Home : The Voice : October 2001 : Growing in spirit

Growing in spirit

by Sherard Edington

Go Hospitality

Banana Bread, Anyone?

True Story: Not long ago I was making an official pastoral visit to the home of a young couple who had become regular attendees at the Old Hickory Church. They were now interested in membership.

As we sat chatting in their den the doorbell rang and the husband stepped into the hall to answer. After several minutes of muffled conversation under the porch light he returned with a loaf of banana bread and explained that the folk at the door were a visitation team from another church, a church the couple had considered when they first moved to town.

The husband laughingly explained that this was not the first but the fourth visitation team from this particular church. Each team had been unaware of the visits by previous teams. Fortunately, the couple liked banana bread.

This other church is a big draw in our part of town, especially for young families. It is large, offers oodles of programs, and harbors a massive children's ministry. Since it is of the same denomination as the couple's previous church it was a natural fit for this family. They had swarmed to it like bees to honey. The honey, they soon learned, was sour.

The remarkable extroversion of these visitors did not accurately reflect the personality of their church. On the occasions that the couple attended worship they felt ignored: no one said hello; no one asked who they were.

On a whim they decided to check out the small, stone Presbyterian church in their neighborhood. They felt warmly received and they stayed. We never even offered banana bread.

Looking For A Few Good Men and Women

In my previous column I stressed the importance of trained greeters who stand at the church door and provide the first line of offense in an intentional ministry of hospitality. The greeters watch for visitors and help them acclimate to the church. They are like the Marines who secure the beachhead and provide a safe passage for the rest of the army.

Like the Marines, greeters must be strong: May I help you with that diaper bag?

Greeters must be brave: Let me be the first to welcome you.

Greeters must be willing to be wounded: I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were in church last Easter.

Greeters, however, are wasted without the backup and support of a warm, welcoming congregation. Any church seeking to grow must embrace hospitality like a third sacrament.

Crabbier Than Gulf Shores At Low Tide

I once spoke to a struggling church that bemoaned the fact that visitors to their church never returned for a second visit. This church had attractive facilities and excellent visibility on a busy road. They had a steady stream of church-shoppers from the surrounding neighborhoods. They should have been growing. The problem was that they displayed the affections of a corpse. They had invited me to talk about growth yet hardly anyone broke their huddle and walked over to say hello. I've been in warmer morgues.

Don't misunderstand me. These were nice folk. Around one another they were as friendly as family but as an outsider I felt like I was clinging to the skin of a glacier. This church put the absolute in zero. I had no trouble at all figuring out why those visitors went AWOL.

The Warm Congregation

A hospitable church is one where every member acts like a greeter. It is their ministry. The members don't let visitors sit alone. The members learn names and remember them. They introduce visitors to other members. They treat all newcomers like long-lost cousins. They make everyone feel appreciated and cared for. Between Sundays they follow up with a call or a note or even -- heaven help us -- a loaf of banana bread.

Do not despair if your church is small and struggling. Use your size to your advantage. You have the opportunity to provide a level of warmth and intimacy the big boys can't touch.

When a congregation commits to a culture of hospitality they become disciples. Visitors to this church will recognize that they have entered a special place; they are among a priesthood of all believers.

Sherard Edington is pastor of Middle Tennessee's Old Hickory Church. He can be reached at sherard@bellsouth.net or 801 Jones St., Old Hickory, TN 37138.