Area churches seek ways to greet visitors at services

Debbie Riley knows firsthand what a church visit can do to change a life. Even before she began attending First Baptist Church, members visited her to take information about parenting and details about the church in a Cradle Roll program designed to reach new parents.

Over the years, Riley got monthly visits from church members, some of whom asked her about spiritual needs and offered to pray for her family. Eventually, Riley and her daughter, Veda, began attending regularly and became members of the church.

Area churches looking for ways to greet visitors and develop outreach programs in the community have devised many plans for visitation. Most congregations greet visitors during the service, but several also make visits during the week.

Churches are "all over the map" on how they plan visitation, said the Rev. Art Hunt, pastor of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church. "We work hard to greet them when they come in the door but not to overwhelm them."

Diane Hawn, a member of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, takes visitors a basket with fresh-baked bread, a mug and coffee or tea, and information about the church. In all the years she's been dropping off the baskets to visitors, none has refused them. "It's a way to meet people and get to know them better," she said.

A monthly coffee and doughnuts fellowship at St. Mary's Cathedral lets visitors and parishioners mingle, said Ellen Shuck, director of religious education. Many times people who attend a particular Mass might not have a chance to greet others in the parish or meet new members otherwise.

"We try to be friendly and welcome them," she said. Often a person interested in joining the parish will call the church for information about activities.

At First Baptist and many other churches in the area, visitation teams gather one night each week to make contact with the people who visited the previous Sunday.

The visits help answer any questions a person might have about the church. Usually teams of two take a pie to each person or family they visit.

"It can be a little intimidating if you were just going up and down the street knocking on doors," said Karen Wynn, a member at First Baptist. "But these are people who have shown an interest."

Most people who want to be anonymous don't fill out visitor cards or request information about a church, said Melody Green, who coordinates the GROW visitation program. The way the visitation program is set up, one person only devotes an hour or hour and a half to visitation each month.

Volunteer FAITH teams from Lynwood Baptist Church make visits each Monday in the community. Members from the church go in teams of three to ask questions and make contacts in the community.

Most people are receptive and accept information about the church, said Daisy Brown, a FAITH team leader. FAITH, an acronym, is designed to be a simple way to tell people about Jesus and life-changing experiences.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126