The Value of Visitors: From Stranger to Family

Every Sunday morning around the world, Christians gather to celebrate and worship the Resurrected King. God does something amazing every single Sunday for his people. He sends them gifts. Gifts? Yes, gifts! These gifts that God sends every single Sunday are people like you and me. They are the new visitors that walk through our door each week. 

At Oasis Community Church, we understand the value of every visitor and try our best to be hospitable.  Every Sunday tons of new visitors visit churches all around the world and many times, churches have no idea what to do with them. There are two reasons for this: 

1. They aren’t sure how much we value them. (In other words, we know they are important, but we don’t know how important they are.) 
2. They don’t know how to reach out to them. 

Here are some ways we understand the value of a new visitor and try to reach them.

The Value of the New Visitor:

• We understand that new visitors don’t just wander into our churches unguided and on accident. These new visitors are gifts from God to us given freely and intentionally. 

• In John 4, Jesus pursues the Samaritan woman over and over again even though she rejects him. Jesus demonstrates his eagerness to see this woman transformed by the Gospel. We should demonstrate this same type of eagerness whenever God leads a new visitor to our churches. 

• Jesus tells us in Matt. 28 to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Why? Because Jesus wants to transform sinners into saints. Jesus values all people and so should we. When a new visitor shows up, we must see them through the lens of Christ. Only then, we will understand how much value people have. 

How To show Biblical Hospitality: 

• The purpose of Greeters at the door way entrance at our church is not only to welcome our church family (although that is important), but rather to help identify new visitors. 

• Once a new visitor is identified, we need to have someone ready and willing to show them where the children’s ministry is, the bathrooms, the Sanctuary, etc. We use the mantra, greeted, directed, treated and seated to describe the way we care for first time visitors. 

• During the service (usually during announcements), we make sure there is a moment where we welcome new visitors and tell them how much we value them, the same way God does. 

• We also invite all new visitors to the Visitor Welcome Center where a member of our connect team thanks them for coming, has a gift for them, and invites them to a lunch with the staff and Pastors. 

• Along with all of this, we also reach out to them via email and the mail to invite them back and receive feedback from them about how well we were able to care for them on their visit to our church. 

By understanding the value of each visitor and seeking to show hospitality toward each person, we as a family of God can help welcome in His children. We hope you'll join us in this mission we feel called to.

Blog post author:
Director of Ministry, Joey Venegas

Favorite bible verse:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9