5 Tips for Creating a Visitor-Friendly Church

5 Tips for Creating a Visitor-Friendly Church  

1. Spruce Up Your Website

“A church’s website is the new ‘first impression’ that visitors receive,” says Gary Gibbs, Chesapeake’s ministerial director. “Therefore, it is vital that the website be attractive, easy to navigate and have current information.”  

2. Provide Clear and Ample Signage

Not only should guests be able to easily locate your building from the street, but make sure they also know where to park and how to find restrooms, water fountains, sanctuary entrances, the mother’s room and classrooms.  

3. Explain Rituals

Note activities that involve standing or kneeling. “Just make sure that you’re sensitive to the guest—that they understand what’s going on,” notes Madding. Also, explain how collected funds will be used. For example, “Please explain … why the children are picking it up and what this offering is for,” suggests Madding.

4. Make Your Message Clear

Pastor Boquer says it’s a good idea to “design our worship services in a way that we can encourage nonbelievers or people that are visiting for the very first time” so that they can easily understand the message.

5. Be Friendly “You can have a worship service that just bombs … but if church members are friendly and connect with the guests, they will be willing to come back for another visit,” Madding explains. Also, assign first- and second-tier greeters to connect with guests during their visit—and beyond.    

Read more from the July 2014 Visitor:

•  Click here to see what two conferences are doing to help raise awareness about the church experience from a visitor’s viewpoint.
• Underscore: How can we Extend Compassion to the LGBT Community Without Abandoning Conviction?