“And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary?” (Matthew 5:47)
Every day, he or she passes your church on the way to work. He finally got up his nerve to attend worship, but he’s not exactly certain what to wear or where to enter. He wonders if he’ll see familiar faces in the crowd. As the worship service begins, he falters clumsily, unsure about when to stand, unfamiliar with the format and the songs. This scenario probably occurs at your church weekly.
As the family of God—the church—our love for one another is vital and Scriptural. We are also commanded to love the lost—to love in words and actions. How we greet new people is a key part of helping Good News come to them!
Looking for a way to equip church members to genuinely welcome those guests? Consider the “Five Minute Rule to W*I*N.” The rule helps church guests feel less apprehensive and more welcome.
Here’s the “Five Minute Rule”:
For five minutes immediately preceding the worship service and five minutes immediately after the service, intentionally seek out guests or irregular attenders to welcome them warmly and chat for a few minutes, listening for needs, showing an interest, and answering questions.
Here’s a “Game Plan” for those conversations, using the acronym “W*I*N”
W = Welcome…Weather (“Beautiful day today…”)…What’s your name?…Who did you come with?…
I = Interests, such as work, hobbies, kids, etc.
N = Needs. “How can we pray for you?”… “Is there any way we can serve you and your family?”
Simple. Effective. The power of a sincere, personal welcome is strong. Before music or preaching begins, guests are evaluating and deciding whether they will come back to your church. Most people decide whether they are coming back to a church in the first minute or two after they enter the building! The people connection counts. A casual, friendly conversation can transform those awkward minutes into a venue for hospitality. The five minute rule can be applied to your worship service, Bible study group, fellowship event or women’s ministry.
As a leader in your church, would you sacrifice five minutes to welcome newcomers? It could make an eternal difference!
–Diana Davis and Dr. Tim Roehl