Welcoming*Divine Worship Connectors Guests!umc... · Worship Guests with LOVE. WWDC‐TV ... First...

*Divine ConnectorsWelcoming Worship Guests!*Divine ConnectorsWelcoming Worship Guests!*Divine ConnectorsWelcoming Worship Guests!

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live broadcast from

Oak Grove UMC, Decatur, GA.

Today’s Discussion:Welcoming

Worship Guests with LOVE


Romans 15:7 Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.Studio Guest Experts


Four Key QuestionsWhat is needed in the church before guests arrive? What prep is necessary?

What needs to be in place upon arrival of our worship guest?

What components are needed for young families and older adults?

How do you welcome worship guests without smothering them?


Question One

What preparations are needed in and at the church before worship guests arrive?

Special Guest Experts:Kate Bohannon Cherie Hunter


Preparations Educate the congregation on the

importance of hospitality.

Plan for adequate parking, ease of entry, good lighting, handicapped accessibility (inside and out), etc.

Train your Greeters and Ushers well. Assemble welcome packages / info available for all guests.


More Preparations Use multimedia to:‐ introduce your church, ‐ provide clear directions, and ‐ invite to activities


More Preparations

Be a friendly, involved, community church!

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.Question Two

What needs to be in place upon arrival of our worship guest?

Special Guest Experts:Hulen Brown

Celeste Jonson


First Impressions Make sure the grounds and

facility overall are well cared for


First Impressions

Make sure the grounds and facility overall are well cared for

Make sure all "signage" inside & outside the church is clean, visible and overall user friendly.

Make people feel special even before

they enter the building.


First Impressions

Make sure the grounds and facility overall are well cared for

Make sure all "signage" inside & outside the church is clean, visible and overall user friendly.

Refer to our “visitors” as “guests.”


Visitorsvs.

Guests


More First Impressions

Provide a point of reference and direction for guests at a welcome desk.


First Impressions

Provide a point of reference and direction for guests at a welcome desk… Provide welcome packs Use information cards

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.Question Three

What components are needed for young families and older adults?

Special Guest Experts:Jeremy McClain

Teal Sanders

Predictors of Religiosity ▪Ethnicity▪Peers Church Attendance▪Residence in the South▪Gender▪Religious Schooling During Childhood

▪Maternal Religiosity▪Church Attendance During Childhood

Engaging the Whole Person▪Recognize cultural context▪Leadership must embody the life of God within today’s culture

▪Self‐awareness, emotional literacy, personal maturity, and integrity

▪Must be grounded in theology adopting a whole person approach

It is About Community

▪We are not service providers

▪Demographics must be integrated through authentic connection with community of faith

▪Adopting a “passing faith” vs “relational” framework

44%

40%

12%4%

ATTITUDES ABOUT CHURCH FROM UMC YOUTH

Love My Church Like My Church

Based on Survey Results of UMC Youth▪Were less likely to attend Sunday School than to attend Sunday Worship

▪Were likely to attend Sunday Worship by margins of 3 to 1

▪Yet all participated in demographic specific events

The most common answer when asked what was the most important part about church was…

Friends!

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.Question Four

How do you welcome visitors without smothering them?

Special Guest Experts:Harriet FairleyDavid Hannah

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.“Nursery

down hall”

“Here’s an envelope”

“Want to volunteer?”

“Take this pamphlet”

“New cafe is open”


4 Things NOT to Do Don’t overwhelm visitors with

information

Don’t assume the visitor know our abbreviations (UMW, UMCOR)

Don’t overwhelm visitors with to much follow-up

Don’t assume they are ready to join


4 Things To Do Do make sure someone is there to

greet and answer questions

Do make sure members are sincerely greeting everyone and not just each other

Do implement strategic follow‐up

Do speak in clear terms and avoid to much church speak


• PROGRAM IDEAS• Outreach programs ‐• Support a local school (afterschool

care, mentors, tutors, reading programs, activities for special need children and scouts)

• Church activities ‐• Mission Projects, Great Day of

Service, Fall Festivals, Easter and Christmas programs/activities, Singing/Bells programs for all ages


• PROGRAM IDEAS• Preschool activities –• Summer camp, preschool,

• Children’s activities –• Summer camp, programs for 4th and

5th graders (spark), Kids Serve, Kids Klub / Sunday School activities , VBS / Summer camp


PROGRAM IDEAS

• Youth activities –• WTL programs, such as, WTL

Band, bells, drama, Bible Study, Adult Activities‐Bible Studies, Prime Timers

All ages ‐ Fall Festivals, Holy week and Easter activities, Easter activities, Spring Flings, Christmas programs, Choir, Drama, Bells, Music, Jazz Fest

WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live from Oak Grove UMC, DECATUR, GA.Show Credits Show Hosts: Cherie Hunter &

Celeste Jonson

Special Guests: Kate BohannonHulen BrownHarriet Fairley David HannahCherie HunterCeleste JonsonJeremy McClainTeal Sanders

Producers / DyanneCunninghamFacilitators Joe Gaunt


Show Hosts: Cherie Hunter & Celeste Jonson

Special Guests: Kate BohannonHulen BrownHarriet Fairley David HannahCherie HunterJeremy McClainTeal Sanders

Producers / DyanneCunninghamFacilitators: Joe GauntShout out to:

Show Credits

References

Gunnoe, M.J. & Moore, K.A. (2002) Predictors of religiosity among youth aged 17‐22. A longitudinal study of the National Survey of Children. Journal for Scientific Study of Religion 41 (4), pp. 613‐622.

Ketcham, S.G. (2012). Solving the retention problem through integration: A communal vision for youth ministry. Journal of Youth Ministry 11 (1), pp. 7‐29.

Whitehead, J. (2014). Towards a practical theology of whole person learning. Enriching youth ministry formation through Pneumatological Perspectives. Journal of Adult Theological Education 11(1), pp. 61‐73.


Thank you for participating!


Link to song: Welcome into this place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSClHkAJIh4 (slow but repeats)


WWDC‐TV NEWS TALK Live broadcast from

Oak Grove UMC, Decatur, GA.

Today’s Song:WELCOME INTO

THIS PLACE


Welcome Into This Place

Welcome into this place

Welcome into this broken vessel

You desire to abide

in the praises of Your people

As we lift our hands

And we lift our hearts

As we offer up this praise unto Your name


Let us Pray

References (??)

Gunnoe, M.J. & Moore, K.A. (2002) Predictors of religiosity among youth aged 17‐22. A longitudinal study of the National Survey of Children. Journal for Scientific Study of Religion 41 (4), pp. 613‐622.

Ketcham, S.G. (2012). Solving the retention problem through integration: A communal vision for youth ministry. Journal of Youth Ministry 11 (1), pp. 7‐29.

Whitehead, J. (2014). Towards a practical theology of whole person learning. Enriching youth ministry formation through Pneumatological Perspectives. Journal of Adult Theological Education 11(1), pp. 61‐73.


First Impressions

Refer to our “visitors” as “guests.” This term establishing a different feeling.

Make sure "signage" in the church as well as outside the church is clean, visible and overall user friendly.

Make sure the facility, and grounds are well cared for as it shows that the members love the church.

Welcoming*Divine Worship Connectors Guests!umc... · Worship Guests with LOVE. WWDC‐TV ... First...

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