I will never look at visitors the same way again! I never really thought much about people visiting a congregation. As a staff person I always tried to greet them warmly and show them what I thought was hospitality. I was always glad visitors came and hoped they would return. What I did not realize was how much thought and effort it took for a visitor to show up at a congregation.
I have to assume that most visitors have the same experience I have had over the past several months of visiting congregations. There is a lot of effort that goes into getting to the door of a church. First, you have to decide whether or not you are going to attend church that week. Unlike many congregational members, visitors do not have any commitments or expectations to be present in worship on a Sunday morning. Visitors can truly decide they just are not going to attend worship-no on is expecting them to be there.
Once a visitor has decided to attend worship they must decide what congregation to worship with. My guess is that many visitors get online and do some research about congregations in their area. They look at the practical things like what time worship begins, how far away is the congregation, is it easy to find, etc. They might also factor in what other things are going on in the life of a congregation that apply to them or their family as well as what type of worship experience they can expect to have. This takes a fair amount of time and effort.
On Sunday morning (or other day or time) a visitor may spend the morning wondering how they will be treated when they enter the building. Will they be greeted warmly? Will the be bombarded and overwhelmed by the congregation? Will people engage them in conversation during fellowship or will they have to find the courage to do so themselves? Will they feel the congregation truly was happy to have them be part of their community?
Visitors might also ponder other questions as they prepare to worship in a congregations. Will they know where to go? Will they be able to fully participate in worship or will they feel like an outsider because they did not know the words to a prayer, litany or hymn? What am I going to say about why I am visiting this congregation? How much of myself and my story do I want to reveal to these strangers? What do I want to know about the congregation I am visiting? What factors will compel me to return again and again?
It is my experience it takes a lot of time and effort (both mentally and emotionally) to be a visitor! I wish more congregations would put as much if not more time, thought, and effort in to those visiting their congregations. I want congregations to understand and acknowledge the time and effort it takes visitors to show up for worship! In the future when I visitor “shows up” at the congregation I am a part of I will stop and make the effort to really express my gratitude for their presence with us, genuinely take interest in them as a child of God by engaging them in meaningful conversation, and lastly pray for them.
May we all think of visitors to our congregations as children of God!
