According to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors, more than 99% of churches welcome visitors in at least one of 11 ways. Fewer than 1% say they don’t do any of the almost one dozen efforts. Still, several methods are more popular among certain congregations.
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“There is more to welcoming than saying ‘Hello,’” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “We see churches seeking to provide guests information, direct them where they need to go, obtain contact information to follow up with them, as well as greeting them.”
Welcoming ways
The most popular methods to make guests feel welcome at U.S. Protestant churches are having greeters at entrances (91%) and offering an opportunity to meet the pastor after the service (91%). Four in 5 churches (80%) have printed cards guests are asked to complete to enable follow-up, while 38% have an online form, and 28% have books in the pews for all attendees to indicate they were present that also collect visitor information.
Two in 3 (66%) have a central location where guests can learn about the church. Most pastors also say they periodically host an information session for new people to learn more about the church (58%) or set aside time during the service for regular attendees to welcome guests (52%).
Around 2 in 5 have gifts for guests (41%). Among the most popular gifts at churches offering one to guests are mugs or cups (21%), pens (21%), gift bags or baskets (14%), food or drink items (10%), books (8%), welcome packets about the church (8%), Bibles (6%), gift cards (5%), bookmarks (2%) or another type of gift (6%).
Fewer churches have greeters or attendants in the parking lot (18%). The least popular manner of welcoming guests is by asking them to stand in the worship service (16%).
“Churches engage in a lot of different activities to welcome guests. Of the 11 specific activities we asked about, the typical church does five or six of them,” McConnell noted. “It takes effort to help someone new feel comfortable walking into an existing relational community like a church.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Aaron Earls and originally published by Lifeway.
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