Meeting like Jesus by Teresa Deitch

As Director of Connection I am part of our wonderful “First Impressions” team. This team includes the folks you see every Sunday morning as you enter our Ridge home – welcoming new people at The Hub, handing out bulletins, and providing a warm greeting as you enter into the worship space. However, I’m always asking myself… Are we meeting people in the experience as Jesus would meet them?

Wherever Jesus was – at the temple, in someone’s home, walking somewhere - He noticed, particularized, nurtured and listened to others – even in the crowds of people surrounding Him. As the Sunday morning experience should ALWAYS point people to Jesus we, as the First Impressions team, want to reflect his way.  Here are some of the ways we try to do that:

•      We recognize that our role is about so much more than shaking a hand or handing out a bulletin. We may affect eternity as they may decide THAT DAY to come back or not.
•      We strive to create a culture of OTHERS first. A FI team member has a goal to meet someone s/he doesn’t know each Sunday. 
•      We pray and truly care for our church family because we know that people look at how well people care for each other in a church.
•      Our goal is to make everyone feel that they belong here. People want to belong long before they believe.
•      We are constantly reminded that all people who come in through that door are created by God and have value. Period. Our attitude has to be: “Regardless of your life, you are welcome here.”

The bigger picture, however, is that as a church body we are all responsible for caring for our family – family members who have been here awhile and those who are new. While the First Impressions team members are “tasked” with “welcoming as Jesus would” we are ALL ultimately responsible for this. God asks us to love Him and to love others. To BE warmth and welcome to others is to show care and love for them.

So…ask yourself, “Am I meeting people in the Sunday morning service as Jesus would meet them?”  If you aren’t, find a way to notice, particularize, nurture and listen to others. Be Jesus to somebody this week.