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Should we single out First Time Visitors
By EvangelismCoach | October 12, 2009
One of the features over at EvangelismCoach.org is “Ask EvangelismCoach.org“, a place where you can submit a question that’s on your mind about evangelism.
I collect them for ideas for future articles, and is a great conversation starter.
A recent one that came in was:
I’m so excited to have found your website – you were recommended by the Evangelism person on staff at PCUSA in Louisville, KY.
There’s a specific question on my mind, one that is causing quite a fuss at the church I’m serving as an interim pastor. Here’s the question: should first time visitors be asked to stand up during the worship service, identify themselves, and receive a flower that then identifies them as visitors to the more tenured members of the congregation?
Read the original post to see the reactions that people had.
Topics: Hospitality | 1 Comment »
One Response to “Should we single out First Time Visitors”
Comments
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November 5th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Absolutely not! If this happened to me I would be mortified! Nobody coming into a brand new church wants to be made a spectacle. It’s the general desire to be inconspicuous. When possible, it’s nice when the Pastor can get the visitors names before the service and give them a welcome from the pulpit, eg- “We’d like to welcom Francine Holland here to today. It’s a pleasure to have her in church with us this morning.” But never make them do anything- No standing up, no identifying themselves, no testifying. This little flower, while it could mean well, to me would come across, as “I am not part of the ‘in crowd’ so I am branded…”
I think it’s much more effective to have several church members come up to you, eager to meet you and be hospitable and informative. If I was singled out like what was suggested, I would never return!