The Welcome Mat
Theme of the Week: Is Your Church User-Friendly?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: We were especially delighted … about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease (2 Corinthians 7:13). Bonus Reading: 2 Cor. 7:13-16
Lynda and I once visited a large church near Minneapolis. We had read about the church's beautiful architecture, so we arrived early enough to study the building and planned to leave immediately after the service.
Our plans were thwarted, however, by the friendliness of the people. They wouldn't let us go. After worship we were greeted by dozens of people who, much to our surprise, identified us as visitors even though there were fifteen hundred people at the church. They learned our names, engaged us in conversation, discovered our interests and introduced us to people with similar interests. Three times we were invited to someone's home for dinner. We chatted with people in the narthex for an hour before we could break away.
We discovered later that the church has developed a special ministry of welcoming; certain people see their calling as folding newcomers into the fellowship of the church. Is it any wonder that we wanted to return? We only regretted not living closer to Minneapolis.
—Gerald Sittser in Love One Another
My Response: How could I help my church show a more welcoming face to visitors?
Thought to Apply: We are never so fit for friendship as when we cease to seek for it, and take ourselves to friend. —Ralph Waldo Emerson (essayist & philosopher)
Adapted from Love One Another (InterVarsity, 1994, 2008) by permission.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Keep us, Lord, from erecting artificial barriers to joining your family.
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