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The Church Growth Network, founded in 1987, provides a wide range of professional consulting services for churches. Our firm is particularly well-versed in church analysis, strategic planning, staffing, breaking size barriers, coaching of church planters, and generational change issues.

Growth Points with Dr. Mc

How to be a Friendly Church

On Your Mark — If you ever survey churches and ask them what are their strengths, each one will say ”We’re a friendly place.” I guarantee it. Instinctively, we think of our churches as friendly places. It’s not always a correct assumption.
Those who are regular attendees of a church look at the issue of friendliness from the inside out. From their perspective, they are experiencing a friendly atmosphere. Guests to a church, however, view friendliness from the outside in. From their perspective, they don’t always sense a friendly atmosphere.

Get Set — How do you build a church that is friendly to newcomers? Here are five guidelines.
1. Give guests the best attitude. Guests to your church will notice the prevailing attitude. If you want to be a friendly church, recruit only friendly ushers, greeters, and parking attendants.
2. Give guests the best communication. Ask your people to practice the “10 Foot Rule” and the “Just say Hi Policy.” Whenever they come within 10 feet of a person they don’t know to just say hi.
3. Give guests the best service. Train your people to notice when others are standing alone or needing assistance. Tell them to approach the person promptly, offer help or information, and then introduce them to another person.
4. Give guests the best parking. Reserve 5% of your parking places for guests as close to the main entrance as possible.
5. Give guests the best seats. Reserve the isle and rear seats for guests.

Grow — Albert Einstein was once asked what he considered to be the most important question in the world. He replied, “Is the universe a friendly place?” Guests who come to your church ask a similar question: “Is this church a friendly place?” What answer do they receive when they come to your church?

-Gary L. McIntosh, Ph.D.
Author of The Ten Key Roles of a Pastor

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You can read this article, and access additional ones, on Dr. McIntosh’s website: www.churchgrowthnetwork.com

Pastors, Church leaderesGary McIntoshChurch Renewal, Church Revitalization, church leadership, Church Growth, Church HealthComment