Dear Friend,
“Thank you for being the face of our church and the warmth people
feel as they walk through the door...” These were the words that our church
secretary shares in sending out her weekly greeter reminder. And they were the
same words I used in addressing potential greeters this past Sunday. I had
invited them to meet with me to learn more about what was involved in being a
church greeter.
They were special people, invited to meet with me because they
were genuinely warm and friendly, the qualities we look for in church greeters.
They were the kind of people who would make anyone walking through the church
doors feel welcome and special.
We are not looking for just another warm, breathing body to stand
and greet those who pass through the doors. Because we know that “first
impressions are often lasting impressions,” we want the kind of people who are
not just friendly, but who really want to be your friend.
I asked those in the class to remember what it was like the first
time they visited a church. The words, nervous, anxious, apprehensive were
expressed. Then we talked about how a greeter can help dispel those
feelings.
And then one of our present greeters who I had invited to attend,
surprised me by addressing the group. Speaking directly to one of those prospective
greeters, he said, “I am here because you made me feel so welcome when I first
attended services here.” He went on to relate how this past summer he and his
wife had decided to attend church for the first time in many years. Not knowing
what to expect, they were anxious about coming.
Their anxiety level turned up a notch when they recognized their
formal attire was drastically inconsistent with the casual dress of those in
attendance at our outdoor services. Embarrassed, they turned and started
to walk away. Unbeknownst to me, it was of our members whom I had invited to
the meeting because I thought she had greeter potential, who had spotted this
couple, engaged them in conversation, and made them feel so welcome they
decided to stay. I am happy to say that a few months later this couple was
baptized in one of our outdoor services, and now they are among our most active
members, and one of their ministries, you guessed it, is the ministry of
greeting.
In a recent zoom call, a friend of mine who was a disguised church
consultant told of a visit to a church he was evaluating. He was met by a man
named Bob who not knowing him and his ’secret’ mission, reached out and
overwhelmed him with his greeting. He was what I would call an “over welcomer,”
one who was on his campaign trail to enlist a new member. Later that day at a
restaurant, the consultant was recognized by the same man who had earlier
greeted him, and he came over to his table, pressed a small cross into his
hands and told him how glad he was to see him once again.
The consultant was impressed until he visited the church a second
time and the man went through the same eager, obsessively enthusiastic
greeting, but he had no idea it was the same church consultant who had
visited the church a month before. My consultant friend said, he was friendly,
but was he a friend, probably not.
What would people say about your church if you were the first
person they met as they walked through the doors. Would they see you as just
friendly or would they classify you as their friend?
A real friend is the one who cares enough to really get to know
you. He/she is the kind of person who takes time to recognize you are more than
just another name. A true friend is the one who cares so much about you that when
they recognize you are uncomfortable, is sensitive enough to do what it takes
to ease your discomfort. A real friend is the one says, I will pray for
you, and does. A real friend will not just say he cares about you but
will show you that he cares about you. They will be there for you, believe in
you, and stand with you no matter what.
The difference between the person who is just friendly but
not a friend is that the friend will show up on your doorstep when you are in a
crisis. These are the kind of people who you never have to wonder if they will
ever forget your name.
At New Monmouth we are not looking for “friendly” when we look for
greeters. Anyone can be friendly, but the real question is will they become our
friends?
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment