Making a New Church Member Feel Welcome: 5 Tips

Attending a new church can be stressful. Visitors don’t always know where to go, what to wear or what to expect during the service. Although some new people may simply be looking for a new church to attend, others may have never come to church before. Going to a new place is always a little intimidating, especially if you want to make a good impression. 

Church should be a place of peace, not create anxiety in visitors. Thankfully, there are several practical steps you can take to anticipate and relieve any fears that newcomers’ may feel. Scripture tells us that God values hospitality and welcomes everyone who comes to Him. Here are five ways that you can make a new church member feel welcome.

1. Greet Them

When new people walk into your church, they should have clear direction on what to do next. Most churches have greeters and ushers who can offer a friendly smile, answer any questions and show visitors to their seats. Once seated, new visitors will feel relaxed and ready to follow along during the service. 

During the service, have a built-in greeting time. That gives church members time to introduce themselves and personally welcome any visitors sitting nearby. Clear signage can also help visitors feel welcome. For example, it should be easy to find the bathroom and know where extra exits are located. 

2. Answer Questions

You can prepare visitors for services by improving your church’s website. Make sure there’s a page with information on common questions like service times, dress code and childcare. You should also have a page explaining doctrinal beliefs in simple terms so newcomers understand the focus of the church. 

Many people join churches because they’re looking for Christian community. If your church has small groups or Bible studies, put information about them on your website too. Include them in weekly church announcements or offer a phone number people can call for more information.

3. Keep It Simple

The more straightforward your service is, the more comfortable people will feel when they visit. If you do something differently from other churches, it’s worthwhile to explain it at every service. For example, visitors might feel uncomfortable forming prayer groups during the service unless you give them direction.

As much as possible, your service should follow the same basic structure every week. This helps members feel at home and turns their attention away from social anxiety to engaging with the material. If something is going to change, you should announce it several weeks in advance. New members should easily be able to follow the service without feeling overwhelmed. 

4. Practice Hospitality

Although Christians call their meeting place the “church,” the real church is made up of the people who go there. It’s the responsibility of each individual church member to show hospitality and be welcoming to visitors. Extending welcome to someone is the most foundation way you can show love to others.  

To help people engage with each other, you could plan a fellowship time after church. This looks different for each church – some have gatherings once a month and others eat together after every service. You should also encourage church members to invite visitors out for bonding activities like an after-work drink, a family dinner or a hiking trip. 

5. Focus on God

Although welcoming newcomers is important, it shouldn’t become the primary focus of your church. Christians gather together primarily to worship God. They’re encouraged by spending time together and studying the Bible. If visitors become your focus, the Christians who come to church may feel out of place. 

Some visitors may prefer to stay in the background until they feel more comfortable. You should never pressure newcomers to make a commitment they’re not ready for or force them to say hello to the whole congregation. Create a peaceful atmosphere by avoiding any form of emotional manipulation, musical or otherwise. 

Extending Welcome

Scripture is full of stories about hospitality. From the beginning to end, the Bible supports showing kindness to strangers, caring for newcomers and creating a culture of hospitality. You can make church visitors feel welcome by following these five tips. 

Start with a simple greeting and create opportunities for regular members to introduce themselves. Make sure your service is easy to follow. You can feed visitors after the service and encourage members to invest personally in new people they meet. Always keep the primary focus of your service on worshiping and honoring God.