a publication for the OKUMC connection widening the circle
Carlos Ramirez Director of Communications
Communications Ministry Staff
Jena Barber Editor of Publications
Andrew Himes Multimedia and Web Ministry
Publication Credits
Cover photo and feature graphics: Deposit Photos & Jena Barber
Stories and layout by Jena Barber (unless otherwise noted)
If you have story ideas, please reach out! Send them to Jena Barber at editor@okumc.org.
The Contact, a publication of the OKUMC Connection (USPS 954-500) is published monthly by The Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “The Contact OKUMC”, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106.
from the editor
Getting the word out about your church is both the easiest thing and the hardest thing to do. I’m not sure how that is, but it’s definitely true, from my anecdotal experience.
You have this congregation of fantastic people, a kind, loving, hospitable group of Jesus-loving Christians. Your pastor offers dynamic sermons each week, and the choir - or band - is on fire every Sunday morning. Your children and youth ministries are topnotch, and you offer Sunday school classes and affinity groups and activities for every conceivable need.
You put stickers on cars, post on social media about your unique church - and see very little return. Why isn’t anything working?
The answer, in a word, is marketing. Marketing sounds like a dirty word in church, but it’s really just a way to set yourself apart in a saturated world of churches on every corner.
Every church advertises welcoming community. Every church advertises sermons, music, classes, and loving people.
It must be hard for a person or family looking for a church, seeing overflowing options of churches all offering the same thing, trying to decide which to visit.
You know that your church is really the one with the best hospitality, the best sermons, the best music. But how can you compete if three churches in your town are saying they also have the best, and they also have bigger advertising budgets?
The answer is both a piece of advice and a huge challenge.
You must show what’s unique about you. Assuming that every church will advertise good music, good sermons, good hospitality - and knowing you can’t get away with just changing the adjective to “great” or “marvelous” or even “spectacular,” what else does your church do well? What is different?
Talking about Jesus and God is evangelism. Telling people how wonderful the people are, how good the music is, how informative the sermons are - that’s basically the call of every single church in the state. And there are many, many churches in the state. There are probably at least five churches within a mile of yours.
So beyond evangelism, what is the marketable aspect of your church? What does your church do that other churches don’t?
For some churches, this will be a nearly impossible response. For the ones who are working to grow, it’s absolutely necessary. Does your church feed the hungry? Does it have a beautiful courtyard for prayer and meditation? Does it make cinnamon rolls or kolaches or spaghetti better than anyone else in Oklahoma?
Do you have a group of ladies who all wear creative hats on the second Sunday of the month? Do you have a person who repairs bicycles for neighborhood kids? Is there a walking trail on your church’s property?
Do you help at a community garden, compost food, host a watermelon spitting contest?
You have something special. What is it? That’s your marketing campaign.
Social Media
Social Media Best Practices for Churches
by Meagan Barr
In today’s world, social media is constantly changing. Trends come and go so quickly that it can feel almost impossible to keep up, especially for churches. How do we connect with our people? How do we reach new people and invite them into our community? How do we help people draw closer to God, even when they’re not physically with us?
There isn’t a perfect formula for “cracking the code” of social media, but there are several practices that can strengthen your church’s online presence. Here are a few of the most effective ones I’ve found:
Consistency is key.
One of the best ways to reach people is by maintaining a consistent presence online. This could mean sharing worship service clips, upcoming event details, or weekly prayers for your congregation to use. Consistency isn’t just about posting regularly, but it’s also about creating an identifiable look and feel. By using some of the same fonts, colors, and types of images, your content will become instantly recognizable to your audience.
Give posts room to “breathe.”
While consistency matters, so does spacing. Posting too frequently can actually hurt your reach, since social media platforms may only show one of your posts at a time. Spacing out posts gives people the opportunity to see and interact with
your content before your next post goes live. Posting more than once a day isn’t necessarily bad, but I’ve found that a 24–48 hour window usually works best.
Check your analytics.
Every social media platform provides insights into how your posts are performing and who your audience is. Reviewing this data helps you understand what resonates most with your followers, and it can guide you in creating more effective content.
Create authentic content.
Posts perform better when they highlight real people and real moments from your church community. Share photos and videos of your staff, volunteers, and congregation. When people see familiar faces and places in their feed, they’re more likely to engage, and that engagement helps your posts reach even more people.
Reuse content.
