When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. – Matthew 9:36
The Posture of Welcome: Jesus
Jesus saw them. I imagine His face toward them, making eye contact. He’s caring, welcoming, compassionate. When have you sensed that Jesus saw you? That you were seen by Jesus?
For many of us, this happened in relational moments. Jesus’ disciples, His body in the world, saw us. Dear Christians functioning as His eyes and mouth and hands and feet offered Jesus to us, and in those moments and seasons we sensed Jesus’ gaze.
At Faith Church Loveland, we value our role as a disciple-making family in extending the welcome of Jesus to our neighbors in Loveland and the world. That means that orange-shirted folks aren’t the only welcome team at Faith Church Loveland. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you’re called to participate in welcome. Remember: The Great Commission involves making disciples of every sort of person first by baptizing them in the name of the Trinity. How does a man go from walking his own path to walking with Christ in a community where he might be baptized? Somehow the Christian community must see him, care for him, and connect him with the path of discipleship where he encounters Jesus’ call. This connection will be relational and directional (more on this below). But all this requires not just “official” folks welcoming newcomers, but every disciple of Jesus with eyes up, ready, making eye contact, caring, welcoming, compassionate. As this happens, a community transforms from insular to inviting and exciting!
The Practices of Welcome: Relational and Directional
Relation Connections
Relationships are central to discipleship in the church. We’re the family of God, a disciple-making family, after all! So, our first step in welcome is caring for folks relationally.
This may go without saying, but if you don’t come to Sunday services, it’s hard for you to see anyone looking for connection, and it’s going to be even harder for you to feel connected. So, when you do come to Sunday services or other FCL events, be mindful of your participation in Christ’s welcome to your neighbors. Look for new folks and folks sitting alone. See them, and care for them. Maybe that means helping them find the restroom or helping them from the Children’s Ministry check-in to their child’s Sunday school classroom. Care for them by asking get-to-know-you questions and expressing your gladness to have them with us. Care by scooting to the middle of the pew and inviting someone to sit with you during worship. If you see another person not being welcomed, you may want to practice the hand-off: “Could I introduce you to my friend, __________?” Gently guide your nearby friend to the new couple you’ve just greeted and introduce them, then head over to the new folks who don’t appear to have connected yet and welcome them!
Directional Connections
As we connect and care for people relationally, we also want to direct them to the path of discipleship here at Faith. You’ve listened to the person and you know they’re interested in connecting with other believers. So, you invite them to your small group! “This is the path for growing in community! Go this way!” You’ve just connected someone relationally and directionally. Perhaps you’re not sure how to connect them, but you ask if they’d fill out an orange card so our team can reach out and care for them to figure out next steps on the path.
Our Plan for Welcome
Our first plan for welcome, friends, is you. Without all of Faith Church Loveland going all-in for welcome, this plan won’t be what it could be. Thank you so much for being a welcoming family, for taking part in this mission! It’s a joy to serve with you!
Now, to support our welcome efforts, we have a few key structures in place (of course every ministry of FCL participates in welcoming and connecting, but these are central and church-wide). By knowing our process, you can help direct folks along the path to connect.
Welcome Card
Folks who come to Faith and fill out an orange welcome card get a small welcome gift and can select the ministries they’re interested in and communications they’d like to receive.
Text-In-Church
We also import newcomer phone numbers into our Text-In-Church communications, which go directly to me and the communication team. This gives me as pastor an opportunity to interact with new folks in a personal way and to connect with them when possible. It also facilitates invitations to Welcome Parties and other church-wide welcoming events.
Welcome Parties
At Welcome Parties, we have welcome volunteers and other members and leaders who come along with me as the pastor to connect with newcomers over a meal. We usually play a silly game, give away a small gift card as a prize, and then share about our church and opportunities for connection. There is time for Q&A. These have been a fun and fruitful point of connection over the past three years I’ve been with you.
First Steps Connect Class
For folks interested in learning more about our church and how to become a member, First Steps Connect Class is a three-week class offered in the fall (September/October) and late winter (February/March). We have it on Sunday nights from 5pm – 7pm, and we offer a meal and childcare. We focus on basic Christian beliefs, connecting with our ministry leaders and one another, and we explore the discipleship culture we are pursuing as a disciple-making family.
Alright, Faith: You’ve got a Jesus posture, relational and directional practices, and a plan! Now let’s go all-in together this fall, welcoming and connecting every dear soul the Lord sends our way.
