While Scott is traveling this summer, we bring you a rerun post from August 2019. Hope you enjoy it!
Dear friends in Christ,
It sure seems like the cool weather of fall is a world away. And yet, we’re only a couple of days away from the change. At Forward Movement, our summer “half-day Fridays” come to an end with the start of September. The point is, you’d better enjoy the last little bit of summer life!
Whether or not the start of September makes much of a difference in your home, it does make a difference to lots of people. This time of year is one of those times when plenty of people think of finding a new church. Is your church ready for an influx of guests?
We at Forward Movement offer lots of resources to help guests learn more about the Episcopal Church, but it’s not just about having a fresh pile of books and pamphlets. Now is a great time to check your signage, make sure your website is up to date, and clear away clutter in the hallways and entries.
I frequently hear that we need to provide a clear path for guests. How do they learn more? How do they get involved? How are they invited into membership? For small and large congregations, it’s a challenge, though the challenge is different. Larger congregations with loads of programs need to provide a roadmap (“Start here, this is next, and finally this is how to become members.”). Smaller congregations won’t have a dizzying array of programs, but they still need to provide a path. Here the solution is probably an individual meeting between guests and either lay leaders or clergy.
Our church is shrinking, and one of the reasons is that we don’t always do a good job of inviting people through our doors. And when they arrive, we’re not often good at welcoming and connecting them into ministries. Check out Invite Welcome Connect to help with this process.
Lots of people are yearning for a community with purpose. They’re waiting on you to invite them and to offer them a place.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
More from our ministry:
In case you missed it: AdventWord announces words for 2024
Send guests home with a pocket-sized gift: Forward Day by Day
Committed to growing your church in faith? RenewalWorks can help.