Every week we have families arriving at church. They walk through the main doors of our building and follow the same path that they usually take to “their” seat.
I’m surprised about my compulsion to sit in the same seat every week. We love routine.
Our regular attendees love routine, as well as the church staff. Our greeters fall into a regular routine too. This is your comfortable church world!
Entering this routine are our visitors. People who don’t know the routine feel very out-of-place. Everything seems totally different.
That’s why we have greeters. To make visitors feel welcome in our world.
Be careful that our greeters don’t appear to be scripted volunteers acting overly friendly. Where they’re standing in a line at the main doors looking like “paid” help. This overwhelms visitors and feels awkward breaking through the welcoming barrier. It’s better for our greeters to be in various areas of the church and feeling more organic.
When greeters feel like they’re everywhere, more members will mimic them. This is all a good thing!
The whole church needs to be trained to be greeters, breaking out of their routine; and truly promoting an authentic community of believers. Connectors and greeters.
Here are church greeter tips that must be trained/learned:
- Greet everyone equally but observe those who are out of their routine. They are the people who need assistance, guidance, and love.
- Be helpful but not overbearing. This must be achieved. Training the ability to read reactions is difficult. Watch those who do it well, I will be providing a training video, and practice scenarios.
- Break out of the Greeter’s routine. Greeters greet. They say hi and shake hands. Greeters tend to get into a habit of saying the same things and doing the same actions without treating everyone as an individual. Authentic welcome is critical.
- Be spiritually sensitive. In a department store, a greeter who genuinely welcomes will get people asking them for directions. A great church greeter is more than a welcomer. They’re sensitive to the spiritual needs of every person they come in contact with. Sure, they won’t be able to help everyone, but they must know who can — or the process that’s in place for a seamless handoff.
Church greeters are essential in the life of our church. They’re the face of our ministry and therefore need to be taught properly how to make everyone feel welcomed and comfortable learning the regular routines of BBC. Learn where all classrooms are, maybe the teacher’s names. Coffee? Restrooms. Know the building and know the church.
– Charlie Brown
Greeters Guidelines
Here are 10 Burleson Bible Church Greeter Guidelines to keep in mind.
- Show up on time
- Always be positive.
- Prepare yourself spiritually.
- Be friendly to all who enter. (Not just who you know) Don’t spend your time visiting with friends.
- Pray in advance for your ministry.
- Show honor and dignity to our visitors and guests.
- Pay attention to what needs our visitors and guests might have.
- Follow up after the worship service and say good bye with style.
- Prepare yourself physically: Good grooming, appropriate clothing, fresh breath.
- Notice for ministry opportunities to before they leave (prayer, youth, AWANA).
Remember, your goal is simple and direct: Make people feel welcome at BBC!
Take a moment to review this important information. Greeter Training 101