeter
- A Hugger of a Greeter
- A Bored Greeter
When the video is over, I’ll invite you to email me your challenges that greeters present you. I want to create some new videos this year.
As I mentioned in the video, if you have a challenged greeter, feel free to email me your question and I’ll work at turning it into a video.
photo credit: Leo Reynolds via cc
Russ Elliott says
Chris, how do I save the video for training purposes? The first two had a youtube link. I tried right clicking but there is no choice, “save to target” option.
This is a very useful video…..Russ
David Moore says
Can we order the video. This is very helpful.
EvangelismCoach says
The video is free on the internet. You can play it anytime you want.
I don’t have it on a DVD for sale.
Lilia says
Chris, thank you so much. I still am learning on how to become a good usher. Yesterday was week three of my being an usher. We have this new visitor who has been coming now for four weeks with her two kids…one a five year old and one like a year old. When they first came the kids were very well behaved. But last week and yesterday the little boy was having some tantrums and the mother was completely absorbing what the pastor was saying because she has to take her son out and then come back doing this several times. She kept looking at her phone so I requested her to turn it down. But yesterday my pastor told me to restrain her kids because we are starting the service. I wanted to take the son outside ( I told you before we are just in a room at the public library) but at the same time I am the only usher and I want to hear the what the pastor was saying. I just told her that our service is starting that if she could just prevent the son from making noises. So her concentration was in the son. Even in Sunday school she was listening to the lesson but more on the son. I think she got upset and motioned her daughter that they were leaving. How do I handle this? My pastor’s wife who is also a pastor asked what I told her. And I told her that we are starting the service and if possible to prevent from going in and out of the room.
EvangelismCoach says
@Lilia:
Thanks for the question from a real life situation. I love questions like these.
I’d suggest a conversation with your leadership about what to do with disruptive children.
Some churches will let children be children and tolerate the noises, restlessness, etc, because they celebrate and value the presence of children. It becomes a community effort to help children learn what behavior is expected in church.
Others have a culture where reverence and decorum will make disruptions unpleasant, no matter how small they are. Your leadership team will need to decide how to handle it in a courteous manner.
As to being the usher, your service to your guests is important. While wanting to hear your pastor teach is always a good desire, there may be times where service to your guest will require you to set that aside.
Always think about how to honor your guests.
Innocent says
So insightful. Pls differentiate usher, greeters , nd protocol. I need more newsletters on usher, greeters nd protocol.
Susan says
I am preparing a presentation for our church on being a greeter, approaching it from the sense that we are all greeters and have certain responsibilities even if we are not on the official greeter roster or if it isn’t our Sunday. (BTW, we are a small church and typically only have 2-4 greeters on duty at a time.) I am using the tag line “This is a Ministry” for one section of my discussion and was pleased to hear you say the same thing in your video. Of course, you addressed it more from the Biblical perspective while I am dealing with it in a slightly different fashion. I will say that maybe a church member cannot serve on the outreach or campus ministry committee or participate in community projects. Or maybe a member lives/works out of town and cannot get to the church during the week to go to choir practice or committee meetings. But being a greeter is something that everybody can do! It doesn’t take a lot of extra time or an extra day of the week! In order to accomplish the work of the church, we need EVERYBODY to do their part. So if committees and hammering nails and cooking community dinners aren’t someone’s areas of expertise, maybe smiling, handing out bulletins, and pointing people in the right direction can be!
Just thought I’d share. But I am going to incorporate your words about hospitality to our guests being a chance to express the tangible love of Christ!
Thanks for your ministry as well!
RAM says
Thanks so much Chris for sharing your experiences, i find your instructions very helpful and easy to implement. God bless you
Sandra Thomas says
How do you handle a greeter that is constantly late on her Sunday to greet. I’ve hinted, pulled her to the side several times, but nothing works. She shows up during the middle of the service. This has become very ornoring a I do not know how to handle. Is it possibble to address this in a video? I am having a workshop very soon.
EvangelismCoach says
Hold her and all greeters to certain expectations.
If she can’t live up to the expectations, she can’t be a volunteer.
Also keep the vision in the forefront – how greeters help set the tone for hearing the word of God.
EvangelismCoach says
Your Welcome Ram. Thanks for stopping By.
Joan says
I have a question about sensitivity training. We have some well intentioned folks who ask inappropriate questions ( about where someone is from, what is their background meaning their ethnicity or race,) or are too ” pushy” with visitors. Do you have a list of ” don’t ask” besides the ” is this your first time here”?
Felicia simon says
Thank you pastor your teachings are very helpful to us in my Church.
Steven D says
We have a door greeter who is a wonderful man filled with the love of God. Her saw his calling too open the door and greet. He has occupied the Door for about four years. We are trying to span pour greeting from a process to a ministry. Few times I was asked by senior pastor to take door greeting. It was a Christian territorial situation. He simply remained where he has over the four years. We want to show diversity and keep a refreshed and jovial atmosphere. Encouraging shingles and couples. Women relate to women as men relate to men.
Maria J Allen says
I am learning a lot from these videos. I would like to share with you a few experiences that I have had.
I see the greeter as so vital, as it is the first impression. It goes a long way, but other dynamics can sometimes undo it pretty quickly…My husband and I attended a church that was friendly and really grounded in the faith. Yet the majority of the people were huggers, including the pastor. It felt more like high school than going to church. We would end up hugging people so as not to come across cold…The second example is from a different church, in which some of the females, including the pastor’s wife, dressed provocatively. This turned me off in a big way and we ended up leaving that church too… The third example was a legalistic church, where short hair on women was frowned upon. I am white with unruly ethnic hair and have to wear it short. Even though I am feminine and dressed appropriately, I was looked down upon, or so it seemed.
All three churches had good greeting skills, but has not stopped us from looking for other churches that strive to walk the talk in all areas. We’re still looking for a church with balance.