How friendly is our church???

When I'm asking this question I don't so much mean one specific church. But, "How friendly is your church?"
To you, it may be the friendliest place in the world. You have grown up in it, all your family and friends make up the church, and you know the ins and outs. But to someone on the outside, is it really friendly to them? Do they feel the same way you feel when you walk in?
It is hard to be a new person in a group that is already formed. How can we invite them in? Well, it is our job (as the regular) to make them feel a part of the group. Talk to them, look them in the eye, invite them back. So many times the newbie just needs one little ray of hope that there is room for them. If you invite them to come, don't leave them at the door. You invited them into your group, interact with them, introduce them to the group. Make sure the guest feels like a VIP. Now this is all very important but here comes I think something more important. Next time they come, still make them feel like a VIP. Do this until they have integrated themselves into a regular, just like you. Why is this important? Because people like to feel they belong, they want to know they matter. Many times we can show a first time guest an outstanding time and almost forget about them the next time they come. But if we want to keep them, we need to get our guest plugged into a group of people.
So chew on this...the next time someone new walks into your church...treat them the way you would hope to be treated if you were new to a church! Love on them, show them around, introduce them to the group, learn about them, tell them about you. Now watch the church grow...it's amazing how far friendliness can go.

One Love,
DK

I started to read a book last night, "Do Hard Things". While it is not a book really for adults, it could help us get and give insight for teenagers. It is amazing some of the story that were shared in this first part and I will be starting the really meat of the book this afternoon.
The book offers a challenge to young people. And I want to offer that same challenge to some of my teens, so I will be challenging a group of them to read the book and discuss with the group and myself about it. I am hoping to that this book will help "rebelutionize" our student ministry.
Youth pastor or leader if you have not gotten your hands on this book, I highly recommend it. It will help you as much as your teens.

One Love,
DK