IM Handbook

Welcoming and Media Planner
A guide for use with the advertising and welcoming ministries of your church
LIVING OUR
PROMISE
THROUGH YOU
HANDBOOK
Nashville, Tennessee
810 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203-4744
(615) 742-5400
First printing, March 2001, Revised 2006
Printed in the United States of America.
Prepared with assistance from the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, TN.
All biblical quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version unless otherwise
noted.
Principal writers:
Barbara Nissen
Steve Horswill-Johnston
Contributing writers:
Charlene Bailey
Shirley F. Clement
Scott Ellis
Larry Hollon
Arvin R. Luchs
Craig Kennet Miller
Sam Ostrow
Emily Reece
Roger K. Swanson
Jackie Vaughan
Producer:
Steve Horswill-Johnston
Designer:
Robert Mott & Associates Graphic Communications • Keswick, Virginia
Editor:
Karen Risch, Just Write Literary and Editorial Partners • Keswick, Virginia
© 2001, 2006 by United Methodist Communications

All rights reserved. Certain parts of the text are intended for duplication and distribution in United Methodist
churches. These worksheets, handouts and other material are clearly delineated for this use. The allowance of
this limited reproduction in no way transfers copyrights for these items or allows duplication of other materials
in this handbook.
Churches can support Igniting Ministry by paying 100 percent of their World Service apportionments.
Individuals or groups can extend the impact of Igniting Ministry through gifts to The Foundation for United
Methodist Communications. These gifts may be directed toward supporting training, helping new churches, or
placing local or regional broadcast spots or radio, print and billboard ads. In addition, the Foundation can
establish challenge gifts or help with estate planning. For more information on how financial gifts can increase
the impact of Igniting Ministry, contact The Foundation for United Methodist Communications, P.O. Box
440228, Nashville, TN 37244-0228, or call (615)742-5776.
ii
T H E U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H
Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v
Our Theological Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
About Igniting Ministry • What to Expect • How to Use This Handbook
Part One: Establishing a Welcoming and Inviting Culture

1. Open Hearts: Creating a Welcoming Congregation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.1
Hospitality As Ministry • Getting Everyone on Board
2. Open Minds: Rethinking the “E-Word” to Build an Inviting Congregation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.1

Taking the Fear Out of Evangelism • The FRAN Plan • When Should We Invite?
The Inviting Ministry • The Seeds of Discipleship
3. Open Doors: Making the Church Hospitable to Everyone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.1
Trends Affecting Your Future Today • Taking the Next Step: Creating the Discipleship System
Part Two: Implementing an Effective Media Campaign

4. Our Ministry and the Media: An Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.1
National Television Advertising, Airing on Cable Stations • Local Promotion and Advertising
Our Message: The Theme of the “Open hearts” advertising
5. Launch Advertising in Your Community:
5 Steps to Igniting Ministry in Your Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.1
Work through Part One of This Handbook • Know Your Target Audience
Determine Which Expression(s) of the Campaign Best Fits Your Congregation
MediaWarehouse.org • Establish Your Budget and Media Plan • Customize and Place Your Advertising
Part Three: Resources
6. Appendix (See detailed list on this section’s tab divider.)
A: Basic Training and Supplementary Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6A.1
B: Instructions and Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6B.1
C: Checklists and Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6C.1
D: Resources for Advertising and Promotion, Media Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6D.1
7. Contacts and References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.1
Igniting Ministry Contacts • Bibliography and Suggested Reading
iii
Preface
he days of placing a one-inch ad in the newspaper’s
T religion section and then simply passing out worship

bulletins have long passed. Today’s church must be more
creative, proactive and responsive if it wants to attract, inspire and
keep members. To assist you in facing this challenge, your Igniting
Ministry Planning Handbook offers ideas and resources that can
ultimately change how people new or returning to your church
will view and experience it.
To support the advertising ministry, this handbook is a practical guide

designed for local churches and stocked full of information, checklists,
training sessions and media and worship materials—as well as hundreds
of ideas about welcoming and invitation, with a taste of discipleship.
However, let’s state this up front:
• Excellent welcoming and hospitality skills alone will not
grow your church.
• Advertising alone will not grow your church.
In fact, growth is not the function of a local church. Instead, its function
is to make disciples in Christ’s name, and when this function is carried out
faithfully and creatively, growth often occurs. Welcoming and inviting
skills, coupled with a system of congregational discipleship and backed up
by a well-developed media campaign, will indeed grow a church.
Implementing the Igniting Ministry campaign should initiate a larger
process of challenging your church to create a congregation that welcomes
and disciples newcomers. The handbook’s third chapter should give you a
sense of the importance and depth of developing a congregational system
of discipleship, and we encourage you to build on this material so you can
give discipleship its proper weight and attention.
The ministry starts with ensuring that what we are “selling” in our
commercials is available in your church and, ultimately, presented to the
newcomer.
iv Preface
Since newcomers to the church often see us first before they come into
the presence of our Lord and Savior, this resource is designed to help your
congregation deliver on the campaign promise:
We are the people of The United Methodist Church. Therefore, this is

serious business.
For The Road Less Traveled, author M. Scott Peck opened his book with
this line: “Life is difficult.” He went on to say that when we realize life is
difficult, life gets a little easier. Well, what you are about to embark upon is
tough stuff. It may seem awkward at first, but it will get easier.
Increasing your welcoming and hospitality skills requires a shift in
thinking. It will likely require an attitudinal change by longtime, faithful
members and everyone learning how to speak to newcomers so they want
to listen.
Launching a local media campaign is difficult in that it requires larger
amounts of financial resources than your church may be accustomed to
allocating to this kind of endeavor.
Creating a discipleship system that includes newcomers will be a
challenge but will result in enabling people to make a connection with God.
The task is very doable. The introduction, which begins on page xi,
gives you an outline of how to get started.
Welcome to the journey. Remember: Keep your hearts, minds and
doors always open.
The staff at United Methodist Communications thanks the hundreds of

United Methodist people who faithfully and tirelessly shared their time and
effort to make this resource a reality. They will never be forgotten and are
seared into our hearts and memories.
Preface v
Our Theological Foundation
I let you loose, George, on the great continent of America.

Publish your message on the open face of the sun,
and do all the good you can.
JOHN WESLEY, 1773
(FROM A LETTER TO GEORGE SHADFORD, AN EARLY METHODIST PREACHER)
O
ur spiritual forebears, John Wesley, Jacob Albright and
Philip William Otterbein, shared a passion for
evangelism. They worked and prayed for people to
open their souls to God’s grace, to be reconciled to God and one
another and to become disciples in a community of believers.
The process was understood as a symphony in three movements.
The first notes were proclamation and invitation. The second
movement crescendoed to the new believer’s acceptance of God’s
forgiveness and repentance. It resolved in the third movement:
lifelong dedication to spiritual growth, compassionate outreach
and disciplined living.
The earliest members of Wesleyan, Evangelical and United Brethren
movements were known for the energy and innovation with which they
invited people to Christ and welcomed them to their circle. They took every
opportunity and used every means at their disposal to proclaim God’s love.
Igniting Ministry
They spoke to the heart in practical ways, using the popular media of the
faithfully carries day: print, song and preaching. They steadfastly refused to let their words
our traditions to be confined to the sanctuary and classroom. So God’s Word was shared
with the masses in the streets of England, the British Isles, the colonies in
the 21st century. America and eventually around the world.
Igniting Ministry faithfully carries our traditions to the 21st century. It
emphasizes the first movement of the symphony of grace. Like the hymns
and field preaching of 18th-century England, the messages are designed to
go beyond the people already in our congregations to invite the
unchurched and marginally churched to respond.
vi Our Theological Foundation

Using the mass media of our culture, Igniting Ministry’s messages

touch the heart and are down to earth. They are carefully crafted to invite
people from every walk of life to become aware of God’s transforming love
and find a place of spiritual well-being in a United Methodist congregation.
On behalf of the “people of The United Methodist Church,” we offer
this invitation: “Our hearts, our minds and our doors are always open.”
The message emerges from a core human experience—a sense of
emptiness in day-to-day existence—shared in some way by everyone. For
some, it is a feeling that our activities are meaningless or our jobs
purposeless. Others express a fierce sense of self-sufficiency and
independence that masks a deeper uncertainty. Some experience a sense of
distance from people—a lack of intimacy in even the closest human
relationships. Others feel trapped in emotional distress, unrelenting pain or
crushing defeat. However this feeling manifests itself, it expresses a basic
reality: Humankind is frustrated and estranged from one another and even
from God. To this common life experience, traditionally called “sin,” we
offer hope and invitation.
In our souls, there is a desire and upwelling of energy that urges us to
seek more from life and to develop meaningful and trustworthy
relationships with others and with God. This power and drive comes as a
gift, unexpected and unmerited. It is an eternal presence—a grace and a
power—available to everyone whether we are alert to its presence or not. It
is a sheer gift from a loving God. It is the dimension of God’s love that John
Wesley called “prevenient grace.” Bishop Kenneth L. Carder phrased it
eloquently:
Humankind is
We are surrounded by gifts we could never merit or create . . .
intimations of a Transcendent Love. They whet our appetites for more. frustrated and
These gifts point us toward a grace that transforms all that is. (Sermons
on United Methodist Beliefs, 54)
estranged from
That power is available to all people, everywhere, regardless of age, one another and
gender, race, ethnic heritage or position in society. It invites us to search for even from God.
understanding of life; it urges us to reach out to others and find
community. It pushes us beyond our narrow self-interest to compassion
and service to others.
Our Theological Foundation vii

Igniting Ministry calls that transforming power and possibility to

awareness. But the message is more than a summons. It is an invitation to
discover that United Methodists are an open, hospitable community of
people. It is a promise that United
Methodist congregations will welcome
others to a rich experience of faith and work
together to grow in spiritual well-being.
Our advertising is designed to motivate
people onto the first steps of the journey of
salvation. It recognizes that a media-
delivered message—no matter how
effectively it is crafted—cannot replace the
nurture of caring friendships and the
guidance of the Christian community. In 1
John 5:13, John indicated he was writing to
new Christians “so that you may know that
you have eternal life.” But in his second
letter, he acknowledged that pen and
paper—the media of his day—would not
suffice. In 2 John 1:12, he wrote, “Although
I have much to write to you, I would rather
not use paper and ink; instead I hope to
come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be
complete.”
John Wesley sent George Shadford to a daunting task in colonial
America: to publish the message “on the open face of the sun.” We inherit
that challenge in Igniting Ministry. It is the first movement in God’s great
symphony. But, as Wesley quickly noted, it must be matched by lives
directed to do all the good they can. And that is the task for our
congregations as they open their doors to welcome others, help them find
the saving power of God and nurture them to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
viii Our Theological Foundation

Introduction
I was a stranger, and you invited me in.

M A T T H E W 2 5 : 3 5
A
busy mom drives her kids home from a soccer game and
pauses long enough to reconsider the invitation of a
friend to visit her church, as well as the meaning of a
message she’d seen on TV and just saw again on a billboard. It
feels like a coincidence, but she knows better. Donna realizes that
God’s love is for them, for her family, and that the people of The
United Methodist Church want to
touch her life because they care.
Meanwhile, the doors of United Methodist
churches everywhere open wide to welcome
worshippers. There is joy and expectancy,
anticipation that something good is about to
happen. In particular, members of the United
Methodist congregation in the town where Donna
lives are excited to be part of a uniting force of love.
They are proud to be part of this church, this community, this Members of the town’s
concerted effort to bring guests into God’s house, so pleased that they are United Methodist
intentionally trying to be a more welcoming congregation. And, because of congregation are
the ads and the emphasis on welcoming, it’s even easier now for members excited to be part of a
to invite others to experience the community in which they worship, learn, uniting force of love.
share, laugh and cry.
When the bells ring at the church, members reach out with their hands
and hearts to everyone in their midst—newcomers, disconnected members,
second-time guests—to a mom and her children dressed as if they just
came from a soccer game.
The congregation remembers the promise the church has made to be
welcoming, to share the Good News of Jesus’ life and resurrection in a way
everyone can understand, and the promise to reach out and help those who
are hurting and questioning.
ix Introduction
Over time, the number tells people in membership classes and worship
services the story of those committed to reaching out and sharing the
gospel in word and deed—and so do the people of this United
Methodist church. ■
THIS IS ONE SNAPSHOT OF A PROMISING FUTURE. What is your congregation’s

vision of tomorrow? Do you see yourselves bringing people at least within
touching distance?
If so, Igniting Ministry has much to offer.
About Igniting Ministry

We have embarked on an exciting, new kind of evangelism, using
modern technology and the common language of television to spread the
Good News of Christ to a world in need. Igniting Ministry is our first
national advertising campaign to help raise awareness of The United
Methodist Church.
Igniting Ministry offers your church new evangelism tools, highlighted
Igniting by a series of powerful national cable network commercials designed to
Ministry is our raise positive awareness about our church, backed up with training, a
first national matching-grants program and a World Wide Web presence. The purpose of
Igniting Ministry is to proclaim the gospel as we
advertising
• increase awareness and recognition among 25- to 54-year-olds of
campaign to The United Methodist Church’s basic beliefs,
help raise • foster among nonmembers a positive feeling and willingness to visit
awareness of a United Methodist church,
The United • renew a sense of commitment among United Methodists.
Methodist To best achieve our objectives, your church participation must be
Church. significant and prayerful. Igniting Ministry is an undertaking of the whole
church, not a quick fix. Commercials alone cannot raise awareness
significantly. Only a concentration of time and effort will achieve the two
primary objectives: getting people to walk through the church door and
giving them a reason to stay.
What to Expect
Igniting Ministry is a vital missional initiative to share the Good News
of God’s redeeming love to all people, inviting them into one of our
worshipping congregations. The campaign promise, “Our hearts, our
Introduction x
minds and our doors are always open,” is designed to

attract newcomers, but to do so with your help. Why Have This Handbook?
• You will be required to participate by personally he Igniting Ministry Handbook is all
asking friends, family and neighbors to join you T about helping you become strong in your
outreach through your people, the physical
in the life of your congregation, and the Igniting
Ministry campaign will reinforce what you tell presence of your church and the media. It’s
much like the ad planner a national
them about your church.
company sends to its franchisees. When, for
• You will benefit from your own placement of example, McDonald’s launches a new ad
local advertising to supplement the national campaign, it provides owners of restaurants
campaign. with guidelines and suggestions for food
service, as well as information about dealing
• Equally important, your congregation must with local media. In this case, United
fulfill the promise and indeed welcome anyone Methodist Communications will be
who walks through the doors of your church sponsoring ads on cable television for
with open hearts and minds. national exposure, giving you guidelines
and suggestions for actions in your church,
• You will be challenged to take the next step and
as well as providing information for
create a discipleship system for newcomers. planning your own advertising and
Everything in this handbook is aimed at helping welcoming efforts based on the national ads.
you use communication to begin the process of making
disciples of Christ, and of course this takes more than
just advertising.
Communication encompasses everything we do and say—or don’t do
or say—and even how we look. That’s why the handbook contains sections
on welcoming and inviting, as well as discipleship, in addition to the nuts
and bolts of advertising and media placement.
This handbook will help you and your congregation
• look at yourselves in light of what God has in mind for you and
where you are;
• create an environment in which guests are comfortable and
members are ministers of hospitality;
• learn how and why to invite, welcome and disciple people;
• understand how to participate in the media’s power of recognition
and invitation to action with relatively easy-to-implement ideas;
• identify a specific audience and enlist targeted messages and media.
xi Introduction
Because you are reading this handbook, you must be interested in

building and revitalizing your church. You may be laity or clergy. In some
cases you may be a member of a committee selected to look into Igniting
Ministry. You may seemingly be the only one in your church who wants to
participate in the Igniting Ministry campaign. Keeping that in mind, ideas
in this handbook will help you take four critical steps:
1. See potential for welcoming and inviting new members
In a welcoming 2. Get others on board
culture, people 3. Provide support for inviting and receiving guests
new to the 4. Implement a media campaign
congregation The materials in this handbook are not intended to be a substitute for
are accepted responsive ministry, but rather tools to help ignite outreach ministry by
creating a welcoming lifestyle, or culture, in your church. In a welcoming
for who they culture, people new to the congregation are accepted for who they are and
are and are are supported in sharing their gifts.
supported in The key is commitment. The real beginning to igniting your own
sharing their ministry is being committed to helping everyone grow in their abilities and
willingness to reach out to others.
gifts.
How to Use This Handbook

Look for These Cues
The following is a suggested path for those
T hroughout this handbook, you will see the follow-
ing icons used to draw your attention to the text:
who want to make the most of their local
campaign. The handbook is not necessarily
Ideas
intended to be used all at once, but when and as
media for you need it. Feel free to to choose the elements
warehouse Igniting
that will work best for your church and your
Ministry
community; you know the people you serve and
work with better than anyone else. At the same
time, we hope this handbook will give you
Steps for enough “how to” to be both an impetus and a
Refer to Resources Implementation Tips for Staying
or Recommended vital aid for your work.
in the Appendix Focused, on Target
Next Steps
Introduction xii
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Review the Participate in Training Build Your Igniting Train Your Implement the
Review the Kit
Handbook ■ Use the tools in this Ministry Team Local Campaign
■ Watch the movie
People
■■Study the handbook ■ Recruit ■ Train your team ■ Choose your
Register your kit
Handbook
■ Read the
■ Explore training coordinators ■ Train your media options
■ Begin an
handbook options ■ Assemble congregation ■ Establish a plan
Action Plan your team ■ Place the ads
Step 1. Review the handbook.

1. Read the entire section(s).
2. Begin preparing an Action Plan to implement these ideas in your
congregation
Step 2. Participate in Training.

1. Use the tools in this handbook appendix
2. Explore the Igniting Ministry Training options and resources:
• Beyond 30 Seconds: Developing a Welcoming Congregation— Igniting
Ministry’s video-based small group study to help people becoming
more welcoming and begin modeling that lifestyle in your congregation
• Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox—12 video-based training sessions
to use in various settings in your church, including Sunday school
classes, worship, and leadership meetings
• Open Hearts Welcoming Training—this distance learning option will
enable you to explore the basics of this ministry from the comfort and
convenience of your home or office, whenever you have time to log on
• Igniting Ministry training events and trainers—check for events and
trainers in your area at www.IgnitingMinistry.org/training/overview.aspx
Step 3. Build your Igniting Ministry team.

