We are continuing our series on the importance of taking time to pause and do a church health checkup by looking at your local church body’s vital signs. This is based on the principle that it is healthy churches that grow. You can click here to read the first article in the series for more on that principle.

In Anglican Revitalization Ministries, we define those vital signs using the acrostic VITAL:

• Vision for Evangelism/Mission
• Intentional Worship
• Transformation to Christlikeness
• Authentic Community
• Lay Mobilization

My hope is that as you reflect on the health of your congregation, these articles will help you better diagnose each of these areas. Then you can make plans to strengthen the areas needing attention this Fall and beyond.

Today we will look at the second vital sign, Intentional Worship. But first let me explain what we don’t mean by this. We don’t mean changing your worship preferences or liturgical practices to be more sensitive to visitors. What we do mean is that whatever your worship style is, make sure you do it in such a way that when visitors come for the first time, they feel welcome. If they are welcomed in, feel like they belong, and can follow along, they’re much more likely to come back! This is about being hospitable to the outsider who comes in. In Hebrews 13:1-2, it says, “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” Although being hospitable to visitors isn’t necessarily hard, it’s far too often overlooked.

Here are three questions to ask as you do a checkup on this vital area:

•   Is your church hospitable to visitors before worship, and what is your strategy to be so?

What are people’s first impressions of your church? When we actually take the vision for evangelism/mission of the church seriously (the “V” of the vitals of church health and the subject of the previous article in the series) and go out from the church, build relationships with unbelievers, and get up the nerve to invite them in, what will their first impressions be if they come? It would be such a shame to do all that good work and blow it by not welcoming them well!

A good first impression before worship starts with a website, which will likely be the first thing people look at when they consider coming to your church. I don’t like that this is true, but it’s the times we live in. For most churches, all you need is a simple website to serve as an online “business card” that’s sharp and has your basic information. One trend I heard about is creating a simple welcome video from the rector and posting it on the website. Churches that do this often use a smartphone, and they start in the church parking lot and walk into the sanctuary to show visitors where they should go when they visit. It sends a clear message that you want them to come and that they’d be welcomed. The number one emotion people feel when they go somewhere for the first time is fear. You want to lower that fear as much as possible, and this video idea could help with that.

When someone visits, do they find a well-maintained building and grounds? What first impressions do they get? Also, is the directional signage guiding people from the parking lot to the door clear? How are visitors greeted when they enter? Is it clear what to do with children, if you have a children’s ministry? Are bathrooms easily found and kept clean (and with plenty of toilet paper!)? These are just some additional questions to consider.

•   Is your church hospitable to visitors during worship, and what is your strategy to be so?

Although the worship service is directed toward God, it is important to lead the service while asking how a first-time unbeliever with no church background might experience it. Is the bulletin easy enough to follow along? Is it clear to them where to look during the service, whether it’s a certain page in the BCP, the hymnal, or screens with text on them? Is everything printed out in the bulletin instead? I’ve been in many churches that use a combination of all those, and it can be confusing to a newcomer. Regular attendees may know how to navigate all that, but a first timer will not.

Also, at some point in the service, are guests welcomed from the front? Giving a welcome before the service allows you to briefly explain how they participate during the service, making them feel more comfortable and signaling that visitors are expected and welcome.

•   Is your church hospitable to visitors after church, and what is your strategy to follow up with them?

Do you have a clear and easy means of getting a visitor’s contact information for following up after the service? Many churches have some sort of “Communication Card” or “Connection Card” they put in the pews or insert into the bulletin. If you have that, or some other tool, is it clearly communicated that you’d like visitors to fill them out and where you’d like them to turn them in? Members can also use cards like these to turn in prayer requests or sign-up for events. Finally, if you have a working plan to get a visitor’s information, what is your plan to follow up that week? Following up goes a long way to getting people back a second time, and people who come back a second time are far more likely to join your church!

In summary, all this is to better practice Colossians 4:5: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” We keep them in mind and try to make the most of the opportunity we have when they come in, and, of course, we pray! We til the soil as best we can, we strive to make way for newcomers and love our neighbors, and we believe that God will do the rest by His Holy Spirit! If you’d like more information about this vital area or any of the aspects of a healthy church, please read my book, Revive, listen to our VITAL Podcast, or schedule a call with me to talk more about your congregation’s health and growth.