Evangelism Report

By Helen Vandermay

Almost all churches claim to be warm and welcoming, but what is it really like to walk into a brand new church on a Sunday morning?

Let’s consider that you are coming to church because you are troubled or upset, but you want to make the effort to belong somewhere. How would it feel if, as you take a seat, you are told ‘this seat is taken’ and a purse is shoved down where you were about to sit?

Maybe your first visit is spontaneous -- you hear some music coming from inside the church and you decide to go to the service. But, the door is locked. There is no indication on the door which direction one is to go to get into the building, so what next?

Perhaps you have just moved to town and you decide to visit your local Anglican parish. The door is open and people are milling about in the lobby, but you can’t readily find the direction for the worship space. No one talks to you, so eventually you decide to follow others and success, you find it. The music is appealing and the minister’s sermon was particularly meaningful to you. Feeling encouraged, you walk out with others after the service, shake hands with the minister who asks your name and then you follow the crowd into the church hall where coffee is being served. You get in line with others but no one seems to notice you. You wind up standing all alone looking at everyone else talking to each other. No one talks to you, or even seems to notice that you are there. You finally get up the courage to walk up to someone and say ‘Hi.’ They say ‘Hi’ back and then carry on with their conversation. You finish coffee and leave, not sure you will come back again. You have been ignored by almost everyone.

Of course, St. George’s is not like this. Or is it? Yet, the sad truth is, most of these stories have come from people in this parish! You would be surprised what I have heard from people when I ask them about the first time they came through our doors.

Part of making our evangelism efforts successful is to get the truth about our behaviour out into the open. Are we friendly and welcoming to strangers? Honestly, sometimes we’re not.

Sure, we love to connect with our old familiar friends at coffee hour, but can we try to scan the room first and see if there is a newcomer in the hall? Go over and say hello, find out who the Lord is sending to us. Romans 15:7 ‘Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God’. Most people decide within 5 minutes of entering a church whether or not they will come back.

It doesn’t end there, either. People exploring a new church home bring their hopes, needs, wants and desires with them. They may appear anxious and needy to us. But let’s face it; we’ve all had to walk into a church as a stranger. And look at us now, we’ve grown and developed and been fulfilled by our church – can we share our success with others? Our community life is virtually buzzing with activity and connections. The table may feel full, but as I look around during church services, I see some empty spaces in the pews.

As Evangelism representative to our parish, I’m here to help you welcome others to our church. Here at St. George’s we do a marvellous job keeping our outside grounds attractive, our programs vital and our services meaningful. We naturally attract new people who want to share this gem of Victorian architecture.

I’m starting a welcoming group for our parish. Bring me your stories of how you’ve been welcomed at other churches. I can train you on how to greet that stranger standing alone in the lobby. Get involved, tell me your ideas or things you’ve seen work elsewhere. Speak to me at church, or call me by phone at (905) 877-7636, or by e-mail me jvandermey@cogeco.ca.