1. Recruit a welcoming coordinator and a media coordinator. The
welcoming coordinator oversees the process outlined in the handbook
and works with a team of individuals committed to the vision. The
media coordinator helps plan the media campaigns and makes sure the
flights run smoothly. (See appendices B1 and B2 for more detail on the
coordinators’ responsibilities.)
xiii Introduction
2. Assemble an Igniting Ministry team. Start with the coordinators, then

add as necessary. Your team should include as few or as many people as
are needed to guide the welcoming and advertising outlined in this
handbook. This should be a working team, not a policy-making body.
Step 4. Train your people.

1. Work through the training in this handbook as a team before you
present sessions to the congregation. Become “experts” at welcoming,
inviting and media. We suggest you read the first three chapters
together, select the training you want to offer in your church from
appendices A1–A6, train the team and then . . .
2. Teach others. The team members can help teach welcoming skills,
either person to person, in teaching sessions, through Sunday school
classes or at in-home gatherings. As new people learn, encourage them
to teach, too.
The whole The goal of the handbook and of your efforts is not just to have a
small cadre of people who are good at glad-handing. At some point, the
congregation
whole congregation needs to be actively and cheerfully involved in
needs to be being ministers of welcome. The goal is for each member of the
actively and congregation to befriend people and appreciate their unique
cheerfully experiences and gifts. From there, you can help them discover ways to
use their gifts to serve in mission and ministry.
involved in being
ministers of Step 5. Implement your local campaign.
Read the second part of this handbook carefully. You will eventually
welcome.
need to choose what you can afford to implement as an advertising strategy.
Don’t try to do it all at once; rather, set a timetable of strategy, resources and
advertising. Most local churches will be able to afford only one medium,
and that’s okay. Remember, you are supplementing the entire national
effort, and you will gain from coordinating with that schedule.
By working through the planning handbook with your initial team, and
later with your entire congregation, your church can develop a welcoming
lifestyle. You’ll move from seeing new people as outsiders to welcoming
them as integrated participants in the community, whether they come for
one service or join the church and stay for years. Your welcoming, inviting
and discipling efforts, coupled with the advertising you choose to
implement, will raise awareness of your local church in your community.
May God be with you on your journey.
Introduction xiv
Notes
xv
Open Hearts
Creating a Welcoming Congregation
1
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by doing that some have entertained angels
without knowing it.
H E B R E W S 1 3 : 2
A
woman in her 40s moved to a new town,
population 4,500. Although she worked in a city
35 miles away, this was the first time she’d lived in a
community this small. The town had doubled its size in less
than 10 years and was experiencing growing pains,
not the least of which was that the natives
regarded newcomers as interlopers.
Laura was interested in attending the United Methodist
church she’d seen advertised in the community newspaper. On
Sunday morning, she drove to Main Street. There she found two
churches. Neither had a visible address and neither had a sign
indicating its denomination. Comparing the drawing of the
church in the newspaper ad to the two churches hardly helped.
Finally, she decided upon the wooden frame church.
She found what she hoped was a legal parking space behind
the church and walked through the grass and around to the front
door. She was late and the church pews were filled. Feeling self-
conscious, she sat down in the only seat she could see: the very last pew, During the service,
which was cluttered with hymnals, papers, offering plates and other items choir members kept
for the morning. At last she discovered she was in a United Methodist staring at her. She
church. began to feel uneasy.
During the service, choir members kept staring at her. She began to feel Perhaps she wasn’t
uneasy. Perhaps she wasn’t supposed to be sitting there, or maybe even be supposed to be
there. Or was it the way she was dressed or how she looked? As confident as sitting there, or
Laura was, she felt uncomfortable. She smiled. The choir members maybe even be there.
continued to stare.
1.1 Open Hearts

During a time in the service when church members were to greet each
other, a couple of people from the choir made their way to the back of the
church to greet her. Oh, that’s why they were staring at her. They must have
been the official greeters. When it was time to go to the front for
communion, Laura was embarrassed because she didn’t know when she
was supposed to go and what to do once she had taken the sacraments.
Some people were kneeling. Others returned to their seats immediately.
Someone in a pew across from her hissed, “Go! Go!” and motioned her
to get in line. They had been waiting for her to move so they could take
their places. Laura had been a United Methodist all of her life and had
attended church regularly. But everything was different here.
On the newcomers’ card that the choir member had given her was a
place to indicate a desire for a pastoral visit. Laura marked it. After the
service, no one approached her. No one her age acknowledged her. No one
asked if she needed anything. And the pastor didn’t call even after she
returned to the church two more times.
Each time Laura visited this church, she received a gracious welcome
from two members of the choir. She mentioned that she traveled a great
deal but would like to know how she could be involved. They gave her a
brochure. Each time, she marked that she would like the pastor to call.
No one did. ■
OBVIOUSLY, THIS CHURCH IS TRYING TO BE WELCOMING—after all, two

members of the choir were assigned the duty of greeting guests—but did
Laura actually feel welcome? Did she feel significant or even interesting to
the people of this church?
The ad in the newspaper was an invitation, and the church was blessed
Laura accepted. Yet did the people of the church respond hospitably? More
important, is this the way we’d expect Jesus to treat someone new? Why do
we often find it so difficult to be welcoming to guests?
In the preface to his book, evangelism workshop leader Andrew Weeks
observed, “I attended churches where I felt that if I had died in the pew, no
one would have noticed” (Welcome!, vii). Unfortunately, this is a common
problem, regardless of denomination. As a congregation, it’s easy to start
thinking in terms of insiders and outsiders without even realizing it. The
members of the church in Laura’s true story would no doubt say they are
friendly, because they are—to each other. What would make the difference
between a church that merely allows newcomers into its midst and one that
embraces them?
Open Hearts 1.2

The difference would be if all the members saw themselves as

ambassadors of Christ, as ministers of hospitality.
Hospitality As Ministry
How does your church welcome people? Is the welcome little more than
the initial encounter, or does the lifestyle of your church bring new people
into Christian community, disciple them and send them out?
Welcoming has everything to do with how we make people feel. Are
they comfortable? Physically, psychologically and spiritually, from the
appearance of the facility . . . to the ease of finding the appropriate place . . .
to being greeted and accepted yet not smothered . . . to feeling the joy and
anticipation of the congregation and the experience of God’s grace . . . to a
worship service that makes sense . . . to a sense of opportunities for personal
and spiritual growth?
Remember a time when you have been a stranger and Watch Your Language
what made you feel cared for and accepted. Recalling those
elcoming newcomers
situations each time you meet someone new will make you
sensitive. Welcoming starts with being attuned to the needs
W
requires different methods
of communication. For example,
and hopes of people. When someone walks through the door we may use terms like narthex and
of a church, the first question is cultural: “Is there anyone sanctuary. Others may not know
here like me?” those terms. To reach out to
The answer of the welcoming congregation is, “There are everyone, we need to be willing to
many like you. We welcome you no matter who you are.” use terms like hallway and worship
center.
The second question is more personal: “Is there anyone
here who is interested in me?”
If the answer is no because the congregation is not prepared to receive
the guest hospitably, then the newcomer will look elsewhere—or may not
look again. But when a congregation is involved in a welcoming ministry,
the answer is “Yes, we are interested in you. Our hearts, our minds and our
doors are always open to you.” The message is clear.
The pitfall for many churches is that we think we are friendly because
we are friendly to each other. In developing a welcoming ministry, we must
begin to see ourselves as others do. Activities to help you look at what a
guest experiences can be found in the Welcoming 101 training, appendix
A1, as well as the supplementary sessions in appendices A3–A6.
When evangelism is assigned to an evangelism committee, the rest of
the congregation assumes it is the job of just those few people. Ah, that’s
someone else’s job, we might think. And it ends there.
1.3 Open Hearts

It hasn’t been working well that way. We need everyone’s hands and
hearts.
Creating a welcoming and hospitable climate begins at the curb and
continues into the heart of the congregation. The ministry of welcoming
is not the responsibility of a few people or a committee. It is the
responsibility of the entire church family. In a welcoming and hospitable
church, the following “bare minimums” are firmly in place. (For more
information, see Ongoing Welcoming and Hospitality Ministry
Opportunities, appendix on B6.8.)
1. Greeters have the special ability to make everyone
Let Everyone Know feel welcome and appreciated. They are the front line
You’re a for welcoming God’s guests. They ask, “How can I
Welcoming Church serve you?”
nited Methodist 2. Ushers are your hosts. They make sure guests and
U Communications wants to
celebrate and recognize you when you
members are seated comfortably and to their liking and
needs.
seek to develop or redesign your
3. The congregation engages people they don’t know in
hospitality tasks with the Welcoming
Congregation Award. conversation, even if those people are members. It’s as
After completing the certification simple as, “Hi, my name is —————. I don’t think
process (appendix C1), your church we’ve met. What’s your name?”
will receive a plaque declaring you a
4. The pastor or core leadership team creates a worship
welcoming community. Hang the
plaque near your entryway, and visitors atmosphere that exudes the excitement of having a
will know your church as a welcoming personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They make it a
place before they enter. point to greet members and newcomers after the service.
In addition, a welcoming
designation will be added beside your Getting Everyone on Board
church name in the “Find-a-Church”
database, which you can access through “Does our church want to welcome strangers?” This is a
the denomination’s web site: central question, just as it is when we consider having guests
www.umc.org. in our own homes. The church may not be ready, but would
Please call us toll free at it be willing to welcome strangers? Your first task may be to
(877) 281-6535 and let us know if you help the congregation look to see if it wants to reach out and
plan to pursue welcoming certification. grow.
Preparing a congregation to be welcoming—that is,
developing a welcoming lifestyle in a church—takes time and
patience. Expectation, instruction, support and prayer help! The
Open Hearts 1.4

congregation will need the following to get on board:

• An understanding of what the “Open hearts” campaign is
and what it can mean to them
• An understanding of how to bring newcomers into the life of
the church and whether or how they can participate
• A strong desire to help people know Christ
• A desire and willingness to participate
An Easy Way
• Support and recognition for that participation to Tell the
• A clear assessment of the current congregation Congregation
The remainder of part one of this handbook will help you About the Igniting
determine what actions are necessary to help your congregation. Ministry Campaign
Here are some steps for getting started. uplicate the “About the
Get the congregation involved from the beginning. As a welcoming
D Igniting Ministry
Campaign” on page xii, and
church, the congregation recognizes Christ in everyone and responds distribute it to the congre-
to this awareness. We share what we have in order to build up others gation, either as part of your
and to be open to what they have to share with us. When we think church bulletin or in your
about welcoming as more than glad-handing, we begin to befriend monthly newsletter. Also
people and help them discover who they are and to appreciate their refer to appendix B5,
unique experiences and gifts. Eventually, people realize ways they can Clear Communication, for
suggestions on how to speak
use their gifts to serve in mission and ministry.
about the campaign to your
To develop a strategy for getting the whole congregation on congregation.
board with being welcoming and inviting, begin by understanding
the attitudes of the people in your church who are going to make this
effort the most successful.
• Consider having “listening groups” to help your congregation talk
about their feelings toward inviting and welcoming new people. (See
Conducting Listening Groups, appendix B3.)
• Another way to conduct this type of research is by a written
questionnaire. (See Sample Questionnaire, appendix B4.)
This research will help you decide what hills you have to climb, identify
the most athletic among you and determine with whom you will need to do
the most work. It is best to know your strengths and weaknesses up front so
you can develop an effective strategy.
Create a plan for Igniting Ministry in your church. What did your
listening groups or questionnaires reveal? Are members interested in being
1.5 Open Hearts

welcoming? What information do they need? How will you make

Hello, Mystery Guest! sure everyone knows about the Igniting Ministry campaign and
e may all think our
what part they can play? What did the Mystery Guest Audit
W churches are friendly
because we are friendly to each
reveal? How will you share the results?
These are the kinds of questions you will consider as you
other. But how does an decide what direction to take with the congregation and develop
unexpected guest experience that a plan to do so. This plan will guide you as you inform, inspire
friendliness? The best way to find and get a response to a call for action to become a welcoming and
out is to hear it from a mystery
inviting church. In other words, the plan will help you promote
guest, someone who is just like
the kind of people we’re trying to
or “market” the Igniting Ministry campaign within your
attract. That means a own church.
“stranger”—someone the Any marketing plan has three essential activities:
congregation will not know— • Conduct research
visits the church, receives the
usual welcome, or lack of it, and • Develop solutions
gives us insights about the • Communicate those solutions
experience. (Refer to the Mystery
Your plan will include the results of your research, all the ways
Guest Audit, appendix C2.)
you will communicate the needed information to each other
(keeping in mind the most effective way to communicate with
different members), the times that you will do it, the message that will lead
to the actions people are being asked to take and ideas for promoting
involvement. (See Communications Plan Worksheet, appendix C3 and
Clear Communication, appendix B5.)
Share your Igniting Ministry plan. If your church has a financial
campaign, do you talk about it from the pulpit? Do you offer dinners or put
articles in the bulletin and in the newsletter? Do you place banners and
posters around the church? Do you send letters? Do you establish person-
to-person contact? Or set up small meetings in homes? What works in
your church?
Your Igniting Ministry campaign will require the same kind of internal
avenues to share your plan and to help people get on board. Over at least a
two-month initiation period, move toward personal information-sharing
and interaction, because making all of this work requires hands-on
involvement by everyone in the congregation. Following are some essential
steps, which you can customize to appeal to your own congregation.
• Consider sending a letter to every member of the church, including
children old enough to read, that explains the Igniting Ministry
campaign and plans for the future and is signed by a key lay leader
Open Hearts 1.6

and the pastor. (Have one of the teachers

phrase the letter appropriately for
youngsters. The children will be excited
that the church will be on TV.)
• Follow up with the same or similar
explanations during the Sunday service
and in the newsletter and bulletin for at least one month.
Remember: People may need to see a message five to seven times
before they respond.
• Whenever you talk about the campaign, select and play some of the
TV commercials to which you know your congregation will
respond. It’s important for everyone to see the spots to understand
the implications they will have for your church. Point out that when
people come to the church after seeing or hearing the ads, they will
want to experience something similar to what they have been
People may
promised. You can also play the ads before and after worship need to see
services in a high-traffic area. a message
• To show the advertising to your congregation, consider five to seven
these options: times before
• View the advertising online through www.MediaWarehouse.org. they respond.
Using a standard computer software (like Windows Media Player,
or QuickTime Player), you could show the spots on a computer
monitor or video projection screen
• Order the DVD of all the available television commercials through
www.IgnitingMinistry.org.
If your church doesn’t have a computer or DVD player, please
borrow one so your congregation can see the messages and feel their
emotional impact.
• Give a concrete vision of how the church could reach out to people.
(Use what members said in the research, as well). Share your own
vision for the future to help everyone understand.
• Once people know what and why, begin classes on how. Use all your
communications vehicles to promote the classes, especially personal
invitations by the Igniting Ministry team members. Use the training
sessions (found in appendixes A1–A6) as a guideline for your
classes. You may also wish to share through small groups (face-to-
face or electronic) or printed material. Even if you choose not to
share the background information through education sessions, be
1.7 Open Hearts

sure that key leaders have read and understand the implications of
the information.
The more you can help this information to be interactive and personal
to all members, the better the chances of them having an “a-ha” moment
when they understand and want to create a welcoming culture in
your church.
Create excitement about what’s coming for the church!
Notes
Open Hearts 1.8

Open Minds
Rethinking the “E-Word” to Build
an Inviting Congregation 2
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and
there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there
are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates
all of them in everyone.
1 C O R I N T H I A N S 1 2 : 4 – 6
“I
grew up in a very loving household with both parents
present for my upbringing. They were quite supportive of
my growth as a student, citizen and athlete, but we never
attended church. My parents grew up in different denominations
and my dad spent the first 20 years of their
marriage in the military. By the time they adopted
me, church was not a priority for my parents.
I know I benefited from their faiths, but we never
spoke much of God.
“When I was 14, a friend invited me to go snow skiing with his
church youth group. Growing up in Texas, I’d rarely seen snow, much
less skied on it, so I jumped at the chance. I gladly accepted the
invitation, and my life has been forever changed. I found in the church
the one thing my parents never offered: Jesus Christ. By the time they
“The youth director required attendance prior to the trip so he could adopted me, church
get to know us and weed out those seeking only a cheap vacation. I didn’t was not a priority for
object, and I was actually a little excited. It was great to be wanted. At my parents. I know I
school, attendance was the law; at church, they wanted me there to share benefited from their
the gospel. It was a gift that I’ll cherish forever. I started going to worship faiths, but we never
and UMYF in October, and by December, when we skied, Christ captivated spoke much of God.
me. The following spring, I was baptized and became a very active member
of my church.
2.1 Open Minds

“I’ve gone on to be a youth minister at great UMCs in North Texas and

Middle Tennessee. I’ve used the lesson of invitation that I learned as a teen
when I was hungry for Christian fellowship. The acceptance and inclusion
in such a wonderful church family stirred my heart to study the scriptures
and live as a commissioned missionary for Christ. I’m on a mission, and
that’s to share the love of Christ with everyone I meet . . . you never know
just how fertile the ground is where you sow God’s seeds.” ■
NO MATTER HOW MUCH ADVERTISING WE DO, no matter how welcoming we

become, what’s the number one thing that can get people to visit a church?
A personal invitation.
• According to a survey by Barna Research Group, 65 percent of
people who don’t go to church regularly say they would be more
interested in going if a friend invited them.
• At the same time, 62 percent say they would be more interested in
attending if the church sponsored a concert or event of interest.
• Not as significant, but still important, 36 percent said they would be
more interested in attending if a pastor or church member visited
their homes and invited them.
Where welcoming is the “receiving” part of disciple making, invitation
is the “reaching.”
In Matthew 28:19–20, we are instructed, “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing . . . and teaching them.” To make disciples
of all nations often means making disciples one person at a time. And it
means each one must first be invited.
Taking the Fear Out of Evangelism

