4 Quick Steps to Welcome Visitors in Your Orthodox Parish
“Help! We receive many visitors each week and need a plan–yesterday!”
A robust and growing hospitality ministry should be part of every Orthodox parish. Welcoming our neighbor isn’t just an optional part of ministry to be used when we want to grow our church. Rather, hospitality lies at the very heart of God’s mission for the world. Hospitality is a call-to-action from God Himself.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13:2
Creating a culture of hospitality takes time as it improves and matures over months, years, and even decades.
But what if you need to do something right away? Don’t worry, our team can help!
The starting place—if you have no formal hospitality ministry right now—is to secure a few quick wins.
Follow the four easy steps below to get started.
Step 1: Identify People To Help
If you’re reading this, you are probably the parish priest or have been designated by the priest to formally address the hospitality needs of your parish. (If you aren’t the priest and haven’t connected with him in this effort, this is your first and most important step.)
As the leader, your first action (outside of connecting with your priest and making sure you’re implementing his vision for hospitality) is to assemble a team of people to execute the hospitality efforts in your church with you. Hospitality is not a one-man job.
With the blessing of your priest, you can assign team members specific roles to ensure your ministry encompasses all the touch points you determine to be most important.
Some examples of roles or responsibilities you might want to immediately assign include:
A Greeting Team who will warmly welcome visitors as they arrive
A Follow-Up Liaison who will contact newcomers a few days after they visit
A Communication Leader who will ensure hospitality team members and visitors are aware of all important details
Community Events Organizers who will plan activities to integrate newcomers into the parish community
Pew Pals who will sit with newcomers and answer any questions they may have
Step 2: Have a Solid Plan to Gather Contact Information
One of the most important steps to welcome people well is to follow up with them after they have visited your parish. This means you need their contact information!
Creating a non-intrusive way to capture email addresses and phone numbers will allow you to reach out after someone visits. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure someone returns.
This might be as simple as a sign-in sheet or information card visitors can complete quickly. It can also be more advanced, such as a check-in station that utilizes technology like iPads. No matter which method you choose, being able to follow up with your visitors is key.
The Follow-Up Liaison will become the point of contact and reach out to newcomers mid-week.
Step 3: Host a Newcomer Event Each Month
The hospitality of Jesus Christ was often exemplified around a table. If our goal as Orthodox Christians is to be Christlike, then it’s imperative to create opportunities to extend welcome to others as God has welcomed us.
An easy way to do this is to have a monthly opportunity for newcomers to interact with congregants and leadership of the parish. This doesn’t have to be a six-course fine dining extravaganza with china, crystal, and your grandmother’s dupioni silk tablecloth. Rather, this can be a simple coffee and dessert event where newcomers gather, ask questions, and ease their way into learning more about your community and the Orthodox Faith.
The key is intentionality. Creating a time and space for newcomers to know they are welcome and received is essential to making them feel wanted and integrating them into parish life.
Step 4: Help Newcomers Learn About the Faith
This step is important but also fun! There are so many ways for visitors to learn about Orthodoxy. Connect with your priest to ask which sources he trusts to be shared. (Note: Don’t assume everyone teaching about Orthodoxy on the internet is an expert with content worth consuming. Make sure your priest is comfortable with the authors, podcasters, or YouTubers you recommend.)
Perhaps your parish has a Catechism Class or an Orthodoxy 101 course. These are natural next steps for newcomers after they have begun to visit your parish.
Also, check out the “Foundations of Faith” cards from Faithtree Resources. This deck of cards, vetted by multiple priests and theologians, packs a mighty punch with easy-to-digest information on the foundations of Orthodoxy. If your parish wants to gift the cards to welcome newcomers, ask about the bulk discount offered to parish bookstores.
Foundations of Faith cards
Start Transforming Your Parish with Simple Hospitality
Welcoming visitors to your parish is not only a practical step in growing your community, but it’s also a reflection of Christ’s love. By taking these simple yet effective steps—building a team, gathering contact information, hosting events, and providing resources on the Orthodox faith—you can create a lasting culture of hospitality in your parish. Remember, hospitality is a journey, not a one-time task. Each connection you make can leave an impact, helping visitors feel seen, valued, and more connected to the Church.
