Council Corner

The Evangelism Committee works to Glorify God, Spread the Word, and Love One Another by encouraging members of Christ the King to invite people into God's family, to nurture them in Christ's love, and to empower them to be disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives through the greeting of guests and visitors with a welcoming experience.

The above statement is so critical for us to revisit when past history shows that we are the most likely to experience an increase in visitors and new guests during the Christmas season. Walking into a church for the first time can be scary. Are we making our first time guests feel welcomed? Are we putting our best foot forward? A few simple thoughts around "welcome awareness" will help our church roll out the welcome mat for all our guests.

• Greet all new guests with a simple smile, hello and welcome.
• Encourage new guests to stop at our welcome desk.
• Invite guests to share fellowship during our discipleship hour.
• Set an example by not overcrowding the narthex. Work your way into the fellowship hall for conversation with fellow parishioners; this way visitors feel we have space for them.
• The parking lot is the visitors' first impression of our church. Please honor the guest and handicap parking spaces so they know we want them here by having a space available for them to park.
• When guests have questions, escorting instead of pointing shows you care and it also opens the door to making a connection.
• Help keep the church neat and clean on Sunday morning. If you see something out of place put it back where it belongs. By showing we care for the facilities we can further communicate we care for visitors.
• Remember we have no assigned seats in church! Show our guests you care about them by helping them find a seat in a pew; even if it means giving up your seat in your regular pew!

It takes an entire congregation to make a guest feel welcomed and that is WHY we need your help!

Each one of these guests is someone's brother, sister, mother or father who wants to learn about Jesus - Christ the King is that opportunity for connection. Let our vision be one of how important it is to welcome guests into our church world by showing we are living our mission statement to Glorify God, Spread the Word, and Love one Another.

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Romans 15:7

Cathy Beard
Vice-President Church Council and Evangelism Chairperson