Evangelism, the “E-word,” is scary for laity, maybe even for clergy! The
United Methodist Church in the United States is not known for its
invitation evangelism. In the past century, our emphasis was outreach.
Most members have not grown up in a United Methodist church being
expected to witness or even to invite, although that trend is shifting.
How many of us aren’t comfortable “breaking in” to other people’s
private spiritual lives and inviting them into ours? Isn’t that the job of
the pastor?
Recent and recognized evangelism literature is pointing out that it is
time for The United Methodist Church to move toward spiritual maturity
by encouraging and even expecting members to participate in invitational
ministry as part of what it means to be a Christian. Because this is new
Open Minds 2.2
territory for many members, they will need to be led and supported in their
efforts to invite. As with anything, the activity needs to be relatively easy
for beginners.
The television advertising presence of The United Methodist Church
makes it easier for members to talk about their churches and provides
opportunities to initiate conversations. A website designed to speak directly It is time for The
to the needs of newcomers (www.UnitedMethodist.org) acts as a bridge United Methodist
between the general public and the church. In addition, churches couple
their own Igniting Ministry media campaign with special Sundays designed
Church to move
to welcome guests invited and brought by church members. toward spiritual
Rethinking evangelism as a positive activity can be a good beginning. maturity by
• Of all the definitions, perhaps the most appealing is that evangelism encouraging and
is “introducing God’s people to God.”
even expecting
• In his book, Welcome!, Andrew Weeks reminds us that the Greek
members to
word, evangelia, means “well” (ev) and “tidings” (angelia).
Evangelism, then, is carrying the “well tidings” or “good news” from participate in
God to the world. Consider this spelling: evANGELism. invitational
• Or how about another definition provided by Weeks? Evangelism is ministry.
“holy gossip.” The word gossip was first found in English to mean a
godparent or one who shared the stories of the Good News of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Invite people to participate in holy gossip!
We don’t need to share the depths of our faith to be invitational. At the
most elementary level, we do need to be able to articulate what we like
about our church experience that would entice others to attend.
It’s going to take time, so be ready to be patient and persistent. Like
welcoming, we will need to be committed to this ministry and help
members get on board with it. The congregation will need to discover the
answers to the following questions.
• Why is it important to be invitational?
• What are our expectations of the church in being invitational?
• What’s the personality of this church?
• What would I say about this church?
• Why do I think my church experience is important enough for A DVD of all UMC
others to also experience it? commercials is available
for viewing messages.
• Who would I invite?
• How would I invite them?
• What would I say?
2.3 Open Minds

You’ll need to provide special teaching events where participants practice

inviting (see appendices A1 and A2) and follow up with tips and tools for
inviting people (appendix B7). Use all your internal communications media
to promote invitation: the church bulletin, bulletin board, newsletter, letters,
postcards and sermon, to name a few. Involve all the audiences in the
congregation. Remember: Children and youth can also be involved in
inviting.
In fact, another Barna study (from October 2004) indicates that that
nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ do so before age 13
(43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that
commitment before their 18th birthday. To engage your church’s young
people in inviting may make big differences in the lives of their friends.
Through even simple invitation programs, the congregation will begin to
see how they can be involved in the ministry of inviting. There are several
resources and strategies to help. (See appendices A2 and B7 for assistance.)
Invitation programs most often focus on prayer and invitation. The same
October 2004 Barna study also indicated that people who actively participate
in evangelism use prayer as their most common method (43% of people pray,
Remember: ahead of 40% who try “lifestyle evangelism”) to reach others for Christ.
Children and Prayer is foundational to our entire ministry. Most people are willing to pray
for others, and most would be willing to invite someone they know to
youth can also worship with them. After all, we invite friends to all types of events, why not
be involved to church?
in inviting.
The FRAN Plan
Invitation can be as simple as the Personal FRAN Plan, developed by the
United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.
This is a leaflet you could give to the congregation on a Sunday morning,
asking them to list the names of four people: a Friend, a Relative, an Associate
and a Neighbor.
Members are then asked to
• make a commitment to pray for the FRANs daily,
• pray for God to lead them to recognize opportunities to issue
invitations,
• further develop their relationship with FRANs,
• invite their FRANs to worship or to a small group for study, prayer or
ministry.
Open Minds 2.4

The goal is to invite and welcome people to church—not simply to fill

up the pews. Here are some ideas about how to adapt the FRAN plan to
your church.
• Some churches make this a four-week effort, with one week for each
of the categories (friend, relative, associate and neighbor).
• Make it a “Bring a [Friend/Relative/Associate/Neighbor] Sunday.” All
activities on the designated Sunday are especially designed to
welcome the guests and introduce them to the church and its
ministries—to help them see the church as a place where they will
first be served in the name of Jesus Christ.
• Have folks invite people to midweek programs that would interest
and serve them.
• People are most likely to think about their spiritual needs and going
to church during a transition or time of crisis. Adapt FRAN by
developing a chart with blank spaces, using additional categories of
people who
• Remember Barna’s study about the importance of reaching young
people for Christ? Some churches have adapted the FRAN Plan to be
the “FRANK” Plan by adding “Kids” as a special invitation focus.
• have a new baby • have children going back to school
• are new to the community • are newlyweds
• face separation or divorce • lose a job
• are new grandparents • move into/build/buy new homes
• are job associates • are contacts in organizations/clubs
• are families with a recent loss • belong to any other categories you
envision
Provide each member with the chart and the FRAN Plan leaflet and
encourage them to put the materials on their refrigerator or
somewhere where family members will see them often and can add
names as they think of them.
Many in our congregations just need to be encouraged to participate in
these basic ways. They will find that because of the Igniting Ministry media
campaign more people will recognize the name “United Methodist
Church” and be open to visiting.
For those who want to go even further, the church can offer training in
sharing faith in everyday settings. Faith-Sharing, by George E. Morris and
2.5 Open Minds

H. Eddie Fox, along with the video kit by the same title, is a six-week
training that includes principles, theory and practical help for sharing faith
in everyday networks of relationships.
Bring a Friend Sunday and Home for Christmas programs, developed by
the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church
(www.ntcumc.org), can also be used with Igniting Ministry.
See the Contacts and References section in the back of this handbook
for details on these and other evangelism resources.
When Should We Invite?

The times of the year when people are most spiritually receptive (and
therefore ready to come if invited) are as follows:
• Christmas/Advent
For the Church Leader • Easter/Lent
1. Prepare yourself with information • Mother’s Day
about how and why to be inviting. • Confirmation
2. Select a process to use to help your
congregation invite others. • Graduation
3. Promote the process through all channels • Beginning of school year (“back-to-school”)
of your communications. • Thanksgiving
4. Teach the congregation how to invite.
5. Pray for the congregation as it learns how Valentine’s Day also presents a good time for
to invite. seasonal evangelism, and special church traditions or
Recruit individuals who represent the events also serve well for inviting and welcoming.
various audiences in your church to serve as It’s important to invite the same guests more than
“invitation communicators.” Find out from once and to several events. Sometime within the first
them the best ways to teach invitation and to
two activities, make sure the guest meets the pastor.
communicate the invitational program and
When choosing a process to use, be sure to include
its progress. Be sure to have these individuals
go to every classroom and group meeting to children and youth. Find ways of teaching children to
explain the invitation program and to ask invite others (if their parents agree), and include them
members to be part of this exciting in communications about what is happening and why.
opportunity to help reach out to people on Always invite them to participate. (Remember
behalf of Christ. “FRANK” Plan).
Even if you have a special event to which you expect
and encourage the congregation to invite nonmembers, this is a ministry
that the congregation needs to want to maintain. At least once monthly,
make the expectation and vision clear. Encourage others frequently.
The Inviting Ministry

Being an inviting congregation means more than just extending an
invitation, just as being a welcoming congregation means more than just
Open Minds 2.6
having one or two members greet guests. Beyond that first visit, people
should be contacted in some fashion and then, if they are interested in us
and our church, the process of discipling can begin.
There are several ways you can follow up, and the method you use will
be determined by the attitude of your community. Current research is
mixed on the most effective method for following up.
So in 2005 United Methodist Communications and The General Board
of Discipleship asked The Barna Group* to ask ‘seekers’ what they would
expect a church to do in response to their visit. Research 10 years ago
showed that a doorstep visit or phone call within 24 hours was likely to
elicit an 80 percent return of first-time guests. However, a study of the
The Barna
unchurched by the Barna Research Group showed that an unsolicited home
visit by the pastor or another church representative repulsed the Research Group
unchurched visitor, even if that visitor received a small gift. defines
In the 2005 study* Barna conducted for The United Methodist Church “unchurched” as
(mentioned in the paragraph above), ‘seekers’ indicated what types of someone who–
contact they wanted from a church after they visited. A slim majority of by choice, not
The Best Advocates for the Church circumstance
(such as illness
A ccording to Herb Miller’s research with the National Evangelistic
Association (Lubbock, Texas), when you compare the outreach, per
100 calls, of clergy and laity with similar gifts, the laity attract twice as
or infirmity)–
many people into the faith, presumably because secular people do not
hasn’t attended
perceive laity as being “paid” to invite them. worship, except
No doubt the underlying theme here is to avoid even the appearance of for a wedding or
selfish motives for inviting someone or showing interest in them: Asking
people to attend so that they will become members, or so they will serve on funeral, in the
committees, is recruiting, not inviting. And it’s certainly not discipleship. past six months.
Keep yourself focused on the ultimate objective, and think more about the
people you’re inviting than about what you are trying to accomplish by * to read the full research report, visit
inviting them. www.IgnitingMinistry.org/research
and download the pdf entitled
respondents said they prefer a letter (52%). Others preferred a telephone “Barna 2005”
call (40%), a scheduled home visit (28%), or an email (21%).”
People also said they would prefer in a follow-up contact to hear from
the pastor (37%). Others wanted to hear from the person in charge of
welcoming newcomers (23%) or a person whom they had met when they
visited (18%). Another 5% said it would not matter who contacted them
and 8% of respondents volunteered that they would not like to be
contacted at all.
2.7 Open Minds

However you choose to follow-up with newcomers, the following

guidelines should help.
If possible, get newcomers’ information the first time they visit. Try to
obtain addresses and phone numbers for your guests. Rather than having
people sign the registration of attendance pad, ask them to fill out a special
“welcome card.” On the card, print a message of welcome, and ask for a
name, address and phone number. The cards can then be placed in the
offering plate during the regular offering. But go easy; not everyone will
offer their names, let alone their addresses. And that’s okay. Follow their
lead on this one.
If you decide to visit, send lay members. Churches who have success with
a visit or phone call most often find that it is important that the laity of the
church make that initial contact. When a lay member makes contact, it
Be bright,
shows genuine interest and caring. Remember to call to schedule the
be brief visit first.
and Be sure to go as a team. The team should be close in age to those being
be gone. visited. If your visitors are a young family, have a young family make the
doorstep visit. If they are older adults, have an older adult team visit them
and so on.
Your goal is to be bright, be brief and be gone, saying something like,
“We are glad you worshiped with us and we hope you will return again.”
Leave a small gift and a well-designed brochure about the ministries of the
church. Provide your phone number, the phone number of the pastor and
the Web address for your church.
Send a note from the pastor and ask for feedback. Along with the note
from the pastor, insert a pre-stamped “first impression” card asking these
four questions:
• What did you notice first?
• What did you like best?
• What did you like least?
• How can we improve?
Track your responsiveness to guests. Regardless of the size of your
church, you need a tracking system to be responsive. The purposes of a
tracking system include the following:
• Ensuring that newcomers are not ignored or lost
• Responding to newcomers’ needs
• Identifying existing groups and activities of interest to newcomers
Open Minds 2.8

• Helping generate new groups and activities for newcomers
Churches find an effective tracking system consists of these activities:

• Collecting visitors’ response or pew cards
• Recording them quickly, either in a card file or computer database,
so they don’t get misplaced
• Providing same-day details to lay or pastoral follow-up teams
• Furnishing next-day information to the pastor
• Collecting and recording notes from follow-up teams after their Know your
contact with the guest church’s strengths
• Filing and using the information to support the newcomer during and you will be
the next few months well-positioned to
communicate with
The Seeds of Discipleship
responsive people.
When we think about an advertising campaign, and invitational and
welcoming ministries, it’s critical that we know who we are, what we are
about, to what we are inviting people, whom we can most effectively serve
and how we can provide an atmosphere that allows them to be accepted
and to grow.
What is your church’s experience of Jesus Christ? What part of that
experience can your community not live without?
To reach new people, your church needs to be able to answer these
questions. And you need to be able to articulate your answer in one simple,
strong statement. If you can’t answer this question, chances are your efforts
at reaching people will be limited. If your reason for inviting people into
your church is simply to fill your pews and pay your bills, you’d do just as
well to go out and pay people to come sit.
In Ephesians 4:12–13, we read that all our resources were given “to
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of
Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”
A common question is, “What will the 21st-century church be like?”
Will it be large or small, low- or high-tech, denominational or
nondenominational, held in houses or church buildings, stronger on
evangelism or social action, spiritually dead or spiritually alive, growing or
declining, racially integrated or segregated? The answer is yes. It will be all
these things because different people will respond to all these options.
2.9 Open Minds

Know your church’s strengths and you will be well-positioned to

communicate with responsive people.
Notes
Open Minds 2.10

Open Doors
Making the Church Hospitable
to Everyone
Send out your bread upon the waters.
3
E C C L E S I A S T E S 1 1 : 1
C arlos was searching for a church where the people were

genuinely caring and there were opportunities for
outreach to people in need, where he could be free to
think and question, and where he could not just “hear” the Word
but also “feel” it. He had quit going to church because the one he’d
attended for two years was more interested in serving the needs of
the congregation than in reaching out to the
troubled and hurting. But when an ad on TV
reminded him about The United Methodist
Church, he began to give the denomination
some consideration.
He mentioned to a pal at work that he had seen the ad,
and the friend told him, “Yeah, that’s my church.”
“Interesting. What’s that all about? Is it really what it says it is?” He had quit going
Carlos asked, skeptical. to church because
His friend told him he liked this congregation, the mission of the the one he’d
church and its worship services: “So, sure, come with me. attended for two
I can get you hooked up with some very spiritual people.” ■ years was more
interested in
C ONCEIVABLY, IT WOULD BE EASY FOR C ARLOS TO GET INVOLVED WITH serving the needs
a United Methodist church. First, of course, he would need to find one of the congregation
where he felt welcomed from the time he walked in the door, where the tone than in reaching
of the church was upbeat, where worship was geared to his need for out to the troubled
experiencing the Spirit and which had outreach programs that satisfied his and hurting.
need to serve others.
Carlos is like most of us. He’s looking for love, acceptance, experience,
spiritual aliveness and purpose.
3.1 Open Doors
Then why isn’t Carlos, and hundreds of thousands like him, attending
church already? Is it really that hard to find a good church? According to the
Barna Research Group, there are almost too many to choose from, and
many are alienating. Take a look at these statistics.
Is it really • Nearly half of our neighbors do not share our faith, or a memory of
that hard to our faith, or our assumptions or our vocabulary.
find a good • Between 35 and 60 percent of our society does not attend church
regularly. In some communities, that figure rises to almost
church? 75 percent.
• Still, between 70 and 75 percent of these people identify religion as
important or very important in their lives.
• Between 40 and 60 percent of the unchurched report praying to
God daily or weekly. They identify themselves as having faith, but
they choose not to participate in a congregation.
Despite these modern-day facts of life, many of us continue to do
business as if we exist in a “churched” society, as if most everyone knows
what we know, believes what we believe and wants what
A Vital Church we want. However, according to research published by the
Today, people join Barna Research Group in May 2004, and March, 2005,
congregations, not denominations.
there are 75 million unchurched people living in the
They “shop” for churches, looking for activities
(worship style, child care, youth programs, self-
United States – one-third of the adult population.
help, spiritual growth, social opportunities, It used to be that the congregation was not
outreach) that meet their needs. The message responsible for finding ways to help others fit in. If people
of redemption may be the same from church to stayed away, it was assumed they did not have any faith.
church, but the congregation itself needs to fit Yet nine out of ten unchurched people say they
what the person is looking for. believe in God. Then why aren’t they in church? The
A vital church, our church, must remove
number one reason is that they believe churches do not offer
barriers to participation. This involves meeting
the needs of long-term members who still
anything worth the required investment of time and effort.
function as if they were in a churched society. As popular theologian Leonard Sweet says, people may be
At the same time, a growing congregation finds “high on God,” but they are “low on church”
creative and unique ways to touch the lives of (SoulTsunami, 47).
unchurched people. Remember, inviting Here are some other reasons that prevent people from
newcomers and getting them coming to church:
to be members is not the goal; rather, the goal
• A negative experience as a child in their parents’
is discipleship.
We in this church can’t be all things to all church
people, but we can be a doorway to a new life • Spiritual needs being met elsewhere
for some people. • Time consumed by work
• Fear of the moral judgments of church
Open Doors 3.2