Most churches already create a wealth of content every week—sermons, livestreams, photos, and more. Repurpose it! Use sermon clips to create short videos or reels. Take a prayer clip from a service and turn it into a weekly prayer reminder video. Grab a screenshot from a livestream to promote next week’s service. There is so much to do with some of the content you already have!
Even implementing one or two of these practices can make a noticeable difference
in your church’s online presence. Social media can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a powerful tool for connection. If people are spending so much of their lives online, then that’s exactly where the church should be, too. Don’t be afraid to put yourself—or your church— out there. You’ll find your people, and with the help of social media, they’ll find you.
Meagan Barr is the lead graphic and web designer at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman.
Tips for Making Social Media Your Second Best Evangelism Tool
(the people are still the best)
by Jena Barber
Choose your channels. Where are your people? Don’t bother with trying to be all things to all people. Demographics can tell you the age group of your current audience and the one you hope to cultivate. Be realistic. Are you really going to get 20-somethings to immediately start attending a church whose average age is 68? Maybe… But to get the best bang for your buck, choose the two social media channels that would best fit your current and aspirational audiences, and focus on them. No need to learn TikTok if you’re a congregation firmly planted in Facebook’s world.
Have one voice.
Whether your social media is run by a person, a committee, or sporadic contributors, make sure everyone is on the same page and using the same language. One imperative: Do NOT use “I” statements on a church page. If the pastor or another representative is crafting a personal message, include the phrase: “From the Pastor” on the first line. If the message isn’t personal but offers a statement from the entire organization, use “we” statements. “We at City Town UMC are thrilled to have a new drummer keeping time with our modern worship band. Come see her at…”
Share photos!
Photos are a great way to humanize your
church and its congregation. But don’t try to depict something that’s unrealistic. If your church is all-white, imagine how surprising it might be for a new visitor who expected to see the multi-ethnic, multi-racial group depicted on your social media. It’s great to be inclusive, and it’s even better that you want to be even more inclusive - but try to use a mix of realism and aspiration when choosing stock photos. Additionally, photos are protected by copyright law. It’s important to ensure you’re using photos that are free to use, and to give credit to those who take photos.
Don’t shy away from humor.
If you’ve looked at most police social media accounts lately, you might notice a trend toward silliness. This is honestly a brilliant, savvy move toward humanizing police officers in a world where police departments are often derided for the unfair, brutal tactics of a subset of their colleagues. As they work to rehabilitate their image, we can only hope more substantial training is taking place. When it’s used appropriately - that is, not harmfully and, of course, cleanly - humor can instantly make your audience feel closer to you, and can take away some of the anxiety that surrounds visiting a new church.
daily posts about how welcoming and hospitable its members are, it can be very awkward when someone new walks in and feels invisible.
We’re not suggesting fawning over newbies, but we’re also not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing. In a society where everyone is isolated now more than ever, it’s nice to have too many hellos. It’s also nice when visitors leave with more than a branded coffee mug. Maybe someone in the congregation would like to extend an after-church lunch invitation or share their phone number with a new visitor. If the visitor has children, a friendly congregant might have a child the same age, or there might be another type of common ground.
Share your good works!
Here at the conference office, we’re often shocked - shocked, I tell you! - when we find out about a ministry that’s been quietly doing the most amazing things for years, and we never knew.
You might think it’s bragging, but we think of it as inspiring others. From the church across the state looking for a worthy project idea to the potential visitor looking for a church where they can make a difference, your work is the best kind of evangelism.
Practice what you preach.
We had to use that header, of course. Really, it should read, “Walk the talk.” If your church’s social media makes
by Ken Sloane
Ideas to Guide Your Church’s Budget Planning
When it is time to build your church budget, it can be easy to slip into a “numbers-only” mindset. But a truly faithful budget reflects the mission and heart of your congregation. Building a budget is more than an accounting exercise; it’s an opportunity to invest in God’s work through your church. A good budget helps fuel ministry, grow disciples, and extend Christ’s love into the world.
Before you put numbers in boxes, take a step back and consider these ten important ideas:
1. WWJD: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Before anything else, ask: “If Jesus visited our church today, what would he want us to do in this community?” Pray about this vision before diving into any budget discussions. Let the Spirit guide your planning from the beginning. Budgeting can be a spiritual act when it is grounded in discernment and purpose.
2. REVIEW YOUR CHURCH’S MISSION STATEMENT
Find help for a mission statement review in this article. Ensure everyone building the
budget knows the “why” of your church. A clear mission statement helps you say “yes” or “no” to budget requests with more confidence and unity. When mission drives decisions, the budget becomes a living reflection of what your church values most.
