First Impressions

 Parking Lot Greeters-and Golf Cart Ministry

This role is more important on special days with larger crowds. It can receive the most positive feedback and can have the biggest impact on the Hospitality Ministry. Greet nonmembers with a kind word and unknown guest with a guiding direction. First, it is very unique to have someone meet you at your car and accompany you to the door. That makes a huge impression and cannot be discounted! Each week you will become more familiar with members who park in that area. Then you will be able to make a distinction of guests from members.

• We will need 1 Greeter at the North parking lot, one at the Southeast parking lot and 1 and the Southwest parking lot. Think about the importance of Guest Parking to funnel most of our Guests to the best entrance. Consider best signage for guests and best for senior’s parking. This will allow us to concentrate on a smaller area and lessen the likelihood of missing someone. 
• These Greeters will need to be in place 15 minutes prior to the beginning of First Service and Class/Second service, and stay until 10 minutes after the beginning of the services and class. 
• If it’s raining, pickup people on golf cart. For others an umbrella needs to be carried to assist the people inside (Consider getting umbrellas with the church name on them for guests to identify general use). 
• Don’t be shy about asking those arriving for worship if they are visiting, but please don’t ask “are you a visitor”. Use the term “visitor” as a verb, not a noun. If they are members, then you need to meet them anyway. Any special information obtained may be given to the Greeters at the front doors (they are guests, they've been here a few times, etc.). 
• Be discerning about their reaction to your initial approach. Some people don’t want any attention or help. Be friendly and respectful of their wishes and let them know we are glad they are here. If the initial contact is made properly, a negative reaction should be a rarity.

"First Face" Greeters

Outside Door Greeters

These Greeters will receive the Guests from the parking lot, get their name and introduce to the “Inner Door Greeters”. They can help open car doors and help families with small children. Also, those with walkers or wheel chairs. They can open the door for everyone entering the building with a big smile and “Good Morning, Glad You Are Here”.

• We will have 2 Greeters at the North Entrance and 2 Greeters at the South Entrance. Please help our seniors (especially those with walkers etc.) to get out of their car and into the building.
• These Greeters are in place 15 minutes prior to each service and class and stay 10 minutes after the service begins.
• Upon recognition of a Guest, the “Outside Door Greeter” will introduce them to the Bulletin Greeter”.

Bulletin Greeters "First Information"

Bulletin Greeters

These Greeters can open the door for everyone entering the building. If a Guest is introduced to them by the Outer Door Greeter they will in turn introduce them to a Building Host or a friendly member in the area. There is a heavy emphasis on being “directed” at this point. If worship is about to begin, direct them in that direction. Giving them a sense of where to go at this time and that they will be well received there.

• We typically have 2 Greeters or a couple at each “set” of doors on the North Side, South Side, Chapel, New Kitchen, and Fellowship Entrances for First service. For Class/Second service we have bulletin greeters at North Entrance and South Entrance.
• These Greeters will need to be in place 15 minutes prior to each service and class and remain until at least 10 minutes after they begin.
• They need to hand-out both the adult bulletin as well as children’s activity sheets. This provides an opportunity to “start a conversation” and get to know the person and direct them to either a Building Host or a member who is available.

Building Hosts "First Feet"

Building Hosts

(Guest #1 is lonely and feels like nobody cares about them. Will there be someone expecting me? Guest #2 is lost in this world and wonders if they really matter to God.)

The responsibility of the Building Host is being a greeter that "floats" to the area of greatest need. You should get many steps in this responsibility. Please be available to assist any Guest with locations of classes, restrooms, children’s registration areas, etc. This is an “action” position. Guests are to be personally escorted to the appropriate class and introduced to the teacher or at least to a member of the class. Upon the completion of this task, the Building Host will return to the foyer to be available for any other Guest’s needs. The Building Host should escort the Guest to the appropriate place. If there is not enough time to do so, the suggestion should be made that they fill out the information card in the Welcome Books during the worship time. If the Guest has children that need to be taken to class, make sure to wait there with them until their child is checked in and then be available to take them to an adult class. *This will require the Building Host be familiar with the different class opportunities and where each is located.* Again, discernment is critical. We don’t want to smother a guest, but be proactive and intentional in helping them. If they indicate by words or body language that they would prefer being left alone, then honor their wishes and offer to be available if they have any questions or needs.

• We strive to have "a couple" or 2 Building Hosts at First Service, Class & Second Service.
• They will need to be in place 10 minutes prior to Service (or classes) beginning and continue through the period of time. Be active and engage with guests, and with members encourage them to help or be in the worship service.
• Be welcoming -- when someone comes in that you don't know, or looks like they don't know where to go, welcome them right away. Give them your name and ask, "Can I help you?"
• Give direction to guests and help them engage with the appropriate group.
• Be informative -- Child Check-in; fill out label with child's information. (Take them to Brenda or Dana) Classroom locations are posted on the walls, digital displays in the foyer as well as bathrooms.
• Be available to those who may leave early.
• Benevolence policy -- During assembly times, if someone needs help with food, please get them a food box that is assembled and stored in the Food Pantry upstairs across from the 2nd grade classroom. If they are in need of funds; take their name and phone number and place the information in the drop box. The deacon in charge of benevolence will be given their number and will contact them to make arrangements for their needs. We do not disperse personal funds. (The benevolence fund will not reimburse you.) We do not give out personal phone numbers of our members. If they do not want to come in for worship, please make sure they leave the building. We do not want anyone blocking the doors by soliciting funds.

