I think you would agree with me that we are honored when we have guest visit with us at James Island Baptist. They could go to any church or be any other place, yet they choose to join us in the Lord’s House, on the Lord’s Day to worship. I am thankful for the attitude that we almost always have when guest arrive. For the most part, I think guest are welcomed and spoken to with genuine warmth. Now there is the occasional visitor that somehow slips through the welcome time and unfortunately, does not get our customary warm welcome. But generally speaking, I think our church family does a good job. Just about every card that our guests send back comments on our friendly church family. Let’s take it up a notch and let them know we are not just friendly, we are willing to be friends.
Here are a couple of things you can do to make guest feel welcomed and loved:
1. Take the initiative and go to the guest. Look for the people just standing there. That might be a clue they are guest. We are blessed with so many new faces, I know you are not sure who is a member, regular attendee, or a first time guest. Cover all the bases, greet them all!
2. Give them your name and offer to introduce them to one of the pastors, a fellow member, or someone that looks close to their age. Careful…err on the side of they all look young!
3. Ask if they found everything ok. They might not know the way to the nursery or children’s church. Offer to show them the way instead of just telling them.
Remember, after the 11:00 service, Pastor Dave has a team in the atrium that would love to meet our guest and give them a gift from our church family.
SPEAKING OF GUEST. This Sunday at the 11:00 worship service we will have Major General John Grinalds (Retired), former 18th President of The Citadel. He has had a distinguished and honorable career serving our Father in Heaven as well as the United States of America. He will speak a brief word about the Gideon Bible Ministry and lead in our offertory prayer. It will be our honor to welcome him to JIBC.
See you Sunday, good Lord willing…
Pastor Tom
Sermon Passage for Sunday, June 24: Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
