One of our users has given me a potential outline for a greeter training meeting. She’s filled out details that are unique to her church, but here are some of the major movements:
- Hospitality Vision
- What is Church Hospitality?
- The difference between Hospitality and Evangelism
- 4 Factors of Effective Hospitality
- Goals of our Hospitality Ministry: Visitors
- Goals of our Hospitality Ministry: Members and Regular Attenders
- Greeter Duties
- Greeter Positions and Locations
- How to Welcome People
- 10 Tips for Greeters
- 20 Dangers to Avoid
- Fall Schedule of Events
- 4 Greeting Scenarios
Are there slides or details you would add?
What have you found helpful to do in your greeter training events?
Becky Rotroff says
Current Church culture – how this fits in; how it is different; why the change
Scripture references to hospitality
Why they should serve
“What if” situations pertinent to specific Church
Role play on greeting new guests.
Hope this helps!!
Pastor Rich Hill says
One of the things we teach greeters is how to give a brief “tour” or our church facilities, including the history of the congregation and a brief description ofwhat goes on around the church. People often ask questions about things that matter most to them whilce they are touring. While touring we also introduce the visitors to members, leaders, etc who they see along the way.
Les Brown says
I believe considerable attention needs to be devoted to the WHY? of making people feel welcome. The life blood of a church rests on recruitment of new members. It is not just a matter of being “nice and friendly”; it involves the reasons for coping with a continuing problem.
Lucia says
Love it! By the way–what are the 20 dangers to avoid?
Thanks!
Lucia Vining
Brian Fautch says
I got this from a friend who is on our worship team. He had this observation looking at things from “up front”.
One thing that I would include for anyone who is ushering, worship team sound, on stage, etc. is to be aware of anything that is a distraction and/or interruption to the people in the worship service. Distractions I can think of can be as simple as a burned out or flickering light or inappropriate dress, hair styles, dirty windows, bad sound, slow slides and so forth. And of course CRYING babies. Obviously, the usher can’t handle all of those, but I think the philosophy holds true for many different situations and can be a point to help ushers determine whether they should do something about it or not..
I like the comment we were taught to use at our first church. “…. is there anything I can help you with?” At least it let’s them know they are being noticed and we are willing to help them.
Bobby G says
First off, this looks like a great agenda. Can I use it? 😉 I would also agree with Pastor Rich that church history and facility familiarity are key components.
So my edit would be to start with the church history/philosophy/calling, (or Biblical purpose for church in general). Then add Biblical foundation for hospitality, then present the vision as an application of those Biblical foundations which would naturally flow a discussion of hospitality vs evangelism.
Nicely done
Cheryl Duke says
Part of the fear factor of coming to church is knowing where things are (bathrooms)(nursery)(pastor’s office) and the biggest is “will I be accepted (sitting in someone’s seat) (clothing, hairstyle), and knowing when to stand and sit in worship.
I watched some of my “best folk” forget to sit with visitors as we ate hotdogs and visited following a blessing of the pets this past Sunday afternoon. 🙁
Also add a section on this agenda about how easy it is to forget and make our comfort zone exclusive instead of inclusive of others. It doesn’t make us BAD, but we are all tempted to forget that visitors have a reason for being there that we don’t know…and it usually is something important (death, marriage, children, needing to be accepted).
Wayne Hogan says
This sounds great! When training my First Touch Team, the training was and is one of the best tools in making everyone feel apart. The new people, the current ones and this is what impacts the TEAM causing others to say they really care. Ever extra step means the welcome mat is out. Teaching greeting styles, politeness, all these things work, and remember to always let the staff know how well their doing. Thankfulness for staff volunteers goes along ways.
EvangelismCoach says
@Rich: how to give a tour is a great idea, particularly in the larger campuses. Do you offer tours to first time visitors, or people who request them?
@Lucia: Have your team brainstorm the 20 things to avoid. This is a good team building exercise.
@brian: good observation. Part of a great greeting team is expecting a need, seeing it need and then taking initiative to meet it. So many possibilities . .
EvangelismCoach says
All of you are adding great comments and suggestions.
Seems like training greeters is something that is more than one meeting. ..
Dottie says
Thanks Chris for this helpful video. I am looking forward to the next series. What I have found, is that less is best. A simple WELCOME usually works well. Some guests like more of a greeting and some really don’t want to be greeted at all. They just want to show up, enter the Sanctuary, and sit down as quickly as possible. Some people have joined the Church because someone greeted them. We have to also be aware of body language.