I visited a church recently, and found it to be less than friendly. In fact, we felt like we were outsiders.
They used lots of “insider” language, barely acknowledged that visitors were even present, and talked about situations that one would only know about if he or she were a regular attender.
The problem, as I saw it, wasn’t a lack of volunteers. It wasn’t even a lack of skilled volunteers. There were plenty of capable folks who could have made us feel warm and welcomed.
The problem wasn’t that the pastor and leaders couldn’t communicate in such a way that first-timers could get it.
The problem wasn’t a lack of organization on the part of the leadership and the “welcome” committee.
The problem is that they didn’t want to.
By not communicating the importance of welcoming outsiders, they had structured their service in such a way that those who are new felt awkward, unwelcomed, and ultimately unwanted.
People want to be led. They’ll be led where the leader takes them.
If there’s a problem with vitally important tasks consistently not being carried out, maybe the finger needs to be pointed at you, the leader.
Are you regularly casting vision for those things that are most important? Where are you taking those you’re leading?
