ARTICLE Helping Guests Feel at Home 5 churches' bright ideas for a warmer welcome. James Appleby, Gene Appel, Merle Mees, Wayne Ogimachi, Jim Tomberlin
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6 Ounces of Security
We employ four strategies to make our church more welcoming.
Hospitality time. We have a 20-minute segment between our two services
when we provide coffee, juice, and donuts in our lobby. Greeters and hosts
mingle and welcome people with cup in hand (one greeter remarked, "It's amazing
how a six-ounce cup provides a sense of security for a 180-pound male").
Response cards. Our worship bulletins have perforated tear-offs that
members and guests are asked to fill out and place in the offering plate.
It has spaces for all kinds of quick interaction (such as "My decision today,"
"I'd like information," "Prayer need"), which we try to respond to quickly.
Don't apply the "cheap and easy" mentality of consumerism to relationships with God and each other.
Have you ever noticed how long it takes to make microwave popcorn? "Delicious popcorn in only three minutes!" Well, that's what it says on the bag, but standing there waiting for it to get done seems like an eternity.
We live in a microwave society. We've come to expect that everything in life will take ...
ARTICLE Shooter in the Church A police officer's advice on how to prevent, and react to, a gunman at church. Andrew G. Mills
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Churches are notorious for minimal security. And while acts of violence at church are rare, recent shootings at churches and schools beg the question: What can leaders do to protect their people? Based on experience in the pulpit and on the police force, here are four steps you can take to reduce risk—and possibly save lives—at your church.