• A perception of church as wanting to control them

• Feeling “different” from others who go to church
• Fear of not knowing how to act in church
• Being pushed to be placed on a committee immediately
• Not feeling “good enough” to be in church
Nine
• No perception of difference in Christians’ lives just because
they go to church out of 10
• Lack of invitation unchurched
• Distrust of the institution people say
• Being ignored at churches they have visited once or twice they believe
• Having nagging anxieties and deep-seated fears, for which the in God.
church (as they’ve experienced it or perceive it) has offered only
tired or trite solutions
Rick Warren, founder and pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange
County, California, asked people why they didn’t go. Here’s what they said:
“Church is boring, especially the sermons . . . church members are
unfriendly to visitors . . . the church is more interested in my money than
in me . . . we worry about the quality of the church’s child care” (The
Purpose Driven™ Church, 191–192).
It may be painfully obvious to you why we need to understand the
reluctance of some people to enter a church, even for a visit. But to put a
fine point on it: We must know our audience before we can even begin to
fashion our communication to reach them.
In the early 1990s, theologian Tex Sample wrote these words, which are
equally true today:
Another issue concerns the church’s capacity to deal sensitively and
respectfully with the different lifestyles in the United States. Mainline
churches with an educated clergy are becoming increasingly middle class
in worship, preaching, program and outreach. Such an approach is not
adequate to meet the diversity of people in the U.S. culture and leaves
mainline churches to focus on a minority—albeit a sizable one—of the
U.S. population. To turn toward other lifestyles will require something
more than merely tinkering with program. An appreciation for and a
decided interest in these people will be necessary. . . . What is at stake here
is the direction of U.S. culture and the question of whether mainline
churches will influence the shape of the future. . . . The questions are: Can
mainline churches find vision and identity in their present muddle of
confusion and low morale, and will mainline churches commit
themselves to learning and responding to the diverse groups that make
up this society? (U.S. Lifestyles and Mainline Churches, 5)
3.3 Open Doors

A recent Barna study echoed Sample’s observations. In a profile of

unchurched Americans, Barna observed that people with no college
education and below average income levels were more likely to stay away
from churches than those with higher education and income.
Trends Affecting Your Future Today

As your congregation looks toward reaching new people, it’s important
to realize that five trends are shaping life as we know it in the 21st century.
Craig Kennet Miller, author of the book NextChurch.Now: Creating New
Faith Communities, challenges us to create congregations that will embrace
the future and the incredible variety of people we will encounter in it. He
identifies the following five trends as shaping life in this century.
Trend 1. High Mobility of the U.S. Population

From 1990 to 1998, 340 million Americans changed their places of
residence. Of these, 129 million moved out of their hometowns to different
When people counties in their states or to other states in the country. This vast movement
move into a of people is creating new opportunities for churches. When people move
new community, into a new community, there is an opportunity to welcome them and invite
them to become active in its churches.
there is an Even more important, most people won’t become lifelong members of
opportunity to one local church. Rather, as people move into new communities, they look
welcome them for ways to connect with the community. One of those ways is through
and invite them becoming part of a local church. Local churches that create ministry
opportunities for new people are the ones that will flourish.
to become
active in its Trend 2. The Birth of the Millennial Generation
churches. Right now, there are more children and youth in school than at any
other time in U.S. history. They make up the Millennial Generation (born
1982–2000). More numerous than the Baby Boomers and the Postmoderns
(see comparisons on page 3.11), this generation will set the trends for the
next 10 years. We are currently experiencing a youth boom larger than the
youth boom of the 1960s and 1970s. Congregations that create ministry
with the Millennials and their parents are the ones who will meet the needs
of a new generation. Creating ministry that speaks to the families of the
Millennials will be a key strategy for churches in the first decade of the new
century.
These youngsters are as different from preceding generations as the
preceding generations are different from each other. Therefore, merely
responding to them by saying that all we need is an emphasis on youth
Open Doors 3.4

ministry will be only partially effective. Youth ministry, Christian education

and children’s ministries need to be sensitive to the unique characteristics
of the Millennials, who are exceptionally curious, self-reliant, smart,
focused, able to adapt, high in self-esteem, globally oriented, driven to Creating
innovate and have a mind-set of immediacy, requiring fast results.
ministry that
• This generation will be the most ethnically diverse in U.S. history.
speaks to the
• The youth of today will have the least traditional family makeup of
all American generations to date: 18 percent will be raised by an
families of the
unmarried parent and 35 percent will experience divorce. Millennials
• They will live in a mixture of relationships formed and broken will be a key
through the marriage patterns of their parents. strategy for
• For them, “family” is the configuration that is present in the home at churches in
the moment. It also means those persons who are willing to spend the first
time with them over the course of a number of years.
decade of the
• Another name for this generation is “Net Gen,” because it is the first
new century.
generation bathed in bytes. As Don Tapscott wrote in the March
2000 issue of Business 2.0, the defining characteristic of this
generation is that it is the first one to grow up in the Digital Age.
Video games and the Internet are as commonplace to them as the
telephone and TV are to their parents.
We need to understand this generation and relate to them in a manner
that is meaningful to them, or we risk losing them.
Trend 3. Aging of the Baby Boomers

While we are seeing the birth of a new generation, the Baby Boomers
(born from 1946 to 1963) will be creating new trends themselves as they
move through midlife into retirement. During the next two decades, record
numbers of Americans will turn 50. By 2020, the number of those over 65
will double from 30 million to over 60 million. As people age and move into
retirement, churches will face the challenge of providing faith communities
geared to their needs. A focus on spirituality, using gifts for ministry,
addressing issues related to health and wellness and teaching Boomers how
to give back to society will be key.
Trend 4. The Multi-Ethnic Society

The 1990s could be called the decade of immigration. From 1990 to
1998, the foreign-born population increased by 27.1 percent to 25.2
million. In 1998, 9.3 percent of the population was foreign-born. From
1990 to 1998 the number of foreign-born Asians increased 42.2 percent
3.5 Open Doors
(from 1.7 million to 2.4 million, and the number of foreign-born Hispanics
grew 34.1 percent, from 8 to 10.7 million). This wave of immigration is
changing the landscape in many communities throughout the nation. Our
youngest two generations, the Postmoderns (born 1964–1981) and the
Millennials, are creating a multi-ethnic culture that benefits from the
richness of diversity. Churches that reflect this new multi-ethnic mix will be
best posed to reach our youngest generations.
Trend 5. The Communications Revolution

The communications revolution brought about by the computer
The Postmoderns continues to accelerate. Networking via fax, Internet and e-mail has
and the changed the way people interact. Family members who were once distant
now are able to have daily interaction through e-mail. As the printing press
Millennials, are changed the world just over 500 years ago, the computer chip will continue
creating a multi- to change the way we communicate today. Churches that tap into emerging
ethnic culture technologies will find new ways to stay connected with members, new ways
that benefits to equip and train people for ministry and new opportunities for sharing
their faith in Jesus Christ.
from Members of the Postmodern generation (also known as “Gen X’ers”)
the richness of are the ones who are reshaping work and play as they integrate these new
diversity. technologies into everything they do. One of the keys to being in ministry
with Postmoderns is the willingness to create healthy relationships that give
balance to the rapid change that surrounds them. Small groups and
experiential worship are key to connecting with Postmoderns.
As a result of the intermixing of these five trends, congregations find
themselves in a world much different from even 20 years ago. They will
need to learn to operate in new ways.
• They have to move from signing up members to developing
disciples. In fact, the Barna Research Group points out that tracking
membership numbers is an antiquated way of evaluating your
effectiveness in reaching new people. Tracking attendance is better.
• They will need to create systems of discipleship that move people
through different stages of spiritual development.
• They will need a flexible church structure whose strength lies in
relationships, not just in the layout of the organizational chart.
• They will need to learn to create faith communities that speak to the
new people who come into their cities and towns.
Craig Miller defines a faith community as one where the worship
experience is tied to a discipleship system. He explains,
Open Doors 3.6

A worshiping group without a discipleship system is not a faith

community; it is simply a place to worship God. A faith community
intentionally creates settings that will link worship to discipleship and
spiritual formation. The primary purpose of this community is to reach
out to new people to offer them experiences of the grace of God that can
transform them into disciples of Jesus Christ. (NextChurch.Now: Creating
New Faith Communities, 6)
While many congregations think the key to attracting and keeping new Postmoderns
members is starting new worship services, even more important is creating
long to be
faith communities that link worship to discipleship. Of course, a new faith
community does not require a new congregation; instead, it arises from part of a
common interests, issues or home neighborhoods among members of the community
congregation and grows through their relationships with others. These faith of faith.
communities intentionally focus their resources on meeting the needs of
specific groups in our society and grow in their own spirituality through
this service.
Who Are Your People?

A quick look in your community will show that there are many
different types of people living within 10 miles of your church. Some of
these differences are generational, some are racial-ethnic and some
are economic.
As you reflect on your community, you may find great opportunities to

reach out to new groups of people who have recently moved nearby. You
may also find that younger groups of people are ready for a church that
wishes to create new ministry with them.
Experience-Based Worship
Another key to the whole puzzle of being a church that can take
advantage of these emerging trends is to move beyond the debate between
traditional and contemporary worship. Rather than looking at which style
is the best, leaders of worship are finding that each worship experience has
its own flavor. Even though the 9 A.M. and the 11 A.M. services use the same
order of worship, each has its own feel or mood by virtue of the fact that
two different groups of people show up.
3.7 Open Doors

By understanding these differences and using them as a way to create

engaging experiences of worship, congregations can do much to reshape
their worship life. The creation of experience-based worship is based on a
few key ideas.
Experience-based worship expresses a theme. This theme runs through
Rather than the whole worship experience. Worship planners build the worship
looking at experience by identifying the theme and the question based on scripture. As
which style is the various elements of the worship experience are developed, this theme
informs what is used and allows the leaders of the worship to build an
the best,
experience that speaks to the heart. Consider all the senses when presenting
leaders of a theme, especially auditory, visual and kinesthetic (feeling). Many software
worship are programs offer multimedia elements to theme building, and appendix B8
finding that offers liturgies and music for expressing the theme of open hearts, minds
and doors. In addition to these resources, Igniting Ministry’s planning and
each worship
teaching resources also support experience-based worship with graphics,
experience Scripture ideas, tips to illustrate themes, and printed material linked to the
has its own advertising. The Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox has a ‘WOW! Worship
flavor. of Welcoming Session’ with liturgies, song ideas, etc. Four Expression
Packages also exist to help congregations explore six weeks worth of theme
ideas related to the topics of Journey, Gift, Prayer, and Faith. For more
information about these resources, check
www.IgnitingMinistry.org/resources.
The worship experience has regular elements that attract and speak to
specific people in your community. In other words, these elements are offered
every time the worship experience happens, which helps people feel
connected to the ongoing worship ministry of your congregation. Miller
calls these your “normative” elements and points out that they can be the
prelude, hymn and call to prayer (or the praise songs and a prayer) that
begin every worship service.
Each time worship is offered, it is a drama. This drama starts off at the
time of “gathering,” when people walk into the place of worship, not with
the first song or prayer. It begins from the moment someone comes onto
the campus of your church. This is why welcoming is so important.
“Setting the stage” is the next part of the worship experience. This is
when you offer the normative elements of the worship experience.
Next comes “the question,” which articulates the theme for the day.
What is the key thought or idea around which the whole worship
experience is centered? This question can be offered through a song, drama,
video, children’s message or at the beginning of the “proclamation”
Open Doors 3.8

(sermon). Proclamation happens as the preacher of the day grapples with

this question and applies scripture and insight to help people grow in faith.
“Response and call to ministry” challenges participants to live out the
truths of the Christian faith. Communion, an invitational prayer or music
can help people make a connection with God.
“Sending forth” moves people out into the world to live as Christian
disciples.
Preaching is focused on personal experience and building relationships
with one another, with the larger world and with Jesus Christ. One of the key
purposes of preaching is to cast the vision of where the congregation is
going in the future. This happens when the preacher listens to the
community, listens to the congregation and listens to God. Through this
process, a vision for ministry begins to be articulated, and people are
challenged to help leadership shape this new vision. Preaching that
communicates in today’s environment focuses on spiritual formation and
shares a vision for a better future for individuals, the congregation and the
world.
Taking the Next Step:

Creating the Discipleship System
What would happen if 100 new people showed up next Sunday at your
worship experience? What about 50? Or one? Beyond great worship and
hospitality skills, what do you have to offer?
Today, people are looking for ways to grow in their faith—what they
may call spirituality. Congregations across the country are finding that
people have more interest in things spiritual, even if those things wouldn’t
be considered spiritual by those inside our churches (angels, afterlife, etc.).
This wave of interest is spurred by a shift in thinking in the wider culture.
Most people today think of themselves as being on a spiritual journey. They
see themselves as believers. They may not be Christians, but they do have
some cherished ideas and beliefs that guide them.
As newcomers visit your congregation, they are not looking to be
converted. Instead, they are looking for a conversation about how the
Christian faith helps them to live their spiritual journey. When they are
invited to be in relationship with fellow travelers, they encounter Jesus in a
new way.
Churches that offer an ongoing process for spiritual formation are the
ones that are capturing this desire for lifelong learning. And guess what? It’s
not just newcomers who are longing for a deeper understanding of the
Christian faith; long-term members also have a desire to grow in faith. Bible
3.9 Open Doors

studies like “Disciple,” “Witness,” and “Faith-Quest” (all available from

It’s not just Cokesbury) challenge people to encounter Jesus in a new way. Spiritual
newcomers retreats like The Walk to Emmaus and small groups like Covenant Disciple
who are Groups are offering new opportunities for spiritual growth and
development. The ‘Sunday School—It’s for Life!’ also reminds us that
longing for a Sunday School is NOT just for children but for all generations. Learn more
deeper at www.sundayschool.cokesbury.com/
understanding Where does this all start? It starts with the leadership of the
of the congregation. One of the keys to developing a congregation that welcomes
newcomers is having a leadership core that prays, worships, studies and
Christian serves together. Through the practice of spiritual disciplines and by holding
faith; long- one another accountable, leadership creates the atmosphere of spiritual
term members health and vitality that permeates congregational life.
also have a As you have already figured out, these changes take time. Reaching out
is an ongoing process. As you build an awareness of your church in your
desire to grow community through Igniting Ministry, you also will develop a new
in faith. enthusiasm among your members. As they take a close look at what they
have to offer to newcomers, they will discover that God has given them a
purpose for being. Your congregation, like every congregation across this
world, has a mission to engage people with the grace and love that is found
through Jesus Christ. And when new people become part of your
congregation, their gifts and insights will help you grow in your faith. They
will help you shape a vision for the future that includes more and more
people who desire to know Jesus Christ and to live as Christian disciples.
Time to Take Action!
N ow that you’ve completed the first three chapters of this

handbook, you can begin to select the training sessions that
will be most appropriate for your church.
Explore the Igniting Ministry Training options and resources:
• Beyond 30 Seconds: Developing a Welcoming Congregation – Igniting
Ministry’s video-based small group study to help people becoming more
welcoming and begin modeling that lifestyle in your congregation
• Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox – 12 video-based training sessions to use
in various settings in your church, including Sunday school classes, worship,
and leadership meetings
• Open Hearts Welcoming Training – this distance learning option will enable
you to explore the basics of this ministry from the comfort and convenience of
your home or office, whenever you have time to log on
• Igniting Ministry training events and trainers – check for events and trainers
in your area at www.IgnitingMinistry.org/training/overview.aspx
Open Doors 3.10

Generations
Many different dates have been proposed to define various generations.

Here, the generations are divided into 18-year groupings so we can get a
clear picture of each generation’s size relative to other generations
(NextChurch.Now, 40). Key events also help to define a generation.
Generations Birth Dates Characteristics
GIs 1910–1927 Also known as Builders. The Great

Depression and WWII shaped their values.
Pioneers 1928–1945 Also known as Silents. They have

led social change in music and
culture. The Korean War and the
Civil Rights movement influenced
their young adult years.
Baby Boomers 1946–1963 Led by the high school class of 1964,

they were shaped by the events
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Postmoderns 1964–1981 Also known as Gen X and Busters.

They were born right after the
assassination of President Kennedy
and are the first generation to live
with a postmodern perspective.
Millennials 1982–2000 Led by the high school class of 2000,

they will set the trends in the first
two decades of the 21st century.
U.S. Generations in the Year 2004
A ges Generation Population (est.)
95+ WWI 430,000

78–94 GI 17,000,000
59–77 Pioneer 34,000,000
41–58 Baby Boomer 73,000,000
23–40 Postmodern 65,000,000
5–22 Millennial 78,000,000
under 5 Genomic 20,000,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census (www.census.gov)
3.11 Open Doors

Changes in the Racial-Ethnic Mix, 1995–2020

Native
American, Asian,
Total U.S. Hispanic Eskimo, Pacific
Population Origin White Black Aluet Islander
Year
1995 263,434 26,798 193,900 31,648 1,927 9,161
2010 300,431 40,525 203,441 37,930 2,336 16,199
2020 325,942 51,217 208,280 42,459 2,641 21,345
Percentage Growth from 1995 to 2010

14% 51% 5% 20% 21% 77%
Percentage Growth from 1995 to 2020

24% 91% 7% 34% 37% 133%
Percent of Total U.S. Population in

1995 100% 10% 74% 12% 1% 3%
2010 100% 13% 68% 13% 1% 5%
2020 100% 16% 64% 13% 1% 7%
Compiled by Craig Kennet Miller from “No. 19. Resident Population, by Hispanic Origin Status, 1980 to
1994, and Projections, 1995 to 2050,” U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, pages
25–1095 and pages 25–1104 and Population Listing 21, The American Almanac, 1995–1996: Statistical
Abstract of the United States, page 19.
Hispanic/Latino: People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
White is non-Hispanic white.
Black is non-Hispanic black.
Take a Look at Yourself
A s you are learning about your community, one tool to

use is a demographic survey. Two resources are at your
disposal.
The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) offers a free, two-
page demographic picture of your community (http://gbgm-
umc.org/research/). This simple tool will help you to start to think about
who is in your congregation and about who is in your community.
Both GBGM and Percept Group, Inc. (www.Link2Lead.com) offer more
detailed reports on the areas surrounding your church.
Open Doors 3.12

Our Ministry and the Media

An Overview
4
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel
basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in
the house. In the same way let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in heaven.
M A T T H E W 5 : 1 5 – 1 6
I
mplementing the media campaign portion of this kit
further extends your inviting and welcoming ministries.
Through television, radio, newspaper, outdoor billboards
and the other advertising used in Igniting Ministry, we are able
to invite into our churches people with whom we have never
spoken before. We are able to “talk” to an entire group of
people we might never have had the chance to meet otherwise.
This kind of communication—with people we don’t know personally—requires

an extraordinary level of clarity and cohesion. This is why the Igniting Ministry media
campaign is carried out on two levels: 1) national television advertising and 2) local
promotion, through TV, radio, print and outdoor billboards, with supporting “in-
church” materials for the World Wide Web and worship services.
The national television commercials provide a broad outreach on behalf of all
United Methodist churches, and local promotional efforts help bring the message to
the community level. As a coordinated campaign, this media strategy should touch the
lives of people who would otherwise never hear about—or perhaps never think
seriously about—The United Methodist Church as a potential spiritual home for
themselves and their families.
4.1 Our Ministry and the Media

