SUNDAY SCHOOL
WELCOME CENTER AND WORK OF GREETERS
A suggested step
by step plan
(In some churches
the better plan will be to escort guests to appropriate small groups without
getting a lot of information first, especially if the group or class does a
good job of follow-up, contacts, and visitation. The point is, make guests
feel welcome and wanted, and have a plan for continuing hospitality.
However, if the guest family has small children and preschoolers, be sure to
get appropriate information about allergies and special concerns for
security.)
On
the parking lot:
Station greeters
and parking assistants, equipped with umbrellas and radios, at driveway
entrances or other key locations. When an arriving guest is identified,
either accompany the guest to the Welcome Center or radio the Welcome Center
that a guest, (name), is on the way.
Step one:
When a guest arrives, he\she is cordially met by a greeter at the door and
taken to the
Welcome
Center.
Have a Sunday School information packet available for each family. Consider
having coffee and juice available.
Step
two:
Ask the guest to fill out a simple, brief, welcome-information form.
(Names, address, email, phone – this is not a good time to expect a lot of
detail information.) If there are children, have a greeter assistant to
talk with children while parents are completing the registration
information. Consider having the greeter ask questions and complete the
form. Consider having a booklet or leaflet available to give children.
Step
three:
Show the guest a list of youth and adult class offerings and guide the guest
in choosing one of the classes. (Remember, guests do NOT know the
classes. You will need to make a suggestion.)
Step
four:
Make necessary copies (as many copies as the different classes to which
guests and family members will go) of the information form, or print
forms on NCR paper. If possible, equip the welcome center with a copier.
Keep one copy of guest information in the
Welcome
Center to use in adding to and updating master prospect file.
Step
five:
As appropriate, assist the guest with locating preschool, children, and
youth classes and leave a copy of the information form with each teacher. Be
sure to note on the copies for preschool classes where the parent can be
contacted, what class they will be attending. Consider having a youth
(probably on a rotating basis so as to not keep a youth out of his/her own
class too much) on the Welcome Center team. The greeter then takes the
guest to the adult cluster/department leader or directly to the chosen
class.
Step
six:
Cluster/department leader or greeter introduces the guest to the class
outreach leader or teacher and leaves the information form.
Step seven:
The outreach leader or teacher introduces guest to the class.
Step
eight:
Outreach leader asks a specific class member to serve as host to the guest
during Sunday School and Worship.
Step nine:
Outreach leader adds to or updates the class prospect list, and makes a
visit or phone call to the guest by Wednesday.
Step ten:
Outreach leader assigns new prospect (guest) to a class member for
contact and follow through prior to next Sunday and receives a contact
report from the class member on the following Sunday.
Step eleven:
From the contact made and report brought, the Outreach Leader adds new
information to the profile sheet in the class record book, or to the “pocket
and card,” or whatever prospects visitation form the church uses.
Step twelve:
Outreach leader continues to monitor the activity concerning the prospect
and assigns other class members to make cultivation contacts in a timely
way. Contacts continue until the prospect is reached, or joins different
church, or until the Lord returns.
Step thirteen:
Outreach leader provides opportunity for the guest\prospect to become a
member of the class and assists in the enrolment process at any time from
step six forward. Guests may join the very first Sunday they attend.
Step fourteen:
The fellowship/prayer leader invites the prospect to class fellowship
events. The assigned Care Group Leader provides weekly contacts and
ministries.
For other
resources, contact Robert Stewart, Sunday School & Church Growth Consultant.
rstewart55@nc.rr.com. Web site www.sundayschoolnow.net
