Welcoming Church Visitors Intentionally

by Ken Walker

The average church thinks of itself as friendly even when that welcoming attitude only extends to members, according to a church consultant who leads seminars on connecting with guests.

Gary McIntosh, the founder of Church Growth Network, hopes to persuade congregations to adopt a more comprehensive approach to incorporate newcomers into church life.

Since the average church loses 10 percent of its worshipers annually, survival demands retaining a healthy percentage of guests—McIntosh points out it takes 16 percent retention to see 5 percent growth.

A professor at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology, part of his plan is forever replacing "visitor" with "guest" in church language.

"Friendliness is perceived differently whether you're inside the church, or outside," McIntosh says. "If you're a true insider, it is a friendly place. But that newcomer comes in and they do not experience that level of friendliness in most churches."

Awareness growing