3. FOCUS ON OUTCOMES, NOT JUST ACTIVITIES
Instead of asking “how many” people attended an event, ask, “What outcome do we hope to see? Are we seeking growth in discipleship, deeper community connection, or expanded outreach?” Budget for change, not just busyness. Ministries should be funded not just because they are active, but because they are transformational.
4. CELEBRATE MINISTRY FRUITFULNESS
Highlight ministries that have borne good fruit. Where have lives been touched, faith deepened, or the community served? Past success can help guide future investment. Let stories of fruitfulness inspire generosity and guide your financial decisions.
5. PRIORITIZE DISCIPLE-MAKING
A mission-shaped budget places growing
disciples at its center. Look for ways your spending can help people take next steps in faith, service, and generosity. Consider how your budget supports lifelong spiritual formation. Disciple-making is not just a ministry line item; it should shape your financial plan.
6. BALANCE INVESTMENT BETWEEN INWARD AND OUTWARD MINISTRY
It’s easy to focus budgets on “keeping things going” internally. Ask, “How much of our budget helps us reach outside our walls into the community?” Strive for a healthy balance that supports both nurture and outreach. A generous church budget looks outward as well as inward.
7. BUILD MARGIN FOR INNOVATION AND NEW MINISTRIES
Leave space for the Holy Spirit to surprise you! Reserve a small portion of the budget to fund new ideas or pilot projects that support your mission. Innovation doesn’t always require large sums, but it does require intentional space. Having a margin allows you to respond to emerging needs and opportunities.
8. LINK GIVING DIRECTLY TO MISSION IMPACT
When you build the budget, think about how you will tell the story to the congregation. People are more generous when they see exactly how their giving changes lives. Narrative budgets and storytelling make a difference. The more clearly you connect dollars to mission, the more engaged your givers will become.
Some expenses are necessary, but don’t assume every line item must stay the same year after year. Ask, “Is this expense still serving our mission as effectively as possible?” Even long-standing costs can be reevaluated in light of mission priorities. This kind of review invites wise and faithful stewardship.
10. DREAM BEYOND SURVIVAL
Budgeting shouldn’t be about “keeping the lights on.” Dare to imagine how your church could grow, serve, and bless even more powerfully in the year ahead. Let your budget be a tool for kingdombuilding! Let it reflect your church’s hope, trust, and calling to transform the world in Christ’s name.
When we approach budgeting with prayerful hearts, mission-minded vision, and a willingness to dream beyond maintenance, we open the door for God to do more than we could ever imagine. Your church’s budget is not just a ledger — it’s a ministry plan, a declaration of faith, and a testimony to God’s goodness and your congregation’s call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
May your budget be more than numbers — may it be a launchpad for lives changed and communities transformed.
Ken Sloane is the Director of Stewardship and Generosity for Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church.
9. TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT FIXED COSTS
What kind of experience do you want to create?
by Rev. Carlos Ramirez
Introduction
I would like to start this article by saying that what I am about to share are the planning strategies that have given me, in my local church ministry, the best results. By the same token, you may already be practicing many of these strategies yourself. At any rate, I pray this article will be a blessing to your ministry.
Beginning the Year: Vision, Mission, and Core Values
It all started in January for me. I learned this through listening to Rev. Chip Freed, Senior Minister at Garfield Memorial UMC in Ohio. Rev. Freed shared that he always begins his year with a worship series in which he reminds the congregation of their
vision, mission, and core values. I decided to do the same. Once we had worked on our vision, mission, and core values, I would start the year preaching about them. In fact, the sermons were often very similar—if not the same—from year to year. We would conclude with the reaffirmation of our baptismal covenant, preparing ourselves to uphold who we were as a congregation for the year ahead.
Lent and Easter Preparation
As the vision, mission, and core values series was underway, we began to plan and prepare for Lent and Easter. Our worship team asked: What kind of experience do we want to create for the congregation during Lent?
Once we had answered that, we created materials—devotionals, videos, and
images—to use throughout Lent. We also provided tangible reminders such as a cross, a nail, or a rock for members to carry during the week.
For Easter, we planned special music, decided how many services to hold, and organized the Easter-egg hunt festival. Every detail—images, videos, and music— was intended to create a memorable experience for all who attended.
