| Welcoming the strangers God sends us On Saturday March 6, a week after a successful open house and building consecration, the new conference center again bustled with activity as it hosted three simultaneous, all-day training events for nearly 150 people. The Office of Communications co-sponsored a regional Igniting Ministry evangelism training; the Board of Congregational Life held its last Academy for Initiative Leaders session until next fall; and a local churchs leadership team met here. It felt good to see our new home being used so bountifully for nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ and ministers of the Gospel. The three Igniting Ministry trainers from United Methodist Communications expertly and humorously taught about 100 people how to use advertising and interpersonal communication strategies for developing welcoming congregations. The excitement and gratitude of many participants was evident. Some called out steps they planned to implement when they returned to their churches. Others said they had intended to stay just a half day but instead remained until the end. Still others asked about future training opportunities. Our hope is that the seeds of wisdom and inspiration scattered that day fell mainly on fertile soil, and that the result will be more congregations developing a welcoming lifestyle in which members learn to demonstrate creative hospitality at every opportunity. Indeed, it would be great to see more congregations become Igniting Ministry Certified Welcoming Congregations, a designation that recognizes efforts to invite and receive visitors as Jesus Christ would, that is, as no longer strangers but brothers and sisters in the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19) What are some ways for churches to become certified? Have a welcoming coordinator or hospitality team that does more than just sponsor after-church refreshments, but also teaches welcoming skills and helps spread a spirit of hospitality. Train ushers to become warm, friendly greeters who do more than hand out bulletins and seat worshipers. Develop a visitors center and a welcome packet. Connect visitors with friendly members who can introduce them to others and make them feel at home. Offer designated guest parking and tours of your church. Invite visitors personally to the fellowship hour after service and to upcoming church events. Want more ideas? Visit www.ignitingministry.org/welcoming . In fact, I invite you to share your congregations welcoming ideas and efforts with us. We could start a special Web page or bulletin board, a workshop, maybe even a welcoming movement across the conference and beyond. The Tale of Two Churches, one of several Igniting Ministry videos, should be required viewing. If you want to borrow a copy, contact me or Jo Chesson at our conference Resource Center, (800) 492-2525, Ext. 490. It shows how a welcoming congregation acts, and how to remove the sense of anonymity and sometimes virtual invisibility visitors often feel. I know that feeling from experience. During one recent church visit I witnessed a roughly 15-minute passing of the peace, that part of the service when members are invited to scatter about greeting one another and, oh yeah, greeting visitors, too. They sometimes follow instructions to utter an innocuous blessing of some type, such as, God loves you, and so do I. Until then we had all faced forward, regimented, having little or no contact with one another, our singing and speaking gbwc_superusered by the liturgist, the hymnal and the worship bulletin. Suddenly emancipated, streams of finely attired people opened their countenances and surged forth down the aisle and among the pews, smiling, laughing, talking, embracing. I was greeted by a half-dozen smiles and handshakes, and even ventured to initiate a few greetings. But mostly I stood alone and watched, marveling at the kinetic dance of unbridled fellowship. Finally, prompted by the organ and the choir singing as it returned to its seats, the congregation gradually recomposed itself and once again faced forward as the worship service resumed. It made me wish that congregations could sit in circles facing each other. Then they could greet, converse, sing and pray with one another at points throughout the service. Indeed, by the time members and visitors departed some just might be no longer strangers but newfound friends in the household of faith. Its just one crazy idea. Im sure there are more worth considering. Send us yours. We need to help each other learn to open our hearts, our minds and our doors to welcome the strangers God sends our way. Who knows? We might be entertaining angels. | 
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