The Mystery Guest AuditMaximizing Your Sunday Morning Hospitality
Every Sunday morning there are people visiting churches for the first time. Some churches attract and maintain more visitors than others. Helping each guest feel welcomed and comfortable is the first step in bringing them into a closer relationship with Jesus. Each of these strangers is not there by accident. God has sent them to you desiring that you to be Jesus' hands and feet by opening your hearts to these guests-it is an awesome responsibility. As you look around the Narthex and Sanctuary of your church on any Sunday morning, it might seem as if everyone is very friendly. But is this friendliness experienced by newcomers? In other words, just how friendly does your church appear to those newcomers who arrive on a Sunday morning?
Having a welcoming environment for visitors is important every Sunday-providing that first and lasting impression that may mean the difference between starting that visitor on a course toward active ministry or causing them to walk away not knowing the love of God that you could demonstrate to them. Putting time and effort into effectively welcoming guests and inviting them to return is what enables Jesus to work through you to touch these strangers.
The Mystery Guest Audit provides your church with an unbiased observation of what a stranger might experience on any given Sunday morning from the time they drive onto your campus until they leave again later that morning.