We can take note of the Good Samaritan who noticed the stranger, the one every other passerby ignored and walked right on past.Īnd maybe in doing this, we’ll prevent some new visitors from church shopping – because we’ll have appropriately welcomed them into Christ’s space.Ĭara Meredith is a writer and speaker from the San Francisco Bay Area. We can emulate the actions and compassion of Jesus who welcomed every sinner and saint into his midst.
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If I choose to keep my newborn or my children with me, because one of us isn’t comfortable in the children’s program, don’t glare at me if they act like children – Jesus loves the little children, just as much as you and me.īut here’s the bottom line: we really can be good neighbors to those who are visiting our churches for the first time. If you’re an usher, don’t seat me in the front row. Write down my name on the inside of your Bible or in your cell phone. Whether I see you afterwards the church foyer, or the next week while sitting behind you again, I’ll probably remember you, because, to me, you’re one of the few representatives of this place. Visitors, who might still be visiting four weeks in, oftentimes sit in the same area in a church service as well.
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Here’s the deal: we, as parishioners, oftentimes sit in the same area in a church service. It’s also easy for those visitors, just like my family and me, to then be turned away from the church.Ĭurious as to what turns a new person away? I’ve got seven ideas for you. And, no matter how long or how involved you find yourself with the body of Christ, it’s easy not to see the visitors among you. Whether you attend the congregation you grew up in, or just celebrated your three-month anniversary in a faith community, I guarantee there are people among you, visiting your church for the first time.
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I’m guessing we’re not alone in visiting a new church for the first time. We connected with church leaders over e-mail and Twitter we pored over their websites in order to find the best fit for our little family.īut it hasn’t been that easy every other time we’ve moved and had to switch churches. Instead, we did our homework ahead of time. “This time around,” being another unexpected move, this time from Northern California to the Pacific Northwest. We didn’t find ourselves church shopping as much as usual this time around – “we,” being my husband and our two young sons.