By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen
Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com
On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, I had breakfast with a man named Bill at Rochester, WA's Hi-Way Diner. He is a man who has been attending Grace Baptist Church for a few weeks. Bill is a likeable Christian man who is easy to visit with. This is our second time having breakfast together at the Hi-Way Diner. One reason I like to go there is to meet other locals who need the Lord.
I have asked him to meet for breakfast because it is very important that newcomers to church have opportunities to build friendships with others from the church. Friendships often are the tie that binds people to a church.
And that really is the point of this posting. If we all attempt to show friendship to newcomers, it can really help keep them coming. I know that this comes easier for some than for others. And I know that many of you do show friendship to new church attendees. To which I say a hearty, "Praise the Lord! Keep it up!"
Let me give some tips on how to show friendship to visitors to the church:
- Greet them with a smile and a handshake.
- Visit with them before or after a church service or home fellowship.
- Ladies, look for any new ladies who might be alone and ask to sit with them, or ask them to sit with you.
- Men, do the same with new men.
- Couples can do this with visiting couples.
- Invite them to a ladies function, or to a men's function. The ladies' Bible study and men's breakfast are examples.
- Invite them to the home fellowships.
- Invite them to breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or to have refreshments. This can be done at your residence, or at McDonald's or elsewhere.
Now, consider some other points related to this subject:
- When at a church service, be sure to look around for any new attendees you need to greet.
- When you have met them, be sure to include them in your circle of friends.
- Avoid controversial subjects.
- If you meet them somewhere to visit, or if you go to their house, don't stay too long. They don't want to feel stuck. This is especially important when it comes to visiting at their residence.
- Learn the art of conversation. Listen more than you talk. Ask appropriate questions about their families, hobbies, jobs, travel, and etc.
- Don't dwell on your health problems or other problems. Keep those subjects for close friends.
- Keep your conversation on positive topics.
