Comments on: Should we single out First Time Visitors http://www.welcomechurchvisitors.com/should-we-single-out-first-time-visitors/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:53:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Becky http://www.welcomechurchvisitors.com/should-we-single-out-first-time-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Becky Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:53:10 +0000 http://www.welcomechurchvisitors.com/?p=405#comment-154 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! 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!

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