By Chip Warren
Minister of education, FBC Albertville
After my article on assimilation appeared in TAB, I received an email from a reader asking me to expound on “the huge difference between friendly churches and ones where it is easy to make friends.” To initially attract newcomers, a church must be friendly, but to keep them the church needs to be one where they can make friends. So here are a few tips:
• Realize that a worship service is not a place for making friends, but only a place for the church to show herself friendly.
• Provide numerous opportunities for newcomers to meet church members.
• Some good settings for making friends include church suppers/fellowships (encourage church members to sit with newcomers and not their friends) and Sunday School class or other small groups (a teacher must be intentional about providing this opportunity during or before Bible study). Friendships also can form by serving together in some type ministry like Vacation Bible School. Church leadership also can encourage members to invite newcomers for a meal at home or at a restaurant.
• Understand that the primary responsibility for helping newcomers make friends lies with the church.
• Train and retrain church members on the importance of being a place where friendships can be made. (chipwarren@bellsouth.net)
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