Summer Ministry
Summer, as you know, is a time when attendance fluctuates because families go on vacation or take “stay-cations.” To keep worship engaging, we created fun series such as The Gospel According to Pop Music and The Gospel According to
Superheroes. The point was to convey the depth of the Gospel in a casual, enjoyable way.
Meanwhile, preparations for Vacation Bible School (VBS) and back-to-school festivities were already underway.
October: Stewardship Month
October was always stewardship month, and we devoted the entire month to this purpose. On the first Sunday, pledge cards were distributed, and we encouraged people to prayerfully consider God’s calling for their giving in the coming year. Throughout the month, we shared videos and infographics highlighting the impact of generosity in the previous year. On the last Sunday, as people came forward for Holy
Communion, they placed their pledges in a basket on the altar. While all this was happening, we were also preparing for Advent.
Advent and Christmas
Just as with Lent, we asked: What kind of experience do we want to create for the congregation during Advent?
We created devotionals, videos, and images for the season and planned Christmas Eve worship. Most congregations already had beloved traditions, so I usually kept those intact, adding small suggestions to “freshen up” the service where possible.
Goals for Worship Series
The goals for our worship series were twofold:
• To create memorable worship experiences every Sunday.
• To create opportunities for outreach so guests and newcomers would feel welcomed and more likely to return. At the close of each series, we previewed what was coming next with a “trailer” and shared materials and dates for upcoming events (Lent, Easter, VBS, back-to-school, Trunk or Treat, Advent, and more).
Weekly Devotionals
Another important practice was offering a midweek devotional. These short 2–3 minute messages, often recorded on my phone, were edited simply and posted on social media. They provided ongoing encouragement and kept the church engaged throughout the week.
Annual Planning Retreat
Around October or November, our team held a retreat to workshop the worship series for the upcoming year. We marked important dates, set deadlines, and
outlined overarching themes. We didn’t need every Scripture reading in advance, but we did need clarity on the direction of the series. From there, we created graphics, titles, and videos to promote events, and we ran inexpensive social media ads ($1 a day) leading up to major events like Easter, VBS, and Trunk or Treat. These ads helped us connect with new people and begin building lasting relationships.
Conclusion
Planning the year in advance was a blessing for our ministry. It gave us the freedom to be creative while keeping us focused and intentional. Nothing was left to chance; everything was part of living out our vision, mission, and core values. Many of you may already be practicing something similar. If not, I encourage you to consider it. In my experience, this approach to strategic planning has been a true blessing for my ministry.
Spotlight on Resources
The UMC
If your church needs ideas, resources, advice, news, photos, and more, there is no better source than The United Methodist Church. That’s the beauty of the connection!
From articles to podcasts to videos tailormade for UMC churches, UMC.org is the place to be if you’re a United Methodist in search of ideas and support.
The best thing about UMC resources is that they’re free! With a few exceptions, including website development, most of the services at the general level are supported by our apportionments and donations.
We’ve highlighted a few UMC resources that we’ve found helpful over the years.
UM News
The official news organization of The United Methodist Church offers news stories from across the globe. Whether you’re looking for UM response to current events, stories about missions, great ideas for ways to serve, or if you just need a United Methodist lens to see what’s going on in the world, UM News is an unbiased source for all things UMC.
Check out this fun article and video on taking worship into the wild. Read this timely article on recent acts of violence.
Resource UMC
This is the home of inspiration and practical information for church leaders. Find mission and ministry resources, tips, how-tos, stories, podcasts, and much more from
across the connection.
This is the one we use when we’re stuck for ideas on a topic. Go to the search bar and type anything. We used the example of stewardship for our research, and we found 342 results, ranging from writing a will to protecting our land’s vital resources. You can also sort by topic, ministry, location, etc.
We found this wonderful article on developing congregational leaders under the Leadership heading.
Then we stumbled onto this divine Monthly Ministry Planner. Definitely check that out!
Ask The UMC
There are these guys - we’ve met them! - whose job is to find the answers to our questions!
If you’re struggling with a topic and wonder what the UM response would be, we encourage you to ask The UMC!
Check out this answer to the question, “Can we lose our salvation?”
Don’t miss this answer to the question, “How can we livestream worship legally?”
The Recap
The Recap is a video series designed to help you learn more about what is going on in The United Methodist Church around the world, and to become inspired by stories of faith and mission, and to grow in your faith.
Discipleship Ministries
Discipleship Ministries covers a broad array
Contact | 16 of topics, but we’ve found some you might really like to know about.