Auditorium Section Hosts - "First Seat"

"Section" Auditorium Greeters/Ushers/Hosts

• Ideally, this position is best fulfilled by a married couple and enlist other members to match the guest's personality. These hosts are more “social people,” who can engage in potential longer conversations. It will involve 3 separate tasks; Greeting, Ushering, and Hosting. The Greeting aspect is easily understood. The Hosting duties will include making contact with Guests before and after services to introduce Guests to members. The ushering aspect lends itself to inviting guests to find the right place for them to "feel at home."
• This position is the biggest challenge due to the difficulty in staying focused on Guests coming into your area. We must have the help of the members of the congregation in not engaging our Greeters in lengthy conversation (several minutes). At some point we may decide to give auditorium hosts a ribbon to wear, that would mean they’re “working”, so please try to avoid being a distraction. While we want to "embrace" our members, this critical time can be the vital aspect of connecting to those who we want to become Christians or members.
• Another major roll of this couple is to manage our "Welcome books" used for attendance records, a major tool to "connect" with guests. It allows for starting a conversation as soon as church is finished. This has been our more personable way of gathering guest and member information. This has proven to be a more effective approach connecting with guests. These will be placed on the end of each pew in your section. At the designated time, the books will be passed down the row with each family completing their information until the book gets to the other end. When it gets to the other end, it is to be passed back to the end where it started. At that point they will be collected by the section hosts and delivered to the back of the auditorium. Please encourage the people in your section to connect with those next to them.
• We have valuable people to host at both morning services.
• Greeters in the balcony (2 first service and 8 second service). These Greeters will need to be in place 10 minutes before First Service and continue in this ministry 10-15 minutes after the service begins to be able to assist late-comers.
• Greeters on the floor of the auditorium (6 first service and about 10 second service). These Greeters will need to be in place 10 minutes prior to the end of class before 2nd service. They will need to stay on post 10-15 minutes after the service begins to be able to assist late-comers.
• As with other Greeters, care must be taken to keep focus on the people entering the auditorium; keeping alert for anyone looking lost or unsure where to go. The "Building Hosts" or floating Greeters at the auditorium doors may signal you or call you over if they make contact with a Guest so that a “seamless hand-off” can take place.
• These Greeters/Ushers will be responsible for finding Guests/members seats. It is awkward for a Guest to “climb over” when trying to find a seat, so the Greeter/Usher will take care of making room for Guests and member latecomers.
• It is important for these Greeter/Hosts to make note of where the Guests are seated so that immediately after services they can go make contact with them and introduce them to members in the area. Ideally, an invitation to lunch will be made by either a member or the Greeter/Host.

Classroom Hospitality "First Family"

Auditorium / Classroom Door Greeters 

Besides being ready with a big smile and handshake, this Greeter will be responsible for ensuring that everyone received a bulletin; Guests and members alike. These Greeters must be ready to answer questions, but carrying on a lengthy conversation with friends is not recommended. As with each and every one of these Greeting roles, it is imperative that we stay focused and on point so that we don’t let a Guest wander in without our noticing because we’re visiting with friends. Try to save that for after services when you aren't “working.”

• Each class needs 1 Greeter / Greeter Couple at the main classroom door.
• These Greeters will need to be in place early.

"Lasting Heart" Impressions

Summary:

While first impressions are critical, the lasting impressions is equally important. The last 7 minutes are as important as the first 7 minutes. Research shows that this is what people will remember.

In review, we have 7 opportunities to make contact with a Guest; in the parking lot, at the outside doors, the inside doors, in the foyer at large, at the Welcome Center, at the auditorium doors (inside or out) and in the pew. By this time, we will have shown our Guests that we are a very friendly and caring church family by having many people make multiple contact with them and making them know that we value them, their decision to attend, and their presence very much. Our Hospitality Team and members must constantly be on the lookout for people they do not recognize, and if a 10-year member is met, then that’s a good thing; not a point of embarrassment. Intentional friendliness leaves a lasting impression on their heart. Everyone wants to feel welcomed and wanted. People will forget what you said, but never forget how you made them feel. 

As a Greeter and Christian Member, you have the prime opportunity to become the church’s thermostat for the worship assembly by setting the emotional temperature for the day and what guests will take home in their hearts. Minimizing the apprehension level of first time Guests by giving them clear and friendly assistance in finding a parking place, their class, their seat in the worship service, and information about our church family, the temperature has been set at a nice warm, comfortable level allowing true and deep worship to take place. You've given our Guest a feeling of inclusion and acceptance and perhaps lessened the tension that some may have arrived with from trying to “get to the church on time”, tension from the unknown, and tension from any number of other personal factors that went into affecting their mood. You've helped them have a more positive and engaging worship experience, making them ready to absorb God’s message to them that day and want to return again.

You have been chosen to be a part of this ministry because you have demonstrated the gift of hospitality (making people feel welcomed and included). You are an ambassador for Christ and His love. We know God says they “belong here,” so let us envision a process that includes that transition. The importance of your work in this hospitality ministry is almost indefinable. God, in His wisdom, has sent us a prospective brother or sister, a gift, who may just be the answer to a prayer for help in another area of service at the Edmond congregation. By treating God’s gift with respect, honor, smile, and a thankful heart, we increase the chances of turning our First Time Guests into viable, productive coworkers in Christ’s church that meets at the Edmond Church of Christ. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this vital kingdom call.