What are the ten most important minutes in a church service?
Check out what the research shows and why your church greeters cannot go off duty.
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Bonus Video
Rev. Susan and I talk about her experience of visiting a church with her family of 6. See how this failed to play out.
Possible Small Talk Phrases
I’ve written a bunch of articles related to this at EvangelismCoach.org
- Your Turn: What to say to returning church members
- For Greeters: What to say to A Church Visitor
- Your Turn: Help a Shy Church Greeter
Comment:
What are some of the phrases you like to use to help get a conversation started with your first time visitor?
For more greeter training, consider getting your copy of Church Greeter Training DVD set. They are recorded webinars I have given.
Kathy says
We have pew pads we sign and pass down for all to sign. At Guest Meeting on this past Sunday I asked everyone to look over the names and if someone they do not know, (or they see they have marked visitor) please go out of your way after the service to introduce yourself to them.
Also our Pastor every Sunday welcomes and encourages visitors and everyone to sign and fill out the pads. Should not take for granted everyone knows to fill out pads.
I believe one of our churches biggest issue is we are unsure if someone is new or we just havent met them yet. We are trying some of your suggestions on the wording to use when greeting someone. “I dont believe I have meet you yet” our church has grown a lot in last 5 years and we now have 2 morning services. Thank you for your coaching videos, I have also purchased Church Greeters 101 book and Greeter training webinar #2
EvangelismCoach says
Kathy:
I’m not a big fan of pew pads, but that is a personal choice. I’ve not yet visited a church where that was successful in helping members talk to the visitor. I’ve actually experienced the reverse – people know I’m visiting, but choose not to talk with me.
You’ve identified the real issue – recognizing a visitor and personally greeting them. I’ll need to make a video specifically on that one.
Thanks for dropping by. I look forward to more comments from you on future videos.
cindy says
Thank you for suggesting the greeters came back after service. Great idea! I also purchased your book and just got it yesterday….looking forward to implementation. I just took over the lead position and it needs a major overhaul….Thank you again.
EvangelismCoach says
Your welcome. Inviting your greeters to “come back on duty” when the service is over is one small but siginificant change to take your friendliness up a notch.
As a buyer of my book, if you want a free coaching hour, simply email me and we’ll set it up. It’s a bonus that I offer.
Elizabeth Perrin says
Never heard of the term “Passing the Peace” before. I do like some of the ideas presented here and will be looking at some of your other videos for ideas. I am taking the leadership role in our church regarding ushers, greeters, and hospitality team so could use all the ideas that you have. Thank you for doing this great ministry.
EvangelismCoach says
You might like this idea as a place to start:
http://www.evangelismcoach.org/2013/starting-a-new-role-as-leader-of-your-church-welcome-committee/
Here is a collection of 10 articles for new chairpersons like you:
http://www.evangelismcoach.org/fix-your-church-hospitality/
Pam Grant says
Thanks for your emails 🙂
I have the role of overseeing greeting/welcoming in our Church and have been encouraged by your videos & information. We have had some of the same issues & I’ve realized that it is very crucial to have the people with the appropriate giftings to serve in these areas.
shawn Bazil says
Good afternoon Pastor hoe do i get a youtube link for ” why your ushers cant go off duty”
9 HOPE SPRING CRESENT
SILVER HILLS
EvangelismCoach says
Thanks for asking. At this moment, that video is not availble on YouTube. It is available here. At some point, I plan to have it on a DVD.
EvangelismCoach says
You are welcome. I’m glad you find these videos encouraging. If you have secured a copy of Church Greeeters 101, I’d love to offer your group an hour of follow up conversation specific to your church.
Gail says
Thank you for these videos. They are a reminder for me, as a greeter to BE friendly. We never know who is new sometimes, as I am in a large congregation. We greet one time each month but our Pastor has always reminded the whole congregation to go out of our way, after the service to look for someone we do not know. I must admit that sometimes I get distracted . I am greeting with my husband this week and will enjoy this reminder to get to know someone new this week!…. Thanks, Gail
Julia Golden says
I’ve been ask to become a greeter at my church I pretty well know everyone that come out on a regular basis but to be lead greeter I must know how to get the greeter under my leadership trained for success in this area of church greeter after you have welcome the people visiting and being lead to a seating area then a fill out information form with name address and printed welcome on the form w/a small token of appreciation such as a book mark or pen with the church logo on it,before service all visitor’s will be asked to please stand and introduce themselves welcome them to the church whoever is greeting should have this job as church folks you should know to be friendly w/ a smile on your face and a praise on your lips js
Tracey Moore says
I think that this video should not only be shown to the greeter team, but to the whole congregation. It’s everyone’s job to be a greeter. People need to be made aware of their responsibility as a member of the church and the body of Christ.
Carol Johnson says
My Great Grandson, age 12, lives with me. He opens the front door when folks come in and says “Good Morning. Welcome.” I am in the Narthex and say, “Hello, it is good to see you this morning,” and ask them to sign in, so we can contact them later. We usually recognize if the person is a new visitor. We live in a tourist town. Sometimes I say, “Are you from around here?” And they will say, “We are passing through on vacation,” or “We live here,” and the conversation goes from there. After the service, I stand at the door and say, “Have a good week,” or “We hope to see you soon.” Last Sunday a lady with a grown challenged child visited. His name was Matthew, and he had walked out of the church holding the Bible from the pew. So my Grandson offered to take the Bible back into the church for them. So all kinds of things come up. Just being helpful in any situation. We have had a gentleman with a back pack come in the front door looking for food. So you take him back to the kitchen and fill up his back pack, and off he went, riding his bicycle to Mobile. So you never know. I’ve enjoyed your videos and suggestions. Thank you.
Ginger says
I agree! When I first went to the church we are now members of there was no way to know where to go, no body was talking to us, they all had their own “cliques”. I think we should scan and look for others to talk to and tell them we hope you come back!
Mike Delaney says
Hi,
somehow I have deleted the 1st of your video’s – 6 embarrassing words – I have actually ordered the Training series but wanted to set up my leadership team with the free series first
Robert Allen says
Thanks! Our “greeting time” during the early section of our service is when we do the hugging and ask all visitors to remain sitting, so they can be identified. Is that a good idea? I’ve heard that it is not a good thing to identify visitors from the pulpit. Getting our greeters to stay at their “post” during the service will be challenging….
Elaine Kindl says
When announcing Pass the Peace, our Pastor challenges everyone to greet someone they do not know. That doesn’t single out visitors but encourage everyone to seek some one they don’t usually speak to. Its not a time to hug your friends and family.
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Felicia simon says
Thank you sir for the video.
Felicia simon says
We only go inside the church when the sermon is about to start and after the sermon we then go back to our position to wish everyone that was present in the church service a blessed week