According to the website, “Fresh Expressions UM is a distinctly Wesleyan spirit-led movement of new Christian communities that serve the present age.” The communities are for gathering new people, in new places, and in new ways. The movement is meant to engage people who are not yet part of any church. There are videos, books, and other resources to learn more.
The Upper Room is a ministry of The UMCbut works with all denominations - that offers resources including prayer support, daily devotions, books, articles, conversations, community, and more.
“We are grateful and glad.”
Discipleship Ministries also host the Book of Worship and the official Lectionary Calendar, along with many other resources for music, preaching, planning, and more.
We offer many opportunities for spiritual growth through worship, enrichment, and community:
• Vibrant Spiritual Life, diverse worship services, study groups, and prayer opportunities.
• Meaningful Connections, mission and service projects that connect you to the wider community.
• Ecumenical and Inclusive, all faiths and denominations welcome.
• Compassionate Pastoral Care, dedicated chaplains and staff.
• Enriching Experiences that deepen your faith.
Nurture Your Faith at Epworth Villa
Contact us today to inquire about our special discounts for clergy and their spouses.
Epworth Villa: Where Faith and Community Flourish
Pastor Laura Glover Epworth Villa Sr. Chaplain
Outreach.com
Some church leaders might remember Outreach for its partnership with The UMC. Many churches benefited from free banners and deep discounts.
While the original owners of Outreach.com had to sell the business, Outreach still offers great prices for churches on banners, signs, and other promotional materials, and even has some free options.
We do, however, encourage churches to support locally-owned and operated businesses whenever possible.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
The Lewis Center is related to The United Methodist Church through Wesley Theological Seminary, and it offers tons of resources churches can put to use.
We always look to the Lewis Center for fun, pithy articles to share. We’re especially fond of their “50 Ways” series.
A few examples:
50 ways to strengthen ministry with children 50 ways to welcome new people
50 ways to increase worship attendance
50 ways to encourage faithful giving
In addition to the fun articles, the Lewis Center also tackles tough topics. We might all benefit from their insights.
We found this one in their Leading Ideas series: Preaching Our Principles - Not Our Politics. We also enjoyed this article: Reimagining Church as a Ministry Center: an interview with Beth and Nelson Neil.
The Lewis Center has video tool kits, studies, and books for purchase, and more free resources, including podcasts, webinars, stewardship resources, and more. We encourage church leaders to subscribe to their newsletter for regular fresh content.
TechSoup
TechSoup partners with technology companies to make software affordable for nonprofit organizations, libraries, schools, and foundations.
Providing discounts on office software, design software, accounting software and more, TechSoup also offers low-cost hardware solutions, like discounted laptops, desktops, and more.
TechSoup also provides discounted - or even free - services, IT support, website maintenance, project management, grant
services, events, webinars, and courses.
Some companies working with TechSoup don’t work with faith-based organizations, so it’s important to research the site and reach out to TechSoup with questions.
We at the conference office take advantage of TechSoup’s software services. To learn more, visit their website.
Foundation Directory
Hosted at the Dulaney-Browne Library on the campus of Oklahoma City University, the Foundation Directory is the best resource for researching grant-making organizations.
Grants are offered by companies, organizations, foundations, governments, and even individuals. The process of finding a grant can be daunting. The Foundation Directory makes the process easier by offering a searchable database.
Grant seekers can search by cause, location, and more. It’s important for church grant researchers to know that many funders
Unsplash
have rules restricting funds to faith-based organizations, so an important search filter is available to research grant makers who support churches. Churches with 501(c)3 organizations, like day care centers or food pantries, will have different search criteria.
It’s also possible for a group of organizations to come together and apply for some grants. An example might be a group of small-town food pantries coming together to apply for a grant from a grocery store chain.
It’s important, when researching grant funding, that church representatives read and adhere to all grant rules, which usually include reporting long after funding has been awarded. For that reason, grant seekers should consider taking a course in grant writing or hiring an experienced grant writer.
The funding library is available to UMC church leaders, but only by appointment. To learn more and to make an appointment, check their website.
It’s important for church leaders to model ethical use of resources. For this reason, we encourage church leaders to find ethically-sourced photos and graphics when needed for social media, bulletins, and more.
Photographers, graphic designers, writers, and other content creators deserve to be paid a fair price for their work. At the same time, we understand that budgets are stretched thinner and thinner every day. Thankfully, there’s a beautiful solution in Unsplash.
