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What’s Up
The holidays are nearly here … and that means your church will soon be seeing more guests than almost any other time of year. That’s good news. The bad news is that most churches will see them once and never again. Now is the time to get your holiday hospitality A-Game going.
So What
Hospitality isn’t an accessory to ministry, it’s the front door to disciple-making. Studies show guests decide whether they’ll return within the first three to twelve minutes of their visit. That means by the time they’ve parked and walked through your doors, the verdict is almost in. If you blow the welcome, the best sermon in the world won’t save you. During the holidays, when unchurched families may give you a rare chance, getting hospitality wrong is simply unacceptable.
The Point Is
First impressions are everything.
Hospitality begins in the parking lot, not in the sanctuary. Signs that clearly mark guest parking, greeters stationed outside with genuine smiles, and well-marked doors make a difference. A guest should never wonder where to go or what to do. If they do, you’ve already lost half the battle. One pastor said his golden rule for his first impression team is, “No guest EVER touches a door.”
Don’t embarrass your guests.
No one wants to be spotlighted or made to stand out. Don’t have them stand, don’t announce them from the pulpit, and don’t hand them a party hat. Instead, create space for natural conversations before and after worship. Real welcome is relational, not performative.
Coffee, bathrooms, and kids.
It sounds simple, but these three things make or break a first-time experience. If the coffee tastes like colored water, if the restrooms don’t look and smell spotless, or if the children’s check-in feels insecure, you’ve made your decision for them. They won’t be back. Details matter … because they speak louder than your words.
Follow the Platinum Rule.
Forget “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Love people the way they want to be loved. That means being sensitive to the fact that your guests don’t know your vocabulary, rituals, or expectations. Explain things clearly, gently, and without making anyone feel foolish. Or change your language. That’s hospitality.
And … ?
Hospitality is more than saying “Welcome.” It’s an all-encompassing ministry. From the parking lot to the pulpit, every interaction communicates something. The reality is, most first-time guests aren’t evaluating your theology, your hymn selection, or your technology. They’re deciding if your church is safe, warm, and worth returning to. Too many churches lose people before the first song ends simply because no one thought through the experience from the eyes of a guest.
The holidays put a magnifying glass on this. Guests who walk through your doors during the fall and winter holidays are often spiritually curious, often hurting, and usually skeptical. They’re watching closely. And they’re making a decision that could shape the rest of their spiritual life. Are you really going to risk that on weak coffee, poor signage, or an awkward greeting line? This isn’t a matter of preference: It’s mission-critical.
Paul told the Corinthians he became all things to all people so that some might be saved. That’s the Platinum Rule in action. Hospitality isn’t about coddling people; it’s about removing every unnecessary barrier between your guests and the gospel. If you want them to hear the Good News, then you’d better make sure nothing else shouts louder.
Action!
This Thursday at 10:00 AM Central, join me for Catalytic Conversations: Hospitality That Converts. We’ll get practical about how to create a welcome that entices guests to return again and again. Register here: https://effective.effectivechurch.com/webinar-registration
