1. Making First Impressions Count Authentically welcoming new people

2. Who am I?

3. Who are you? Let ’ s take a moment to embody Christian hospitality and greet one another

4. Biblical view of hospitality 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17

5. How would you define a “ genuine welcome? ”

6. 7 minutes

7. The Pre-Service The Pre-Service is your first opportunity for interaction with everyone who sets foot on your church’s property - from guests to members. What are you communicating before the service begins?

8. The Pre-Service There are 4 areas of contact through which you can influence your guests during the pre- service that will go a long way to making the first impression count. 1) Greeted 2) Directed 3) Treated 4) Seated

9. The Pre-Service 1) Greeted “Everything speaks to first-time guests - everything.” - Nelson Searcy

10. The Pre-Service 2) Directed Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs... - Five Man Electrical Band

11. The Pre-Service 3) Treated What do guests want to feel when they visit your church for the first time?

13. The Pre-Service 4) Seated Our goal is to remove barriers so that the message isn’t lost before it could be found.

14. What is your welcoming quotient? Worksheet

15. Do you have a story of being genuinely welcomed? How did it make you FEEL?

16. A contemporary truth: Many of us Christians go to church today with an attitude of a guest and not a HOST. What’s the difference?

17. Genuine welcoming involves... Genuinely welcoming churches are more than just friendly congregations.

18. A welcoming culture... ● People are accepted for who they are; ● People are supported in sharing their unique, God-given gifts; What are some of the unique gifts of those in your church?

19. What prevents a church from truly welcoming newcomers?

20. To truly ‘ Make a First Impression ’ …....we have to understand a few things about our first-time visitors.

21. Four Must - Know Facts about First- Time Guests 1. Most church members are not friendly. WHAT???? Do members greet guests with the same intensity before and after the service as they do during formal times of greeting during the service?

22. Four Must - Know Facts about First- Time Guests 2. Church guests are highly consumer-oriented Utilize the mystery guest audit

23. Four Must - Know Facts about First- Time Guests 3. The church is in the hospitality business Our ultimate purpose is spiritual, but hospitality is a first step.

24. Four Must - Know Facts about First- Time Guests 4. You only have one chance to make a good first impression What is your church’s “WOW” factor?

25. 5 Tips for Welcoming Church Visitors

26. Tips & Ideas Learning from each other

27. Let ’ s start at the very beginning Utilize the Comfort Checklist and Walk Thru Assessment tools

28. Ideas to Consider ● Parking Lot Hosts ● Look for good listeners, not just outgoing people to serve as greeters. Hear the needs of the newcomer. ● Mentoring - a spiritual apprentice ● Expanding idea of hospitality outside of Sunday morning. Community partners, etc. ● 50 ways Handout ● 24 hour contact rule ● After service refreshment time

29. Ideas to Consider, cont. ● Nametags for everyone! ● Child activity packet to use during worship ● Keep communication vehicles up to date ● Others? Let’s take time to share ideas.

30. Next Steps 1. Assemble a team at your church/ministry 2. Pray about who God is calling you to extend radical hospitality toward 3. Be an example - extravagantly greet those you do not know on Sunday mornings. 4. Find ways to include new people in your ministries or groups 5. Extend Christian hospitality outside of the church walls.

31. Remember that churches are just like families. When there is conflict at home most people don’t invite guests over to watch. But when a family is healthy they offer the energy of faith, hope and love to one another and to many outsiders. Lasting Impressions

32. Thank you! adam@sgaumc.com