Unsplash purchases images from photographers and designers, and then offers them for use to people who create an account and agree to abide by certain terms. Unsplash photos are not exclusive, so you might see another organization using the same photo. Additionally, if you are selling a product, there are rules governing the use of images. Otherwise, the images are free to use.
Always check for licensing and copyright information when searching for photos on search engines.
See available photos and learn about Unsplash
OKUMC.org
Our own conference website is nearly an embarrassment of riches. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
We suggest the search bar! Use the fewest words for the best results. So if you’re looking for “Easter bunny pictures,” the article might be under “Easter rabbit photos,” which would throw off the search. So first start with Easter, and then add “pic” to narrow it down. If that doesn’t work, try “Easter photo.”
With that said, we’d love to point your attention to a few of our favorite parts of the website.
Archives and History offers resources, records, guidelines, and more. Find records on UM history, research assistance, videos, studies, relics, memories, and more.
Watch for workshops, make an appointment to visit collections, and more. Learn more here.
licensing on their website.
Note: We used Unsplash images throughout this article to show you the quality!
Safety resources area vital part of our United
Methodist identity. Find information on Safe Sanctuaries, internet policies, van safety, and more. Learn more here.
There’s a searchable news database with all our past stories. If you’re looking to be inspired, learn about your fellow Oklahoma United Methodists, or just get informed about OKUMC in general, learn more here.
5 types of church visitors: Are you ready for them?
by Darby Jones
When we think of welcoming newcomers, we often think first about friendly greeters, good signage, useful Q&A opportunities, clean bathrooms and helpful nurseries. Be assured — every one of those things is important.
However, many visitors make up their mind about a church before worship begins. Within a few minutes, most visitors decide whether the congregation is friendly. There is a small window of opportunity for the congregation to communicate its identity and welcome guests.
Before we welcome newcomers into our congregational “living room,” it is important to think about the whole equation: If we attract these people and they become partners in faith with us,
how will we change as part of the body of Christ?
For example, we want to attract young adults, those who will be the bridge between the church as we know it and the church of the future. We know people in this generation want to be an active part of any organization with which they associate. They don’t want to do something just because it’s always been done a certain way. Welcoming young adults means welcoming guests with new voices and new gifts to share. This can mean change.
Welcoming newcomers means initiating relationships with people who will become members of our faith family. Our
welcoming ministry begins with laying a good foundation to attract people and to encourage them to return and knowing what to do as they become a part of the family.
Different guests
Identifying different types of visitors can help you to understand what each seeks.
Dissatisfied visitors are looking for a “better church.” Either yours has what they are looking for or it doesn’t. Their decision about returning will be based on these criteria.
Invited visitors come at the request of someone they know. They may not be looking for a church, but they may find a reason to return and stay.
Seekers want something spiritual. They look for real people with genuine smiles. They want authentic answers to their questions.
Skippers jump from church to church. Some like to meet people or network. Others are transient, moving on when something doesn’t suit them. Sometimes their job calls for continual travel.
Deep-rooted visitors are active in their church and looking for a place to settle in for the long haul. When they move into a community, they are usually ready to serve.
Knowing these categories can be helpful. Understanding what different visitors seek can guide you as you get to know them and help them understand whether your congregation is a good spiritual fit.
Different welcoming churches
Stationary churches say, “You are welcome to join us.” If newcomers
fit the existing culture, they become members. If not, they usually leave.
Medley churches welcome diversity because they know they should. This model looks and sounds beautiful. However, if the church does not welcome the rituals of different ethnicities and nationalities, eventually visitors will look for the exit sign.
Transformer churches welcome all newcomers along with their unique gifts from God. They like new ideas, advocate for people and aren’t afraid to change the culture and their community.
So, what do we do?
It is good to know our identity as a local body of believers amid the larger community around us. However, if we want to grow, if we believe that’s part of God’s calling, our identity may change as our membership does. Ministries never envisioned may suddenly be a volunteer away. Discussions never had may be happening in the hall. Ideas never challenged may be questioned. Leadership roles may be filled differently.
As you consider welcoming newcomers, consider the entire cycle of incorporating new people into your fellowship. Tend to first impressions, but know you also are initiating potential family relationships. Whether your church is just beginning a welcoming ministry or looking for ways to take welcoming to the next level, United Methodist Communications offers a variety of resources and online training opportunities such to assist you.
We found this excellent article on ResourceUMC.org. To read it on their website, click here.
