On any given week of the year, thousands of people will be making the walk from their car to the entrance of a church for the very first time. For some, it will be the first time they’ve ever set foot in a church, and for others, it will be their first time trying out a new church. In either situation, that walk from the car to the entrance can be filled with fear, anxiety, and stress.
Visiting a church for the very first time is scary and awkward for people, but a great greeter ministry can help to alleviate those fears. On the flip side, a lackluster greeter ministry may confirm their fears and ensure they never come back for a second visit.
Some churches make the mistake of not even having a greeter ministry, which is like inviting guests over and saying, “Just let yourself in.” Others make an even bigger mistake of having the wrong people serve as greeters. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of guests who have been turned off before they ever walk through the church doors. All it takes is a wrong look or a poor choice of words for a first-time guest to become a last-time guest.
So, how can we make sure that doesn’t happen? How can we have a greeter ministry that gives a great first impression? It’s probably simpler than you think.
- Greeters should be people who smile. I know this sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many sour-faced greeters there are in churches all over the country. What makes it worse are pastors and ministry leaders that allow this to continue to happen week after week. If you have a grumpy greeter serving in your greeter ministry, immediately move them out of that position. Yes, they may get angry and leave the church, but losing one volunteer is better than losing all of your guests. Make sure your greeters are people who love seeing new guests visit the church.
- Greeters should open the door. NewSpring Church in South Carolina has a policy that says no guest should ever have to open a door. They place volunteers at every entrance of their church to open the doors for their guests. You should do the same. It’s a simple way to serve your guests, and a great first impression of your church. Resist the urge to use doorstops, and teach your greeters to open doors.
- Greeters should be good at remembering names. One of the most valuable tools in ministry is a good memory, especially when it comes to remembering names. Greeting guests with a smile and handshake makes a good first impression. Remembering their name when they come back a second time makes a great second impression. By remembering a person’s name, you’re placing value on them, which makes a huge impact on people. If you’re not naturally gifted in remembering names, your smart phone can be a great tool. Whenever you meet someone, ask his or her name. When they walk away type it into the notes section on your phone so you can reference it the next time you see them.
- Greeters should reflect who your church is trying to reach. If your church is trying to reach young families, make sure you have couples with young kids greeting. If you’re trying to reach empty nesters, make sure you have older adults greeting. This doesn’t mean you can’t have diversity within your greeters; you should. But it wouldn’t make sense to have only retired adults greeting in a church that’s trying to reach young people.
If your greeting ministry reflects these four simple ideas, I believe you will see more guests come back to your church.
Travis Stephens is a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. He has a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about him and his ministry at TravisStephens.me.