National Television Advertising, Airing on Cable Stations

(Produced and Sponsored by United Methodist
Communications)
The TV commercials, also called “spots,” are produced and placed on
national cable networks (CNN, TBS, Discovery, A&E, etc.) by United
Methodist Communications. This means they appear virtually everywhere
people have cable television; currently, cable is present in about 82 percent
of U.S. households. The target audience—the people to whom our ads are
expected to appeal—are 25- to 54-year-olds actively seeking spiritual well-
being and a place to worship.
The spots air on cable TV during the following three “flights,” or times,
throughout the year.
1. Lent (weeks leading up to Easter)
2. Back-to-school (around Labor Day and in September)
3. Advent (weeks leading up to Christmas)
To discover when the national spots are airing, which networks are
showing them, and during which programs they run, visit the Igniting
Ministry Web site (www.IgnitingMinistry.org).
Matching Grants Help Pay Local Promotion and Advertising

for Local Advertising (Sponsored by Regional Church
o that conferences, districts and Organizations)
S clusters of local churches can gain
funding for Igniting Ministry television
To supplement and strengthen national exposure,
advertising, dollar-for-dollar matching grants conferences, districts and congregations can be
are available from United Methodist actively involved by placing local advertising, as well
Communications. Three rounds of grants, up as publicizing their participation in the campaign (see
to $50,000 per round, are available each year appendix D3, Sample News Releases). Your church is
to supplement the national campaign and encouraged to participate in the campaign at
correspond to the three “flights” listed above.
whatever level makes sense, whether that means
Recipients are required to use the grants for
placing a few ads in the newspaper or launching a
purchasing advertising using TV/Cable,
radio, outdoor and cinema with the “Open more comprehensive local campaign. (Of course, all
hearts” brand. churches are encouraged to sharpen their welcoming
Applications and information regarding and hospitality skills as outlined in part one of this
matching grants are available from your handbook.) Igniting Ministry media materials are
conference communications director or downloadable from www.MediaWarehouse.org.
office, or online at the Igniting Ministry Web
Exceptions are the TV commericials and the billboard
site (www.IgnitingMinistry.org).
artwork. The television commercials can be
Our Ministry and the Media 4.2

purchased from our Product Store. To obtain billboard artwork, contact the
Igniting Ministry office, 877-281-6535. Below you will find a listing of the
advertising available on our Web site.
• Television commercials to be aired on broadcast and local cable
stations (these are the same as the commercials that will air on
national cable stations)
• Radio advertising
• Newspaper ads (both display advertising and classifieds)
• Outdoor billboards
• Direct mail
• Door hangers
• Web graphics
• Electronic worship graphics
• Bulletin inserts
• Worship graphics
Congregations participating in the campaign can benefit from free
media services through Igniting Ministry by contacting
IMMediaServices@umcom.org or by using the toll free number
877-281-6535.
Instructions and details for implementing your local campaign follow.
Also refer to appendix B5 for suggestions for explaining the campaign to
your congregation.
Our Brand Promise

ur advertising messages invite others to join the journey of faith and bring
O their questions to a place that will accept them wherever they are along the
path toward faith in Christ. Through advertising, The United Methodist Church
strives to present the church, and particularly its people, as living manifestations
of God’s grace.
What “seekers” find appealing about The United Methodist Church became the
basis for creating messages that reflect the denomination’s heritage and practice:
“Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” That’s our “brand promise” – what the
church represents symbolically. The attributes also reflect relationships rather
than buildings, so the advertising prominently features the “brand sponsor” in
the messages: “The people of The United Methodist Church.”
For additional information about the brand promise, download the “Living Our
Promise” document at IgnitingMinistry.org/Welcoming/LivingOurPromise
4.3 Our Ministry and the Media

Our Message: The Theme of the Open Hearts Advertising

Our theme was crafted in response to what research indicates our target audi-
ence will appreciate about the United Methodist denomination. Specifically, we
learned that 25- to 54-year-olds who are actively seeking a spiritual home
would be attracted to The United Methodist Church because it
• cares about those in need;
• requires no attachment to a particular creed;
• opens its doors to people with diverse opinions, cultural traditions,
ethnic backgrounds and beliefs.
Taking all of this into account, United Methodit Communications and its
marketing counsel designed the “Open hearts” umbrella theme .
You will also see the message expressed this way:

Our hearts, our minds and our doors are always open.
The people of the United Methodist Church.®
Note: The themes (also called “brand”) are both trademarked. If you use them in the life of
®
your church, please include the small, superscripted (raised slightly) at the end of the
last line.
Our Ministry and the Media 4.4
Launch the Advertising in

Your Community
5 Steps to Igniting Ministry
in Your Church
5
What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what
you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
M A T T H E W 1 0 : 2 7
P
eople who come into contact with our advertising
will experience a cohesiveness in the look, feel and
message—from viewing, reading or
listening to advertisements to the experience of
being welcomed at a place of worship or in a
small group setting.
To implement your local efforts, both
advertising (professionally produced
commercials, camera-ready print materials, etc.)
and “in-church” resources (high-quality
projectable and print images) will make the
People who come into
connection to your church and community. contact with our
advertising
will experience a
Details on all the resources available to you, and the steps suggested cohesiveness in the
for your efforts, follow. In particular, guidelines for making “media buys” look, feel and
(selecting media and contracting for advertising) appear in appendix D1, message—from
and instructions for customization appear in appendix D2. A basic viewing, reading or
glossary of media terminology can be found in appendix D5. listening to
advertisements to the
experience of being
welcomed at a
place of worship or in
a small group setting.
5.1 Launch the Advertising

Where to Find the Materials in This Handbook

Advertising and Publicity
Igniting Ministry media and advertising materials can be previewed and/or downloaded
from the Media Warehouse (www.MediaWarehouse.org). As additional advertising materials are
developed, they will be added to MediaWarehouse. Check back often.
Additional advertising materials are available within our Expression Package series. (Each
“Package” is a collection of graphics and advertising designed around unique biblical, emotional,
and strategic themes for local church use.) The four Expression packages are “The Journey,”
“The Gift,” “Prayer,” and “Faith” and are available from the Igniting Ministry Product Store.
• Television commercials. “Open hearts” commercials are designed for both national and
local use. Igniting Ministry will customize local commercials for churches to highlight
their contact information. National schedules for the Lent, Back-to-school and Advent
flights are posted to the www.IgnitingMinistry.org Web site.
• Radio commercials. Radio commercials are produced in both 30-and 60-second formats.
The radio MP3 files can be emailed to or downloaded by your local radio stations. Preview
the spots and check the availability of formats at www.MediaWarehouse.org.
• Print advertising. Ads can be used for secular and religious newspapers and other
publications (e.g., periodicals, community welcoming publications, college papers, special
events, programs, etc.)
• Outdoor advertising. Outdoor advertising is created for the audience “on the go” and
always away from home. Five different sizes of billboard artwork can be downloaded from
our FTP site. Please contact Igniting Ministry for specific links.
• Door hangers. These inexpensive “calling cards” provide a way for local church members
to leave announcements with a specific message at homes. The door hangers are fully
customizable.
• Direct mail advertising. These direct-mail postcards complement the national television
commercials (“spots”) and are available in horizontal or vertical layouts, and also range
from full-color to spot color to black-and-white.
• Internet advertising. Web graphics can create interest for those who visit your Web site.
These graphics complement your local advertising campaign and the national spots.
• News releases. For sample releases you can use in your and community newspapers and
magazines, visit www.IgnitingMinistry.org and click on MediaWarehouse.
Launch the Advertising 5.2

Church Use
• Worship bulletin covers. Bulletin covers have the feel and messages
of the campaign. Bulletin covers are an excellent way to create the
image of your local campaign within the congregation and reinforce
the messages with guests and members alike.
• Worship graphics. A variety of graphics can be used in a worship
setting. Graphic backgrounds and campaign messages are included
in the selection. (Additionally, each Expression Package contains 24
worship graphics supporting six weeks of scripture ideas
(recommended with the package theme).
• Worship liturgies. Ideas and resources for worship leaders, including
calls to worship, invocations, responsive reading and more can be
found in appendix B8. Other worship resources are available in the
media
Living our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox and the Expression warehouse
Package series. Media WareHouse
undreds of
• Customization of advertising. For professionally customized
advertising (TV commercials, cinema slides and billboard ads)
H professional
graphics are available
contact Igniting Ministry’s Media Services Toll-Free at 877-281- FREE at
6535, or email IMMediaServices@umcom.org MediaWarehouse.org.
Come, search by media
type, need, keyword, or
Step 1. Work Through Part One of This Handbook format. All are
Don’t place advertising unless and until you have completed the first customizable and ready
part of this handbook and gotten training well underway in your church, to use.
or your efforts will be ineffective. Igniting Ministry works as a
comprehensive effort: inviting and advertising will help bring people to the
church, while welcoming ensures people feel included when they get there.
Obviously, the rest of the church life must also be strong, from discipleship
to worship to missions. Even if your church does not place ads, your
congregation can participate by raising welcoming, inviting and
discipleship skills.
Step 2. Know Your Target Audience

Together with its marketing consultants, United Methodist
Communications determined that, to reach the broadest and most
receptive audience, the advertising must be focused on presenting a unique
message to foster new or renewed spiritual well-being in 25- to 54-year-olds
who are seeking a spiritual home. To create the greatest impact, this is also
your target audience for local campaign efforts.
United Methodist Communications defined this audience by
conducting independent research through the Barna Research Group.

These market research professionals surveyed individuals who were aged 25
to 54, either marginally churched or unchurched, and who did not typically
attend a United Methodist Church (referred to as the “UMC target” or the
“target audience” throughout this part of the handbook). All interviews
were conducted within ZIP codes where a United Methodist church
is located.
The research team tested 18 United Methodist attributes and asked
unchurched persons how likely they would be to attend a church with these
attributes. Abbreviated results appear here for your information, both to
influence your choices about media placement and to give you insight into
the mind-set of the people we are trying to reach.
Respondents said that the following attributes would make them
extremely likely to attend a church:
• Actively helps people in the community who are in need
(35 percent)
• Accepts everyone because God cares for everyone (32 percent)
• Strengthens families by ministering to children, teens and parents
(31 percent)
Other interesting research findings revealed how A) our target audience
views and experiences the world, as compared with B) others in their same
age range, 25–54, and C) other adults, both younger and older. When asked
which of the following phrases describes them, people responded
as follows:
“Does this describe you accurately?”
A) UMC Target B) 25–54* C) Adults*
Excited about the future 78% 81% 76%

Seen as a leader by other people 63% 67% 63%
Financially comfortable 60% 64% 66%
Stressed out 46% 38% 35%
Searching for meaning in life 38% 34% 36%
*Source: Barna Research 1998 national tracking study

You don’t need to define the audience any further to place your
advertising at the local level. However, if your congregation needs more
information about its surrounding community to implement worship or
other significant programmatic changes, information is available through
two sources: the Office of Research of the General Board of Global
Ministries (GBGM) and Percept Group, Inc.
GBGM can produce charts and demographic trends for any ZIP code in
the country. The GBGM office also keeps membership and financial data
online from 1974 to the present for the approximately 36,000 U.S. United
Methodist Churches. Custom reports that include charts and graphs for the
past 10 years are available for all existing United Methodist Churches. See
appendix E2 (page 6E.3) for more details, and access this information
by contacting
Office of Research
General Board of Global Ministries
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
Telephone: (212) 870-3600
Website: http://gbgm-umc.org/research/
E-mail: research@gbgm-umc.org
Another organization providing demographic information which

many conferences currently use is Percept Group, Inc. Many conferences
subscrube to Precept and can offer their local churches this information at
no charge. Percept’s Ministry Area Profile™ provides an extensive
demographic report, including information about faith preferences,
behaviors and concerns within a defined area. Contact Percept at:
Percept Group, Inc.
29889 Santa Margarita Parkway
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Toll free: (800) 442-6277
Website: www.PerceptNet.com or Link2Lead.com
E-mail: Info@PerceptNet.com
Similar valuable demographic information may be obtained at little or

no expense from
• local school boards
• utilities
• chambers of commerce
• county planning groups

• local radio or television stations
• local newspapers
• local colleges and universities
Step 3. Determine Which Expression of the Campaign

Best Fits Your Congregation
media
warehouse Igniting Ministry consists of several different expressions (or groupings
of similarly themed advertisements), most of which utilize all available
media.
An excellent approach would be to coordinate your commercial
selection with the national campaign. However, that’s not mandatory and
may not be appropriate in all cases. To find out which expression will
appear nationally, go to the Igniting Ministry Web site
(www.IgnitingMinistry.org) or call your conference communications
office.
Your Igniting Ministry media coordinator (see appendix B2 for a
description of the coordinator’s responsibilities) should consider the
following in evaluating which expression(s) to use.
Note: The names of the expressions are for purposes of identification only. Details on
sizing for each newspaper ad, outdoor billboard, etc., may be found in the Media
Specifications, appendix D4.
Expressions
Based on research with “seekers” in the age range of 25-54, many
themes emerged for the United Methodist advertising messages. Each
offered a slightly different approach to the core message of “Open hearts.
Open minds. Open doors,” so we grouped them into Expressions (groups
of similarly themed advertising messages).
During each time when United Methodist Communications runs the
TV spots on national cable networks, one message takes the lead and
provides a theme for churches to use locally. By reinforcing the theme
locally, we enhance the likelihood that seekers will remember the message,
so we encourage churches to follow that pattern.
We also encourage each church throughout the year to use an
Expression that best reflects the qualities of the people of that church and
the ministries available through that congregation. Having a constant and

consistent message presence in your community enables your church

to establish a “brand” identity so people in your area know you.
Which Expression best reflects your congregation?
“Classifieds”
Those seeking spiritual well-being tend to look in all sorts of
places, including the classified section of their local newspapers. The
“Classifieds” ads are designed to be spiritual speed bumps, carefully
positioned in the newspaper to make seekers reconsider their quest.
This expression can be inexpensive: as low as the cost of a
classified ad. The ads should run in the specific section of the classifieds
denoted at the top of each execution (see the artwork), or larger versions
may run in other areas of the newspaper to uniquely deliver the same
unexpected promise for the church.
You can also print these out and place them in your community as
unusual signs. Be sure to learn and follow your local community laws
regarding posting signs.
“Diversity”
By communicating the myriad beliefs and cultural diversity of the
church, “Diversity” showcases the acceptance and inclusiveness of The
United Methodist Church. This Expression invites anyone to attend,
wherever he or she is on the journey toward finding a spiritual home. It
goes beyond cultural and racial diversity and includes diversity of opinion
– an attractive quality of The United Methodist Church, according to
research with seekers.

“Good Works”
The “Good Works” Expression helps make the connection between The
United Methodist Church and its outreach efforts. It
calls the audience to think in new ways about how
their lives mean something to others. The popular
spot “The Gift” offers a metaphor for how our Good
Works, expressed as we share our gifts, touch the
lives of others.
The ads are based on a capacity for good works
inside every human being that, if properly tapped,
may become a true reward in a person’s life. The
expression asks a little more than the others, in
terms of giving back, and should be considered in
active communities, perhaps of young professionals
or those with a high incidence of families. The
expression meets a key motivator for attendance identified in research: a
church that is active in helping others in the community.
“Rain”
Perhaps the most reflective Expression in the campaign, “Rain” utilizes
simple occurrences in our lives as reasons to pause
and gain new perspectives: watching the rain,
looking at a cup blowing in the wind on a sidewalk,
sitting on a park bench. The United Methodist
Church comes across as having insight to questions
that seem to concern people the most.
The “Rain” expression represents society in
general and should prove effective in any
community. The best times and places to use this
expression may be when and where bad-weather
months skew longer or where social tension runs
high. Communities with a high incidence of single
parents would also be a good fit for this expression.
“Love Letters”
This expression is in the form of letters to and from our Creator. The
ads may be most effective with those who have lost loved ones, are divorced
or new to an area or are just trying to adjust their course in life.

“Love Letters” is a personal invitation for people to renew their

forgotten relationships with God. This Expression has the power to get the
most “buzz” around the community. The new “Prayer” TV spot is part of
this Expression, exploring how prayer is like a love letter from us to God.
Again, the expression has emotional appeal that should strike a chord
with all types of people in any location. If there has been a significant
challenge or painful event in a community, these spots may serve to address
that occurrence well.
“Breaking News”
This Expression arose from the aftermath of the attacks on September
11, 2001. The tragic events of that day led to a “Breaking News” expression
to bring a message of hope in the midst of shock, grief, and fear. These ads
help reach people struggling with personal and public crises, with messages
such as “Fear is not the only force at work in the world,” and “Be the Hope”
(created in 2005 in the wake of Katrina and other hurricanes). These
themes reinforce the image of our church as a place where people can find
comfort and support, without judgment.
“Journey”
Seekers often speak of their spiritual quest in the language of “journey”
so this Expression speaks directly to finding that path. Recognizing that
everyone has a different journey toward Christ, the messages of this
expression reflect very personal and individual experiences.
To help you choose an Expression that will be effective in your

community, consider these questions:
• Which Expression appeals most to me?

• Which Expression would appeal most to someone I know
from work or my neighborhood (or elsewhere) who I
consider an unchurched seeker?
• What ministries does our church have that support the claims made
in the spots of each Expression?
• How open is the congregation to receiving new people of varied
backgrounds, ideologies, cultures, and ethnicity? (Be honest about
where the church is now, not where you hope for it to be in
the future.)

