Friendly church?

As church folks, often our self-perception is that ours is a “friendly” church. But sometimes, because of the close relationships in the church which provide a warm, family atmosphere for members, and because we are friendly toward one another, it is possible not to notice that we may not be as friendly toward newcomers and outsiders.

There’s a difference between being "a friendly church" and being "a church where newcomers can make friends." It does little good to attract first-time worship guests to the church if we are not prepared to help them become a part of the congregation’s life. A handshake and word of greeting from the usher at the door is good. But more must be done to facilitate the newcomer’s sense of being welcome. Is there a personal follow-up to their visit? Are small groups open to new friends joining in? Does the church offer special events and programs designed to be of interest to the non-church person in the community? Are there folks whose spiritual gifts include hospitality and would be happy to serve as hosts for newer participants, perhaps over an extended period of time? Do attractive interior and exterior signs help the first-time visitor navigate the church facility to locate the sanctuary, nursery or fellowship area? Is the worship service relatively easy to follow, even if a person is not a regular attender?

Think of it this way. Before a potential member can really feel at home in your church, he or she must have some friends there. Friends know each other’s names without having to think hard. Friends enjoy spending time together, know something about each other’s families, occupations and interests. If we can be more intentional about developing sincere friendships with people who visit our church, perhaps we can also cultivate the same attitude toward those who haven’t visited yet!