6 Signs That Say 'You Are Not Welcome in This Church'

shutterstock.com

Many of us are quick to say that that we’d love to see more people sitting in our church pews each Sunday and we want our church membership to expand but when it comes down to it, many churches aren’t ready for the growth. Some churches are so committed to remaining small out of fear that growth will ruin fellowship. They fear when the congregation gets bigger, they won’t know everybody anymore. The idea is that if the church gets bigger, they will become a number. Other people are so committed to the church staying the way it is, they don’t really care if new people are sitting in the church pews because they are comfortable with the people they already know. A sure sign that people have given up on change is that no one is investing in new people who are walking through the church door for the first time. When your church becomes all about personal preferences, you lose the mission. If some of these things are not being done or not being addressed, then the new person that walks through the door may never come back again. Here are six signs that say you are not welcome at a church.

Greeters Who Don’t Greet

Greeting visitors at church is such an important part of the hospitality ministry of the church. They form part of the first impression that a visitor sees. If a person walks into a church and isn’t greeted from the time they walk until the time they walk in, there’s a really big chance they won’t want to attend your church again as they won’t feel welcome. There is a difference between someone who has the job of greeter and someone who truly loves greeting people. There is also a difference between having a person at the door to greet people and having the right person at the door to greet people. These greeters don’t just shake your hand and give you a bulletin. They are the type of people to ask your name and use it in a sentence soon after. People love to hear their name spoken. It makes them feel like they are being noticed and they are important, which is key when welcoming new members to a church.

No Attempt is Made to Get Information from Visitors

Does your pastor or assistant minister acknowledge visitors at the beginning of the church service? Does your church have a guest book that visitors have an opportunity to sign, or a registration area where they can share that they are a first time guest? The first-time visitor check in area needs to have a sign so big that it’s not missed. It should not be subtle. Churches that are successful at reaching people are intentional about reaching new people and connecting them to the life of the church and a personal relationship with Christ. These churches often have a redundancy tactic. They will have a welcoming strategy and multiple methods to engage newcomers. This includes everything from having greeters in the parking lot to friendly ushers to attractive bulletins and after-service receptions. If a person walks in and there is no attempt to get information from them, they are going to feel like their presence doesn’t matter.

No Updated Website Information

Shutterstock.com

Many people visit a church’s website or view their social media profile before they ever visit the church. Truth be told, there are a lot of horribly outdated sites or church’s with no sites at all, and this can really affect a person’s opinion about the church. Your website speaks to your church’s values, priorities, and activities, without a person ever entering the front door of the building. The most helpful church websites include practical information for visitors, a current bulletin or newsletter that helps people get a feel for the church’s activities and an updated list of Bible study classes and activities with ages and locations. For those who want to get a feel for a church before they walk through the door, having a fresh, active website is everything.

Ostracizing

Have you ever walked into a church for the first time and gotten the impression that you were sitting in someone else’s pew? During that period of time, did anyone make an effort to learn your name or see if you had a question? Was the only welcome you received a handshake during the in-service time announced in the bulletin. Churches and members of that church send their own signs and signals. Sometimes they are subtle and other times they are blatant. You can read these signs in their faces, smiles (or lack of one), and the tone of voice of members. If a person is feeling ostracized not only before and after the service, but also during the service, they will not only feel unwelcomed, but also likely not come back.

Bad Facilities

Shutterstock.com

First impressions are everything. This includes a person’s first impression of the church facilities. One of the most off-putting things to people who visit a church for the first time is dirty or unaccommodating facilities. There’s no way a person can feel welcomed or comfortable when it looks like the church hasn’t been cleaned in a week or the restrooms look worse than a bad truck stop. Does the church have facilities that accommodate the young and the elderly? Is the church completely handicapped accessible? Is there a comfortable changing area for parents? Is the children’s area safe and clean? If your church does not give high priority to children, don’t expect young families to attend. These things are on the mind of people who are visiting a church for the first time.