What else is important about our community that would influence our
choice of an Expression? (For example, is it a college town, an urban
environment, a rural community, etc.?)
Notes and Impressions About These Expressions
Diversity:
Classifieds:
Good Works:
Rain:
Love Letters:
Breaking News:
Journey:
To find more advertising resources and information related to these

Expressions, visit www.IgnitingMinistry.org or call 877-281-6535.
TV Commercials for Special Markets

The United Methodist Church also offers resources for Hispanic and
Korean communities. These are two of the fastest growing populations in the
United States, both of which come from rich traditions with cultural
preferences.
Therefore, if you live in an area with Hispanic and Korean populations, it
may be beneficial to air commercials intended especially for them. Igniting
Ministry developed these resources with support from Hispanic and Korean
advisors, using advertising agencies that specailize in reaching these
audiences. Preview these messages online at www.MediaWarehouse.org.
Note: All TV commercials have been closed-captioned for viewers who are hearing
impaired.
MediaWarehouse
MediaWarehouse is an online hub for all free things “Open hearts” from
Igniting Ministry. It offers an easy image-oriented navigation system to
download any advertising resource, including radio, newspaper, direct mail,

bulletin covers, logos, guidelines, reports . . . anything! You can view and
download materials by category or keyword. You can:
• Keyword search by theme: community, faith, hope, etc.

• See what colors, sizes and formats are available
• Make several selections for one batch download
• Learn about helpful companion services
• Obtain guidelines for your chosen media
• Download research reports
Step 4. Establish Your Budget and

Media Plan
The Myth about TV
Congregational objectives and financial ads are too expensive!” This may have
resources vary from church to church, and “TV been true at one time, but the ability to
buy relatively inexpensive local cable television has
advertising costs differ depending on the size and
demographic makeup of your area. To get specific changed the affordability of TV. The cost to run a
prime-time commercial on cable television in any
recommendations for your budget and media
major market in the United States is a fraction of
market, contact IMMediaServices@umcom.org.
the cost of that of a broadcast affiliate (ABC, CBS,
Indeed, whether budget should drive FOX, NBC). What’s more, local cable TV allows you
advertising choices or vice versa is a question like to cherry-pick the geographic area so that
whether the chicken or the egg came first. commercials air where most of your prospects live,
Therefore, your budgeting process and media whereas broadcast stations cover a very broad
investigation should be done concurrently. geography. You can choose the cable networks with
the highest appeal to your target group. For
However, two very general rules apply to
example,
budgeting:
• Fox Family, Discovery, TBS and Lifetime are
1. A viable advertising budget commonly good networks for reaching families with
comprises at least 10–15 percent of the children.
total annual budget. • Churches in more rural areas are better served
with schedules on TNN, Fox Family, TBS, USA
2. You’ll need to research local costs for TV, and The Weather Channel.
radio, newspaper, outdoor, etc. and use • Churches targeting the African-American
what you learn in establishing your audience should include BET on their schedule.
church’s budget. (Know that you should Broadcast television can be an excellent vehicle
be able to negotiate lower actual costs for several churches that want to combine their
because of your non-profit status.) resources and benefit from the wide coverage of
broadcast television. A co-op of several churches
Congregations should think long term. It’s can pool their funds and buy strong schedules that
appropriate and helpful to launch a local will deliver maximum reach. Programming can be
advertising effort with a big splash by placing lots selected to provide optimum effectiveness for the
of advertising. In fact, that’s a recommendation. target audience.
After the first flight, budget amounts for

continued advertising to coordinate with each national flight. (Again, the

flight times are Lent, Back-to-School and Advent.)
What kind of advertising should you choose?
Follow these general guidelines.
• Choose TV if possible. If you can, place TV ads. Television conveys
emotions and images that reflect the message we are trying to
communicate. In most cases, you’ll want to pool funds with
neighboring churches and conferences to stretch your media
placement dollars. Local television advertising should be placed on
broadcast stations (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) because they have the
greatest “market penetration” (more households will see the
commercials). When broadcast television is not affordable or
available, a second option is local cable television. This still allows the
advertising to be communicated through television, the most desired
medium for the message.
• Choose radio if TV is not affordable or to supplement your TV
efforts. Radio is particularly effective in reaching people when they
are alone (in their homes, at work or in their cars). Because of this,
radio is an important element of the campaign, designed to have high
emotional appeal. Radio advertising is affordable in many areas. It
becomes an especially influential medium where a particular
station(s) is extremely popular, where “everyone” listens. Don’t
choose radio, however, if your church is far from the metropolitan
area where such a station is located, because most of your money will
be spent talking to people who will most likely not attend your church
because of distance.
• Choose other media to create a willingness of newcomers to attend
your congregation. This is especially effective when coupled with
congregation members personally inviting others into the life of the
church. Any media, except direct mail, can stand on its own and
creates a welcoming message to the unchurched.
• Choose direct mail only if you are running another type of
advertising. Direct mail advertising supplements other advertising
and does not stand on its own. Use it in tandem with other
advertising from the same expression.
Realize that very few congregations, if any, are able to place all the
advertising available. Pick one or two and do them well. Most
congregations will not be able to afford TV and radio. Newspaper, web

graphics, door hangers and direct mail may be less expensive options and
can be very effective. Costs can also be contained through the use of pro
bono services and donations. For example, perhaps a member of your
church owns a public relations agency or a newspaper and would be willing
to donate services or space.
In all cases use the worship liturgies (found in appendix B8), electronic
worship graphics and Web graphics if you have the capability, during the
flights of the national commercials (Lent, Back-to-School and Advent). This
will reinforce the campaign from the national all the way to the local level.
Step 5. Customize and Place Your Advertising

To request a specific action on the part of the viewer, listener or
reader—namely for them to attend worship services or an event—you must
provide information specific to your church.
Note: Changes to customize advertising are permissible only as explicitly provided for,
either on the artwork provided to you or as indicated in the instructions given in
appendix D2.
All the advertising produced and available can be previewed on

www.MediaWarehouse.org. Guidelines for placing advertising are provided
in appendix D1. More TV and radio commercials, as well as print ads, will
be added regularly. A limited number of Spanish and Korean advertising
resources also are available.
That’s it. In just five steps, you will be in position to benefit fully from
both the national TV commercials and also complementary actions in your
church and community . . . from ensuring that your congregation is confi-
dent and on-target in inviting, welcoming and discipling newcomers . . . to
employing professional advertising and effective promotion strategies for
reaching out to others.
The next section offers comprehensive resources for all you have been
asked to do.
• You have basic training courses on welcoming and inviting, as well
as supplementary sessions, which are flexible enough for use in any
church. Adapt them as necessary to make them as potent and
meaningful as possible for the people who participate.
• Detailed instructions, samples, checklists and worksheets will help
with everything from presenting the Igniting Ministry campaign to
your congregation to applying for the Welcoming Congregation
Award.

• A special section with media-oriented resources also includes

instructions, guidelines, and even a glossary of terms.
The appendix is intended as an action guide, with references to relevant
chapters to help remind you of the context, purpose and principles of each
piece in the Igniting Ministry puzzle. It is not, by any means, the whole
picture. Putting it all together will require prayer, focused attention and
intention, teamwork and diligence.
God bless you on your journey as you open hearts, open minds, open
doors. Welcome the sojourner and do good work. Our prayers are with you!
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able

to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or
imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
E P H E S I A N S 2 : 2 0 – 2 1
Know that the Igniting Ministry staff at United Methodist

Communications is ready to assist you with any aspect of this
campaign—and we’d love to hear about your successes, too.
Contact us with questions or reasons to celebrate:
Toll-free telephone number . . .(877) 281-6535
Fax number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(615) 742-5777
E-mail address . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IM@umcom.org
Mailing address . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 320
Nashville, TN 37202-0320

Basic Training and

Supplementary Sessions
A
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ
has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
R O M A N S 1 5 : 7
A1: Welcoming 101 This appendix is referenced

in the introduction; chapters
Basic Training 1, 2 and 3; and appendix C1.
T
his is a foundational training to offer all church members to begin developing a
lifestyle of welcoming and hospitality. Because one sharing session format
cannot work in every setting with every group of people—especially when we’re
trying to affect attitudes and behaviors—the activities, information and dialogue
should be adapted to fit your group. Be aware of differences even among the various
groups in your church.
The training will be most effective if it is preceded and followed by much of the
same information being shared through other avenues: the church bulletin, the
newsletter, personal letters, face-to-face discussions and so forth. Remember: People
may need to hear information five to seven times or more before they understand it
or decide to act upon it.
As laid out here, the training is a process that makes welcoming, hospitality and
invitation personal, and it leads participants to a personal commitment.
You may want to divide the training into more than one session, but be sure
everyone has an opportunity to practice being welcoming and extending hospitality
and commits to a personal action plan. The “lifestyle” orientation will be strengthened
by members working through the discussions and worksheets.
Consider offering this training several times throughout the year and at least one
month before a special event, such as a special invitational Sunday. This will allow time
for members to process the information, practice and get excited about their expanded
ministry with the church. Learning about being welcoming and extending hospitality
is a necessary part of being invitational and connecting newcomers into the life of the
church.
Conduct a follow-up session for members who have participated in the training to
tell their stories and to discuss what has and hasn’t worked well, what else they would
like to do and what direction they would like the church to take.
If your welcoming training is being prompted by advertising your church has
already planned, it is important to share those ads and plans. Emphasize to members
6A.1 Appendix
that they, not the advertising, are the most important ambassadors for bringing people
into a relationship with the church and for transformed lives. Advertising merely
prepares the ground.
Goals of the Training

This training is intended to help members of the congregation understand
• what a welcoming and hospitable congregation is,
• what each individual’s role in welcoming is,
• why we need to be a welcoming and hospitable congregation,
• how to be welcoming and hospitable, even beyond Sunday morning.
Remember: We are trying to lead the church into a welcoming lifestyle, not just to
a welcoming event.
Preparation
1. Pray for guidance.
2. Become completely familiar with the information in part one of this
handbook.
3. Because this material is intended merely as an outline, select information and
exercises from other chapters that you feel will work best with your members.
4. Choose a theme for your welcoming training.
5. Involve as many facilitators as possible. You want to demonstrate that this is
an intentional effort for the entire congregation and involves everyone. In
addition, you will need greeters and minglers before the session begins.
What You Will Need for This Training

• Results of the Mystery Guest audits if those were conducted (refer to
appendix C2)
• Ways of presenting the information (PowerPoint presentation, handouts,
overheads, etc.)
• Newsprint, tape
• Handouts (pages 6A.10–6A.16)
• You may choose to add video clips to the training outline. Igniting Ministry’s
training resources offer many options of videos you could show and discuss
with the group at your training.
• Beyond 30 Seconds: Developing a Welcoming Congregation – this video-based
curriculum may help groups in congregations develop the lifestyle of
welcoming so crucial to inviting and discipling newcomers. Choose from
Appendix 6A.2
among ten different video clips included in this resource.

• Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox – provides outlines and multimedia
resources for local churches to reproduce the Igniting Ministry training
events with their churches; this is a comprehensive collection of Igniting
Ministry training video resources.
• Expression Packages – This series brings together worship, welcoming,
theology, advertising, training, and ministry planning resources to support
the seeker-friendly themes of the national advertising messages. You could
show the TV spots and training videos included in these materials.
• In addition to the training videos, you could get a DVD of all the television
spots available through Igniting Ministry and show the spots during your
session. Check www.IgnitingMinistry.org to order a DVD or any training
resource.
Room Setup
• Depending upon the number of people in the session, arrange chairs and
tables either classroom style (for a large group) or in a horseshoe
(for a small group).
• Hang “Welcome!” banners around the room (ones you either make
or purchase).
• Have “Welcome, we’re glad you’re here!” signs directing people to the room.
• Make the room as cheery as possible.
• Have music playing in the room as people enter.
• Model welcoming behavior by having at least one person at each door
welcoming guests and instructing them what to do, where to sit, etc. (Your
group will be asking the same questions that others will be asking when they
visit your church: “What’s going to happen to me here? Is there anyone here
like me?”)
• Use the Comfort Checklist (appendix C4) to evaluate the surroundings for this
training. You will want to make your members as comfortable as possible.
• Make sure you, the facilitators, connect with each person in the room. Model
everything you will be teaching.
• Consider using an icebreaker activity while waiting for everyone to arrive. A
common one is “personal bingo,” in which everyone has a prepared handout
with attributes listed in squares (“Has at least three indoor pets,” “Has hazel
eyes,” etc.). Participants go around the room seeking out people with those
6A.3 Appendix
attributes and having them sign that square. The game’s goal is usually to get all
the squares signed; however, the real objective is to get people to interact.
The Training Session (3:25 hours)

Note: The training can be broken up over several sessions or conducted in one day
with breaks. Use your judgment about what will work best with your congregation.
Introduction (10 minutes)

A. Welcome everyone to the session.
B. Explain what will take place during the time together, where the restrooms
are, etc.
C. Outline the goals of the session.
D. Pray together.
E. Process the icebreaker activity: What did you learn?, etc. (5 minutes)
F. Explain why the church is offering this session about welcoming and
hospitality.
I. What does it mean to be welcoming and to offer hospitality?

(30 minutes)
A. Lead the group in a discussion of how they treat company in their own
homes: first making the decision to have company, planning, inviting,
welcoming and helping people feel comfortable.
Ask, “When you have first-time guests, do you do things differently? Do
you act differently? What if it’s someone who may someday be a member of
the family (such as the first time a son or daughter brings home a special
friend)?”
B. Discuss what they like/need when they go to someone else’s home. What
helps them feel comfortable? What makes them feel uncomfortable?
C. Draw the conclusion that invitation, welcoming and hospitality are much the
same in God’s house. You may want to make an analogy about rooms in the
church and in your home (sanctuary = living room, fellowship hall = family
room and so forth).
D. Explain, “We are getting ready for company to come to this church!”
Review plans for the advertising campaign, which is one part of our
invitation to others.
Option: Using www.MediaWarehouse.org or an Igniting Ministry training
Appendix 6A.4
or planning resource, show the advertising to remind people of our

denomination’s invitations to seekers. Be sure to remind the group that these
messages are for people who are not yet part of the church, not for current
members.
Point out, “While we may not look exactly like what people see on TV,
the one thing we can do is to live out the message of the spots, which is to
provide love, care and concern. We begin that by being welcoming and by
showing hospitality.”
Acknowledge, “The spots alone won’t bring in lots of people, but they
have the potential to bring in some, because people will be curious about
The United Methodist Church. What can happen, however, is that the
advertising will open the door for members to invite others. In fact, don’t be
surprised if some of your friends, say, ‘Hey, I saw The United Methodist
Church on TV!’ This is a great time to talk about our church and to invite
others.”
Touch on other plans the church may have for special invitational training
or opportunities.
E. Talk about our responsibilities to people who come to the church because
they see our advertising: “If we are inviting people, either face to face or
through advertising, they are guests. They may be strangers, but they are
guests nonetheless. We all need to think about how to treat them as
honored guests, just as if they were in our homes.”
F. Share your understanding of what it means to be welcoming and to show
hospitality by helping newcomers feel comfortable, and our obligation as
church members and Christians. (Refer to Bible verses and ideas from
chapters in this handbook.)
G. Explain, “Welcoming, extending hospitality and inviting are vital
ministries. These are all ways you can participate in the ministry of the
church. We invite and encourage you to be ministers of welcoming,
hospitality and invitation.”
II. Do we want to be welcoming? (45 minutes)

A. Do we want to grow? (10 minutes)
Through brainstorming, explore with the group what they’d imagine
would happen if the church were to have new people attending. Ask the
following, and write their responses on newsprint.
“What would it look like if we had new people attending? What would
6A.5 Appendix
it feel like? What would it sound like? How comfortable would I be with
this?”
B. Why do I want to invite people into God’s house? (15 minutes)
Have members complete handout 1 (page 6A.10):
(5 minutes)
• How does this church help me grow in my faith?
• Why do I attend this particular church?
• How would I describe this church?
• Why do I think other people might like this church?
• How would I want my guests to be treated?
Invite members to share their thoughts with the group. (10 minutes)
Record them on newsprint. Tape the sheets next to the visions. Summarize
the points they make.
C. What Do I Have to Share? (20 minutes)
Have members complete handout 2 (page 6A.11):
(10 minutes)
• When I was a stranger and someone/something helped me feel
comfortable, what was it that helped?
• When I was a stranger and I was ignored, how did I feel?
What did I need?
• How can I help others—whether they are strangers, invited guests or
members—feel comfortable and welcome?
• What are the personal gifts I bring to a ministry of welcoming and
hospitality?
• What is God calling me to offer to strangers?
Invite a member to briefly share a personal story about being welcomed.
Invite another member to share a personal story about not being helped to
feel comfortable.
Summarize by referring to their visions, their experiences with the church
and their stories about how it felt to be welcomed and to be ignored.
Ask, “Do we want to be a church that ignores strangers? Or do we want
to be a church that has a lifestyle of welcoming strangers and offering them
hospitality?”
Appendix 6A.6
III. Who needs what we have to offer? (10 minutes)

Brainstorm people (by groups, not specific individuals) in the community who
need what our church has to offer. In other words, who might be our guests?
Write the responses on newsprint.
IV. Here’s what we know . . . (15 minutes)
Say, “You have identified several types of people. Here’s what we know about
some of those groups in relation to the trends of today.”
Briefly go over the material in chapter 3 by highlighting the main points and
conclusions. (See supplementary training sessions in the handbook for more in-
depth treatment in some of these areas.)
V. Mystery Guest (10 minutes)

Explain, “As a church, we’ve looked into how we’re doing with some of those
folks. We invited individuals to come into our church and let us know how they
felt. This is the information we received.”
Highlight results from the Mystery Guest audits. After sharing the information,
you may want to point out discrepancies: “Gee, many of you described our church
as —————. I wonder why it seemed different to a stranger. How could being
welcoming and providing hospitality have made a difference?” You need not elicit
verbal responses, but rather let the group ponder the question.
VI. Do you want this church to develop a welcoming lifestyle?

