Greeting Team Training Notes

Introduction

  • Expression of gratitude for attendees' presence.

Purpose of the Greeting Team

  • Implementation of a continuous greeting team for the church.
  • Previous instances of a greeting team for special services (e.g., Easter).

Understanding the Role of the Greeting Team

  • Definition: Being part of a greeting and welcome team is not merely a task but a ministry.
  • Importance of the role in making people feel welcome, loved, and assisted.
  • Emphasis on the emotional impact:
    • Statistics indicate that the number one reason people do not return to church is poor treatment during their first visit.
    • Key factors include feelings of being unknown, uncertainty of procedures, and lack of greeting from the congregation.

The Role of Greeting Team Members

Specific Responsibilities

  1. Greet:

    • Importance of being warm, genuine, and welcoming.
    • Requirement to smile frequently, despite personal comfort levels (acknowledgment of personal discomfort with smiling).
    • Encourage team members to learn guests' names naturally.

  2. Assist:

    • Role as assistance for newcomers, understanding their unfamiliarity with the church environment.
    • Responsibilities include providing directions to various amenities (e.g., bathrooms, nursery).
    • Personal anecdote: Speaker's own experiences of discomfort in unfamiliar church settings to empathize with newcomers.

  3. Love:

    • Focus on making all visitors feel valued, seen, and accepted.
    • Priority on new guests:
      • Recognition of the nervousness associated with attending church for the first time, particularly for those without prior church experience.

Prioritizing New Guests

  • Strategies to engage with newcomers:
    • Avoid focusing too much on familiar faces during initial engagement (e.g., pre-service gatherings).
    • Ensure new guests receive attention over regular members during the first 30 minutes before service.

Physical Setup of the Greeting Team

  • Structure for greeting team positions at church:
    • Three entrances with two team members assigned to each.
    • A call for junior high members to assist with holding signs.
    • Plan includes a "floating" team to engage visitors who may bypass initial greetings at the doors.
  • Encouragement to engage with everyone:
    • Simple interactions like greetings can make a significant positive impact on newcomers.

Creating a Positive Culture

  • The goal is to develop a friendly, welcoming culture within the church community.
  • The effect of team members' friendliness on the environment:
    • Culture setting initiative where team members exhibit warmth and approachability to inspire others.
  • Motivation to continue this initiative with the goal of contagious friendliness among the congregation.

Conclusion

  • Acknowledgment of the team's contribution and appreciation for involvement.
  • Assurance that not all sessions will require team members to serve every week, with plans for rotation.
  • Final encouragement to focus on welcoming newcomers with love and warmth.
  • Closing expression of gratitude and camaraderie among team members.