3 Ways to Turn Off Guests at Worship

3 Ways to Turn off Guests.001Guest Post Introduction:  Adam Faughn

This is a Guest Post by a fellow blogger Adam Faughn.  Adam has been blogging for many years and does an excellent job.  You can read his blog as well as other family members’ posts at their site “A Legacy of Faith.”  Check out their website as they have all kinds of great resources available.  Adam is the preacher at the 9th Avenue Church of Christ in Haleyville, Alabama.

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Every congregation wants to have guests. Some are just passing through the area traveling, some are visiting family or friends, and some are lost souls from the community who are looking for something.

I don’t know of a congregation of God’s people anywhere that does not want guests to come back, especially those who are lost and in need of the saving message of Jesus. Because of that, I do not know any congregation that intentionally does things to turn the mindset of guests away from the church.

However, too often, we can do things unintentionally that can turn off guests and make then at least question whether they want to return or not. Often, they are small things, and often they are done with a good heart, but these things can still turn guests away. While there are many, this post will share just three to get your mind started.

1.  Referring to them as “visitors.” We have “visitor’s cards,” “visitor’s centers,” and even “visitor’s parking” at many congregations. All of this is well-intentioned, but “visitor” implies that you are just passing through and not planning on staying. You may have noticed that, earlier in this article, I kept using the term “guests.” That is the mindset we need to have. Being a guest means you are welcome, honored, and we want you to stay.

2.  Singling them out. If you are going to have name tags, ribbons, or other wearables for guests, by all means, expect your members to wear something, too! Also, having guests stand so that everyone knows they are there is embarrassing. Instead, find a way that is unobtrusive, such as just giving everyone 60-90 seconds to greet everyone around them before services begin, instead of singling out guests only.

3. Not inviting them anywhere else. When we lived in Nashville, it was more customary for someone to invite a guest to a restaurant. Maybe where you live, it is to your home for lunch. But it could be something simpler, such as inviting them to sit with you at Bible class, or to come to your house later in the week for a glass of lemonade. Invite guests to study the Bible, or to class, or to….something! The invitation to anything speaks volumes about how you value this person’s interest.

Again, there are countless things we can do that make a guest’s time with us at worship uncomfortable (we didn’t even talk about the ever-unpopular “you’re sitting in my seat” comment), but these three are enough to get your mind started. How do you personally treat guests in worship? How is your congregation handling these very special individuals who choose to worship with you?

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