(60 minutes)
Say, “I heard many of you say that you really would like for this church to
develop a lifestyle of welcoming and hospitality. If we’re developing a lifestyle, then
a few people on a hospitality committee can’t do it. We all have to be involved,
because otherwise we see it as someone else’s job even though we may be the only
person who notices the guest. Not to mention that we’ve missed a spiritual growth
opportunity for ourselves. And we definitely don’t want our church to be guilty of
false advertising!
“When visitors come to church, they are most likely uncomfortable. Questions
that are on their minds are like these: ‘What’s going to happen to me here?’ and ‘Is
there anyone here like me?’ (That is, ‘Is there anyone here to whom I can relate?’)
These are the vitally important questions we address when we are genuinely
welcoming and we extend hospitality because, if our guests are still uncomfortable
at the end of their first contact with us, they are less likely to return.
“But be aware that people are going to see through a surface or inauthentic meet
and greet. We have to take it many steps further and truly have an interest in the
newcomer, and be willing and able to see Christ in each person and know that they,
6A.7 Appendix
too, are a child of God.

“We can’t be the one congregation for all people, but we can offer Christian love
and concern when we are with the newcomer. Even if the person decides we don’t
offer what they want or need, they won’t go away feeling ignored if we have a true
spirit of welcoming and hospitality. We can be available to and accessible for people
while leaving the choice up to them.
“Studies indicate that visitors decide in the first 10 minutes whether or not they
are coming back to a church. That 10 minutes includes the way the guest is
welcomed, the aura for worship into which the person steps and the beginning of
the service.
“People are going to be attracted to our church if they can feel comfortable and
sense our excitement and expectancy that something good is about to happen. How
can we let our excitement about being in God’s house and in a relationship with God
show?”
Here are some ways we can start that process.
• Option: Show the video “Tale of Two Churches” or “Real Church TV” (available
in the training resources Beyond 30 Seconds: Developing a Welcoming
Congregation and the Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox) or choose a
different clip from one of the Igniting Ministry resources.
• Discuss how we see ourselves in the video – what could do to be better at
welcoming newcomers?
• Distribute the Friendliness Audit and Welcoming Conversations, handouts 3
and 4 (pages 6A.12–6A.14).
• Have individuals fill out the Friendliness Audit. Answers may be discussed or
kept private.
• Practice the welcoming conversations for the scenarios found on handouts 5
and 6. Give half of the group the first role-play (handout 5), and the other half
the second role-play (handout 6) to ensure “privacy” of the guest’s information
and motivations. It is up to the “members” to decide what information they
want and need; this exercise allows them to practice asking and listening to
guests. If there is time, switch partners after 20 minutes. One partner must have
handout 5. The other must have handout 6. Continue practicing.
Explain, “Sunday morning worship is only one of the activities in this church. No
matter where we are or what event we are involved in, as ministers of welcoming and
hospitality, we can exhibit this lifestyle in all situations.” (Use any examples of public
events sponsored by the church and other times church functions may bring
newcomers).
Appendix 6A.8
“How will we encourage newcomers to return? The church will follow up with
visitors, but we still need you to continue your welcoming and hospitality.
“Studies show that up to half of the people who join a church leave after six
months. New members who stay beyond that time average more than seven new
church friends during those first six months. Those who leave average fewer than
two. The reason most often given for leaving (in this study) was, ‘I did not feel part
of the group.’
“Is our goal merely to bring bodies to the church to share the work? If that’s
true, newcomers will sense they are being used, not served, and they will leave. It’s
up to us to continue to care and extend hospitality, and help them into meaningful
relationships with ourselves or with others to whom they can relate. This is how we
will all grow in our faith journey.”
VII. Individual Action Plan (10 minutes)

Ask: “What three things will you do to be more welcoming?” (Provide members
with a Comfort Checklist (appendix C4) and a list of activities they can be
involved in.)
• Share how to be more welcoming with the committees/classes/groups you are
involved in at the church.
• Be a “spotter”: look for people whose faces you don’t recognize and welcome
them.
• Volunteer to participate in one of the welcoming and hospitality ministry
opportunities.
Have them share at least one commitment with the person sitting next to them.
Suggest that each member agree to pray for that person as she/he puts the action plan
into practice.
Note: If you have members who want to focus on what the church needs to do
instead of what they themselves need to do, agree to take it to the appropriate
committee/person, but remind them that this training is to focus on what we as
individuals can do.
VIII. Closing (15 minutes)

• Ask what they learned. This helps stimulate others and pulls together the
session.
• Reread one of the Bible verses about welcoming strangers.
• Send them off with a benediction and commissioning as ministers of
welcoming and hospitality.
6A.9 Appendix
Handout 1
“Do I Want to Be Welcoming?”
Why do I want to invite people into God’s house?
Write the answers to the following questions.
1) How does this church help me grow in my faith?
2) Why do I attend this particular church?
3) How would I describe this church?
4) Why do I think other people might like this church?
5) How would I want my guests to be treated?
Appendix 6A.10 ©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church.
Handout 2
“Do I Want to Be Welcoming?”
What do I have to share?
Write the answers to the following questions.
1) When I was a stranger and someone/something helped me feel comfortable, what was it
that helped?
2) When I was a stranger and I was ignored, how did I feel? What did I need?
3) How can I help others—whether they are strangers, invited guests or members—
feel comfortable and welcome?
4) What are the personal gifts I bring to a ministry of welcoming and hospitality?
5) What is God calling me to offer to strangers?
©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church. Appendix 6A.11
Handout 3
Friendliness Audit
Sometimes we aren’t even aware of how we view people, either positively or
negatively. As a personal assessment of how welcoming you and your church already
are, put an O by the descriptions that best convey the people you would like to attend
your church, and put an X by the people you don’t think would receive a warm wel-
come at your church.
Female who is not fashionably dressed An overweight female

Hispanic Single male under 30
Articulate, well-educated person An interracial couple
Person mentally handicapped Person who sings in a monotone voice
Male with earring in one ear Retired persons
Someone especially talkative An overweight male
Lower-income male Lower-income female
Older female Middle Eastern
A smoker Musician
Bible reader Teacher
Person with cancer Native American
Single male over 30 New Ager
Single female over 30 Agnostic
Asian Political liberal
Family on public assistance Teenager
Unemployed male Immigrant
Person very quiet and meek Banker
Family with crying baby at worship service Person with bad breath
African-American Older single male
Unmarried pregnant teenager Homosexual or lesbian couple
Divorced female Non-English speaking person
Former felon Person with unkempt hair
Handicapped person in wheelchair Political conservative
Persons with hygiene problems Blended family
Couple living together, not married Charismatic
A recovering alcoholic Woman who dresses provocatively
Person testing HIV-positive Person who sings operatically
Adapted from Making Your Church More Inviting: A Step-by-Step Guide for In-Church Training by Roy M. Oswald.
Handout 4
Welcoming Conversations
B
eing a newcomer is similar to going to someone else’s family reunion. Everybody knows each
other, has histories and experiences in common, but we’re left standing on the edge—unless
someone approaches us to hear our stories and include us in the family.
To help someone new feel comfortable is to serve them. How you do this is not as important
as why, but the following are suggested techniques. You supply the “why,” and be assured that it
will be evident in the warmth of your smile and your tone.
Through an authentic welcome and hospitality, you can create a safe space for guests.
Be attuned to “story listening” rather than rushing into “story telling.” There can be plenty of time
to promote the church later if, first of all, the guest feels valued and respected for who they are,
where they are.
Enact the “circle of ten” rule. Anyone, member or guest, who comes within ten feet of you will
be greeted.
Also, consider adopting a “rule of three,” which says you will not talk to other “members” for
the first three minutes after the service. It takes guests about three minutes to exit the church after
worship, and you need to make sure someone has made contact with them before they leave.
Smile, offer your hand for a handshake. Some people are not comfortable with hugging, so
restrain yourself with newcomers. A light touch on the forearm may be a welcome gesture at the
end of the meeting.
Greet: Hello, I’m —————. And you are . . . ?
Assure: I’m so glad to meet you! (Even if the person is a member, don’t be
embarrassed. If you don’t know the person, chances are they don’t know you
either and would like to get acquainted.)
Show interest: Do you live close by? (As appropriate) What do you do for a living?
Serve: I’m so glad you came today. Is there any way I can help you?
Did you receive a guest card?
(Continued on next page.)
Connect: I’d like you to meet someone. Hello, Jackie, this is —————.
(Share one thing you learned about the person).
(Jackie responds with a similar process of greeting, assurance, interest.)
When I first attended this church, I found that I liked the —————
(class/group/program).
If you think that would also be interesting to you, I’d like for you to come.
(Introduce the person to someone who is currently attending that activity.)
Is there something specific you’d like to find in this church?
Commonality: I imagine you were nervous coming today, weren’t you?

Yes, I feel that way in unfamiliar situations, too.
(Or)
I felt that way, too, when I came for the first time.
Giving/receiving: Thank you for being here. I am glad I met you.

(This may sound like what the guest would say, but, indeed, it’s letting the
guest know that they gave you a gift by their presence.)
Closure: Good-bye. Come back again anytime. I’ve enjoyed meeting you.
I still have some other friends I’d like for you to meet. Here’s my church card.
Call me if you have any questions or just need to talk.
(A “church card” is like a business card, designed with the church name,
logo, address and phone number with a place for members to fill in their
own names and phone numbers, too.)
Handout 5
Welcoming Role-Play:
“I’m A Guest, and I Don’t Know
What’s Going to Happen Here!”
W
ith partners, one or two people role-play the guest(s), and another person role-plays the
welcoming member. Adapt the characters for your situation. Practice as many of the role-
plays as time allows—and until the member feels comfortable being welcoming. These
can take place before, during or after the church service. Set it up with your partner.
Guest(s): Decide upon a character. Before the role-play begins, don’t tell the member
anything about you other than gender and approximate age. It is up to the member to help you feel
welcome and comfortable. Share information with the member as you would feel necessary. Really
play the part! Give feedback to the member after the conversation. Did you begin to feel welcomed,
valued and respected?
Member: Use the Welcoming Conversations on page 6A.14 as a guideline. You may find it
necessary to discover information other than gender and age. Help your guest feel comfortable,
respected and valued for who she/he is, where he/she is in life.
Guest Characters
1) Male. Age 25. Single. Loves computers. Used to attend a United Methodist church with
his parents but quit when he was in high school. Is coming back because he’s feeling
depressed—feeling that something is missing in his life.
2) Frantic mother. Age 30. Has three children under the age of 6. She’s brought them into
the coffee hour and they’re trying to eat all the cookies on the plates. Mother has come to
church because she’s near her wit’s end. Her husband wants a divorce and she’s doing the
best she can to manage.
3) Homeless man. Indeterminate age. Has been on the street for several days without a bath
or clean clothes. Came to church looking for hope.
4) Couple. Early 20s. Newly married. They just moved to town. They’re looking for a
church like the one they left in their hometown.
5) Two women. Early 40s. They’re going to be in town for an extended period of time but
only temporarily. They’re musicians and often have gigs on the weekends, either in or
out of town. They’re looking for a place where they can enrich their spiritual journeys.
6) College student. Age 18. Is in an alcohol recovery program and looking for an alternative
to typical college life of partying.
7) Retired farmer. Male. In his 60s. Used to attend church but quit 15 years ago over a
dispute with the pastor. Now that his wife has died and his kids have moved away, he’s
searching for meaning.
Handout 6
Welcoming Role-Play:
“I’m A Guest, and I Don’t Know
What’s Going to Happen Here!”
W
ith partners, one or two people role-play the guest(s), and another person role-plays the
welcoming member. Adapt the characters for your situation. Practice as many of the role-
plays as time allows—and until the member feels comfortable being welcoming. These
can take place before, during or after the church service. Set it up with your partner.
Guest(s): Decide upon a character. Before the role-play begins, don’t tell the member
anything about you other than gender and approximate age. It is up to the member to help you feel
welcome and comfortable. Share information with the member as you would feel necessary. Really
play the part! Give feedback to the member after the conversation. Did you begin to feel welcomed,
valued and respected?
Member: Use the Welcoming Conversations on page 6A.14 as a guideline. You may find it
necessary to discover information other than gender and age. Help your guest feel comfortable,
respected and valued for who she/he is, where he/she is in life.
Guest Characters
1) Girl and boy. Ages 10 and 12. Brother and sister. Dad has dropped them off at church.
They’re new in town and sometimes went to Sunday school where they lived previously
but have never been here before.
2) Asian woman. Age 20. An immigrant. She speaks English but not very fluently. She
works as a maid at a local motel but hopes to save enough money to go to college. She
attended church in Korea, her native land, but this is only the second time she’s attended
a church in the United States.
3) Male and female. Ages 32 and 35. They each have a career, they have money, a nice car, a
nice home, and a baby. This is the first time they’ve come here. They’re shopping for a
church that will meet their needs. They’ve tried out several churches already.
4) Punk-rocker male. Age 17. Pink hair, tattoos, work boots and numerous pierced body
parts. A Christian. Into spirituality. Spends a lot of time on the streets but still lives with
his parents. Saw the ad about The United Methodist Church on television and thought
he and a friend would check it out. Is he impressed so far?
5) Woman. In her 70s. Doesn’t seem friendly. Very wealthy. Wants companionship but
doesn’t know how to get it. Uses her money to get things her way. This is the second time
she’s visited this church.
6) Male. Late 20s. Rancher. Doesn’t see the point of church. Is only coming today to make
his fiancée happy. In his family of origin, his father never went to church but his mother
did when she could. He supposes that’s the way it’s going to be with him, too.
A2: Inviting 101 This appendix is referenced

in the introduction, as well
Basic Training as chapters 2 and 3.

This training is intended to help members of the congregation
• explore whatever barriers may be in the way of inviting,
• consider new ways of thinking about and practicing inviting,
• become comfortable with inviting through role playing.
Preparation
1. Pray for guidance.
2. Consider how members of the congregation will learn about being inviting
and what they will need to become ministers of invitation and ultimately to
develop a culture of invitation.
Ask yourself,
• Who are the “audiences” in the congregation?
• What will motivate each of the audiences?
• How do they prefer to learn?
Members will need to know:
What? (We want members to invite others to participate in our church.)
Why? (The ultimate purpose is to introduce people to a relationship with
Jesus Christ and the community of faith. Much of the population has no
religious affiliation, and many are looking for some spiritual connection
and community.)
How? (Through prayer and some form of personal invitation.)
When? (Initially, to be determined. After practice, always.)
Where? (Let God guide you.)
Design the training to fit your local church. If you have teachers in your
congregation, have them identify the various learning methods of differently
aged students.
6A.17 Appendix
What You Will Need for This Training

• Copies of the definitions for evangelism provided on page 2.3
• A copy of the explanation of the FRAN plan on page 2.4 (for trainer’s
reference)
• Copies of appendix B7, Tools to Personally Invite Guests
Room Setup
• Depending upon the number of people in the session, arrange chairs and tables
either classroom style (for a large group) or in a horseshoe (for a small group).
• Hang “Welcome!” banners around the room (ones you either make or
purchase).
• Have “Welcome, we’re glad you’re here!” signs directing people to the room.
• Make the room as cheery as possible.
• Have music playing in the room as people enter.
• Model welcoming behavior by having at least one person at each door
welcoming every guest and instructing them what to do, where to sit, etc. (Your
class is going to be asking the same questions that strangers will be asking when
they visit your church: “What’s going to happen to me here? Is there anyone
here like me?”)
• Use the Comfort Checklist (appendix C4) to evaluate the surroundings for this
training. You will want to make your members as comfortable as possible.
• Make sure you, the facilitators, connect with each person in the room. Model
everything you will be teaching.
• Consider using an icebreaker activity while waiting for everyone to arrive.
The Training Session (1–2 hours)

1. Open your session by reading the testimony at the beginning of chapter 2, or
by relating a personal story.
Ask, “What strikes you about this story?” and use their answers to move
into the following discussion points:
• How did you decide to come to this church? Were you invited?
• Do you invite people to activities with you? For example, sports, kids’
games? Why do you ask another person to join you? What do you say to
convince them to go?
• What kind of a “personality” do you think this church has? Happy?
Appendix 6A.18
Mission-minded?
• What do you like about this church?
• Name one thing you feel you’ve gained by attending this church.
• Why do you think most people find it so difficult to invite people to
church?
2. Have the group share its thoughts about . . .
• What are people looking for? Our church probably hasn’t been doing a
very good job of thinking about what others need. If we are like many,
many churches, we’ve been thinking more about what we want people
to hear and what we have to give than what they need.
• What is the commitment our church has to inviting and discipling?
3. Provide them with the definitions of evangelism suggested on page 2.3.
Ask them which one they like best. Invite them to use it for a week as
their “motto.”
4. Explain the FRAN plan (from page 2.4), or the adaptation the church will be
using. Suggest what a prayer for another person and one for themselves
would sound like as they look for opportunities to be inviting. Ask them to
write down the name of at least one person they plan to invite.
5. Describe the many ways they can invite others (personal, printed, etc.). Refer
to the Tools to Personally Invite Guests (appendix B7). Ask which one they
would feel most comfortable using for the first time.
6. Practice! Role-playing will help members gain confidence. Help the group
build on the ideas they shared about why they like the church, what they’re
excited about and what they would say to a friend.
The important elements in an invitation include
• Recognizing the other person’s situation
• Expressing your feelings
• Identifying what they will gain from it
• Offering to drive to the service together. If the invitation is for worship,
invite them for a meal afterward.
Here are some sample scenarios. Use these, make up your own or use
situations that are real to the individuals in the group. For practicing with
people in crisis situations, help the group express compassion and empathy.
• Personal Crisis. Jack, I know you are going through a lot of personal
6A.19 Appendix
hell right now. Whenever I’ve had some type of personal crisis, I have
usually gotten something out of my participation in my church. One of
these Sundays, come with me to worship. You are warmly welcomed.
I’d be happy to pick you up.
• Parenting. LaTosha, what great children you have. It’s so scary raising
kids. I feel like I need all the help I can get. Fortunately, our church is
doing some great things with kids. Why don’t you bring them to our
“Kids Only” meeting on Sunday nights?
• Singles. Joe, what are you doing Saturday night? My church has a very
active singles group and we are all going to the comedy club. Would you
like to come? I’ll pick you up and you can go with me.
• Grief. Helen, I know how much you miss Charles. You don’t have to go
through this alone. As a matter of fact, our church has a grief recovery
program led by our pastor. Would you like more information? They
meet each Thursday.
• Youth. Jason, we’re having a Christian rock concert at my church.
I’d really like you to go with me. I have some friends I’d like
you to meet.
7. Ask people to identify one thing they learned during the session.
8. As an option to conclude the session, consider showing a TV spot from
www.MediaWarehouse.org or a training video that focuses on inviting. Two
good choices from Beyond 30 Seconds: Developing a Welcoming Congregation
and the Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox are “The Perfect Moment” and
“Out of the Box Ideas” – both focus on inviting out in the community.
Appendix 6A.20
A3: Helping Guests Feel Welcome This appendix is

referenced in the
Supplementary Session introduction, as well
as chapters 1 and 3.

