What Not to Do When Greeting New People at Church
We’ve all been there. You’re standing in church, ready to make a new visitor feel welcome (which is a great thing!), and then it happens—you fumble the greeting. It’s okay; we’ve all made mistakes, but let’s avoid a few classic blunders, shall we?
Don’t Overwhelm Them with Questions Yes, we’re curious, but pump the brakes on the 20-questions game. “What’s your name?” Great start. “Where do you work? What do you do? How long have you been married? Do you have kids? Oh, no kids? Why not?” Maybe not. Let them come up for air!
Don’t Give Them the VIP Tour Before They’ve Had Coffee We love our church, and we want to show it off! But leading new folks on a grand tour of every hallway, Sunday school room, and storage closet might be a bit much for someone just looking for the sanctuary. A simple, “Would you like me to show you where the sanctuary and bathrooms are?” will do the trick.
Don’t Make Assumptions About Their Faith Journey This one’s important. Assuming someone is brand new to church life or, conversely, a seasoned expert can be awkward. Let’s avoid, “Is this your first time in church? Ever?” and maybe just stick with a friendly, “We’re glad you’re here!” Even better, “I’m glad you’re here.”
And Please, No Guilt Trips! If they haven’t been to church in a while, now is not the time to say, “Wow, where have you been?” Instead, let’s say something like, “It’s great to see you!”—and leave it at that.
When we greet people with grace, sincerity, and a dash of humor, we create space for them to feel at home. Let’s just remember: less is often more!
What would you add to our list of what not to do?