1. Consider how members of the congregation will learn about becoming
ministers of welcoming and, ultimately, develop a culture of welcoming.
Keep in mind:
• Members may believe they are welcoming because they are friendly to
each other.
• Members may believe the church is welcoming because they have
grown tolerant of the building’s shortcomings.
• Members may find focusing on the welcoming needs of the building
easier or safer than looking at the welcoming atmosphere of the people.
2. Consider, “What are the barriers to being welcoming? What are the payoffs
for the congregation, ministry, church and denomination?”
Members will need to know:
• What? (We want members to explore how a welcoming ministry would
look and feel in our church.)
• Why? (The church is participating in advertising and welcoming
ministry and there will be guests coming to God’s house. We want to be
ready.)
• How? (Through prayer and personal commitment.)
• When? (Beginning now.)
• Where? (In God’s house and our hearts.)
Training Session Suggestions

1. Make copies of Laura’s story from page 1.1 or use other true stories of guests.
Distribute copies for members to follow along as a member of the group
reads to them.
After reading the experience or relating a personal one, ask: “What
strikes you about this story?” Use their answers to move into the following
discussion points:
• How does our church compare to the one in Laura’s experience?
(signage, parking, landscape, building)
6A.21 Appendix
• Has anyone had a similar experience in a different church?

• How do you think you would feel if Laura came to worship with us?
• Name one thing each of us could do to make our church feel more
welcoming to guests.
• Why do you think people find it so difficult to be welcoming to guests?
2. Share the following information:
“It’s difficult to break into a community when everyone is comfortable
with their own routines and their own acquaintances.
“In Laura’s case, the church had a tremendous opportunity for growth:
People moving into the area, families looking forward to new experiences.
Some were moving in from the country to the first new and nice house they
had owned, and probably were experiencing the stress that goes along with
becoming successful. And the majority of them were unchurched Christians.
“At least a couple of the longtime members were on the right track by
being welcoming, but the rest of the body language said this church didn’t
want anyone new. It said there wasn’t room for outsiders. A newcomer had to
be persistent to make it in this church.
“United Methodists around the United States report similar experiences
as they visit United Methodist churches, looking for a new church home.”
3. Ask, “Why do some congregations make it so difficult to feel welcome?”
Some of the reasons may be
• lack of recognition of the need to be welcoming
• churchgoers don’t understand how to be truly welcoming
• misconception that being friendly to each other is the same as being
friendly to others
• members have the attitude that others can/should/will do it
• indifference, and
• underlying fear of change
Put the list of reasons generated by the group on a large piece of paper.
After the list is complete, ask members to develop a solution to the problem
they have just identified. Ask for a call to action and determine, among the
members, how to know when you reach your goals and meet your
expectations.
Appendix 6A.22
A4: Creating a Comfortable Climate This appendix is

referenced in the
Supplementary Session introduction and
chapter 3.
enerally, people make up their minds about the church during the first 10
G minutes of contact. First impressions are lasting ones. Long before the pastor
preaches, people most often will have decided if they plan to return.

1. To help different members of the congregation identify how they can be
involved in a welcoming ministry by creating a comfortable climate.
2. To help members consider what the barriers are to a welcoming ministry and
what the benefits are for the congregation, ministry, church and
denomination of having a welcoming culture.
Keep in mind:
• Members will explore possible variables we control when making guests
feel welcome in God’s house.
• Members may believe the church has limitations of age or size.
Limitations are often set by comparing the resources others have to
what we don’t have. Being realistic and creative is crucial.
• Members may find focusing on the welcoming needs of the building
easier or safer than looking at the welcoming atmosphere of the people.
Again address the need for the total atmosphere to be welcoming.

1. Using the Comfort Checklist (appendix C4), share the list or parts of the list
with your group. Using the information gained from the list, focus members
on a discussion around the following questions:
• What do I feel positive about in our welcoming ministry?
• What areas do I feel could be improved?
• How does the building offer hospitality or welcome?
• How does the sanctuary offer hospitality or welcome?
• What would I be willing to do to make our church and/or
congregation more welcoming?
6A.23 Appendix
2. Using the Walk-through Assessment (appendix C5), take a tour of your

building(s). Invite members (including youth) to do this inspection. You also
may want to have someone who has never been in the church building go too,
to “see” more clearly. Sometimes when we have been in a church, we get used
to what is around and become “blind” to the real surroundings.
Appendix 6A.24
A5: Getting to Know the Unchurched This appendix is

referenced in the
Supplementary Session introduction, as well
as chapters 1 and 3.

The goals of this session are
• to help members become more sensitive to the unchurched,
• to identify potential guests,
• to become more welcoming toward the unchurched.

1. Make copies of the following two examples of unchurched individuals. Have
members read the information, then ask, “Why do you think these people
are unchurched?” and “Who are the unchurched?”
Devon, 31, doesn’t attend church. He lives in a large metropolitan area,
although he could also be living in a small community and driving to work in
a larger community or telecommuting from his home. He lives in a climate-
controlled townhouse with all the latest gadgets, including a home gym and a
home theater system. He uses a personal computer and surfs the Internet every
day, sometimes playing music from radio stations from other countries on his
computer. He shops online and goes to a variety of Web sites that deal with
some form of spirituality. His advanced digital television system allows him to
watch multiple television programs at once and even rewind one if he wants to
see it again. He values spirituality—oneness with the Universe—and strives to
be a good person. He spends free time, particularly weekends, hiking in the
mountains or sailing. Devon is divorced. He has been living with the woman he
loves for four years.
Beatrice lives in a small rural community, although she could be living in

an inner city. Like Devon, she doesn’t go to church. She quit school when she
was 13 because she was pregnant and saw no reason for an education anyway.
None of her friends and no one in her family attended school beyond the 12th
grade. Beatrice has been married three times, and sometimes she lives with a
man. She tries to be a good person and mother, although sometimes it’s hard
because of her addictions. She lives on welfare, which is why she lives in this
small rural community; it’s less expensive than living in town 15 miles away. A
lot of people on welfare are moving into the community for the same reason.
6A.25 Appendix
Sometimes the men she dates are abusive. She isn’t about to let them touch her
kids, though. She wishes things were different, but she doesn’t know how to
change them. A person has to fend for herself, she believes.
2. Share the following list and discuss how a welcoming/inviting ministry could
meet some of these needs.
Newcomers may be
• your own children

• your neighbors
• your friends and coworkers
• the poor or the marginalized
• Christians who recently moved into town
• immigrants to this country who have not found the same religious
affiliation in this country
• college students
• people with absolutely no church experience
• people who feel disenfranchised by the church
3. Ask, “Whom do you know in this community and neighborhood who are
unchurched? Can you see Christ in them even if they don’t go to church?”
4. Have participants express ways the climate of hospitality that exists in the
church could affect newcomers’ attitudes and experiences. List them on paper.
5. Ask each participant to relate how he or she could participate in helping
make a difference in the attitudes listed above.
6. Encourage every person to share at least one thing he or she sees could be
done.
7. As an option to conclude the session, consider playing a radio spot from
www.MediaWarehouse.org or from one of the Expression Package CDs or
DVDs. Remind the participants that the radio spots may touch seekers
enough to motivate them to come to church and we need to be ready to
welcome them.
Appendix 6A.26
A6: Why We Need to Reach Out, This appendix is

referenced in the
or “It Used to Be So Easy!” introduction, as well
as chapter 3.
Supplementary Session
This training is intended to help members of the congregation
• understand transitions that have been occurring during the last
several years
• identify how the church can best respond to these transitions.

1. Review the goals and elements of Igniting Ministry
(see Introduction, pages xi–xiv).
2. Invite members to think about what gas stations were like 30 years ago. What
are they like today? What about grocery stores? Hardware stores? What other
major changes have taken place in 30 years?
The point is that circumstances and outlooks have changed, and so has
the approach to church.
3. Some members may need to understand the transition that has occurred
over the past 30 years and has created the need for intentionally inviting and
welcoming people. Review the following, which is largely based on Dr. Alan
C. Klaas’ research on the attitudes of laypeople toward their churches,
religious institutions and ministry in general (In Search of the Unchurched,
2–12).
Transitions Over the Last 30 Years

• We have shifted from being a churched society to an unchurched society.
Theology scholars say the transition to a “post-Christendom era” began in
the 1970s or 1980s.
• People have less loyalty to denominations. Until about 30 years ago,
denominations were growing. If parents belonged to a certain
denomination, the children would seek out the same one even if they
moved to another town or city. In fact, they might even have chosen the
location of their home to be close by their church. The new reality is that
people join congregations, not denominations.
• Congregations have different purposes. If Lou and Emma were not
6A.27 Appendix
members of any congregation, it was assumed they lacked faith in Christ. If

they fit in with the members of a church they visited, they could join.
Congregations did not have a responsibility to help them fit in.
Congregations in the unchurched society modify their definition of
themselves and work hard to reach beyond their current members.
• Different people do the mission work. In the churched society,
professionals did the mission work. In the unchurched society,
congregations function as if they are on a mission field and believe
everyone is involved in the mission work of the congregation.
• Communication systems are changing. Prior to the mid 1980s,
communication was basically a paper-bound process. With current
technology, communicating the power of a ministry no longer requires
someone from the formal church structure to carry the message to those
who might support that ministry.
• The mission field has moved. At one time, “mission” meant bringing
people in foreign countries to Christ. Today, any congregation functioning
in our unchurched society can see itself as a mission outpost in a mission
field. The Western world is once again a mission field.
To be a mission outpost means that we need to speak to the people in
our community in a different way, just like we would in a foreign country.
The vocabulary we use, the way we worship and the music we play must
connect with people outside our church walls. We’re not going to ask you to
lose everything that’s important to you at this church, but we will be
seeking ways to help others understand what we’re saying.
5. Discuss the following:
• How can this church be an effective mission outpost?
• What are this church’s strengths?
• What might we need to change?
• What did the Mystery Guest Audit (appendix C2) say about our
welcoming?
6. Have each member identify one activity they would be willing to do or think
about during the month to better reflect the transition from a Christendom era
and to address the need for churches to be mission outposts.
Appendix 6A.28
Instructions and Samples

B
If only I may finish my course and the ministry
that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the
good news of God’s grace.
A C T S 2 0 : 2 4
B1: Responsibilities of the This appendix is referenced

in the introduction and
Welcoming Coordinator appendix C1.
and Team
The Welcoming Coordinator
Primary tasks: 1) To address the needs and concerns of newcomers so they are
nurtured and given the opportunity and encouragement to grow in their spiritual
lives, and 2) to develop and maintain a welcoming environment within the local
church.
Objectives: 1) A welcoming team will be established with any or all of the following:
greeters, ushers, council on ministries chairperson, lay leader, nursery worker,
trustee(s) and custodian; members of committees on evangelism, membership
care, outreach, shepherding, United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women,
and United Methodist Youth; this includes representatives of each age group:
senior, adult, young adult and youth. 2) An environment will be provided where
newcomers can
• have enhanced worship experiences
• feel a sense of belonging in the body of Christ
• easily find their way around the church
• be instructed on what it is to be a United Methodist
• be assimilated into the life of the church
Training: The welcoming coordinator is not a job mandated by The Book of Discipline
of The United Methodist Church. Therefore, there are no detailed district workshops
for this ministry. However, in addition to the training offered in this handbook,
United Methodist Communications offers many training options. Check appendix
6A of this handbook to explore those opportunities.
6B.1 Appendix
Responsibilities of the Welcoming Coordinator and Team

• Work closely with the evangelism (or similar) committee and their
invitational and visitation programs, keeping up to date on people who
have been visited in advance of attending church.
• Plan newcomer get-togethers.
Responsibilities of the Welcoming Team Chairperson

(Note: This may or may not be the same person as the welcoming coordinator.)
• Guide the work of this team during the year, plan agendas and preside at
meetings.
• Participate in and support the work of the church council.
• Participate in training experiences when they are available.
Getting Started
Once the church has a welcoming coordinator and/or chairperson and team
assembled, gather to reflect for a moment on the following questions. Your responses
will help you think about the people of your community (including your
congregation) and how your congregation’s ministry of welcoming might serve them
best. You may want to discuss these questions with others in your congregation,
community and other denominations.
Questions to Guide the Welcoming Team

1. What three concerns and what three hopes do people in our church have
about their community and their faith?
2. How do these relate to living as Christian disciples and good neighbors?
3. What three experiences might help people understand more about how the
Bible and the Christian faith can be resources for daily living?
4. How could the quality of life be improved for at least one specific group of
people in our community?
5. What existing or new welcoming ministries should our congregation sponsor
for these people?
Our vision or hope for our congregation’s welcoming ministries:
(Continued next page.)
Appendix 6B.2
During this year, we will take the following steps toward making our vision a
reality:
After you have established a plan based on your responses, evaluate your
progress monthly: “What is working well? Where are the gaps? What could we do
better?”
B2: Responsibilities of the This appendix is referenced

in the introduction and
Media Coordinator chapter 5.
The Media Coordinator

Primary tasks: 1) To develop and implement a media plan that reflects the purpose
and objectives of your church, 2) to guide the Igniting Ministry team in choosing
campaign expressions and 3) to coordinate with neighboring United Methodist
churches, if possible, on choosing an expression and in “pooling” advertising
dollars.
Objectives: 1) A cohesive message about United Methodists will be delivered to the
target audience by using advertising and promotion coordinated with the
national Igniting Ministry campaign and 2) positive awareness of your church
(or churches, if a joint effort with other congregations is undertaken) will be
increased among targeted groups in the community.
Training: The media coordinator is not a job mandated by The Book of Discipline of
The United Methodist Church. Therefore, there are no detailed district workshops
for this ministry. However, in addition to the training offered in this handbook,
United Methodist Communications offers many training options. Check page xv
or Appendix 6A of this handbook to explore those opportunities.
6B.3 Appendix
B3: Conducting Listening Groups This appendix is

referenced in chapter 1.
L
istening groups serve to air people’s thoughts about a particular subject.
Participants voice opinions and, more important, hear what others have to say.
To conduct a listening group, identify people who can act as facilitators for con-
versations pertaining to opening the doors of the church to new people. These leaders
must have the trust of those participating in the listening groups, be able to ask ques-
tions, listen to the answers, restate and clarify the responses if necessary and record the
responses. Although you may consider using a tape recorder, this could be intimidat-
ing to some members of the group.
Groups of no more than 10 people are recommended. The listening sessions could
take up to 90 minutes. Set a time limit, and do not exceed it.
As you think about forming the groups, consider the personal dynamics that
might inhibit everyone from participating, and plan accordingly. A listening group
should help stimulate conversation, and people will give opinions and expand upon
them as members of the group talk.
Have the facilitators start by explaining why this type of research is being con-
ducted. (Every church’s motivation may be different.)
Consider Asking These Questions

• What do you like about attending this church?
• Why do you think other people in the neighborhood, who don’t go to any
church, don’t come here?
• Who are those people, do you think?
• Talk about the first time you came to this church. Why did you come?
What made it worth coming back to this church?
• If new people in the neighborhood came to church, how would you help them
feel welcome?
• When you see someone in church you haven’t seen before, what do you do?
• How do you think we could get more people to participate with this church?
• Why do you think it’s difficult for people to invite friends and other
acquaintances to church?
Appendix 6B.4
B4: Sample Questionnaire This appendix is

Dear Church Member,
We will soon be participating in an advertising ministry that will help us draw

people to United Methodist churches. But first, we need to get ready to welcome
guests—and we would like your help in identifying where we can do an even better job
of reaching out to people who are not currently attending a church or who are seek-
ing a new church home. Please take a few minutes to fill out this questionnaire and
mail it back to us within the next five days. We will be using members’ feedback in
congregational training sessions during the coming months. Thank you!
1. What do you like about this church?
2. Why do you think other people in the neighborhood, who don’t go to any
church, don’t come here? (Circle all that apply.)
a. They don’t know we’re here.
b. They don’t like going to church.
c. They’re not United Methodists.
d. No one has invited them.
e. They don’t have time.
f. Other (please specify).
In what ways can we help them feel welcome?
How do you think we could get more people to attend this church?
(Continued on next page.)
6B.5 Appendix
3. Why do you think it’s difficult for people to invite friends and other
acquaintances to church?
I am ❑ female ❑ male
My age is I have children in the following age

❑ under 20 brackets:
❑ 20–29 ❑ 0–2 years
❑ 30–40 ❑ 3–5 years
❑ 41–50 ❑ 6–8 years
❑ over 50 ❑ 9–12 years
I have been a member of this church ❑ 13–15 years
❑ less than a year ❑ 16–18 years
❑ 1–2 years ❑ I have no children
❑ 3–4 years ❑ I have children over 18
❑ 5 or more years
On average, I attend church
I am
❑ nearly every service
❑ married
❑ once a week
❑ single
❑ once a month
❑ divorced
❑ several times a year
❑ widowed
Appendix 6B.6
B5: Clear Communication, or This appendix is

referenced in
“How to Speak Non-Jargonese” chapters 1 and 4.
M
ost people in the pews don’t know much about The United Methodist Church
beyond their own congregation, so communicating how your church fits with
the national advertising campaign will be important. To say that the
denomination will be placing ads on national TV may create some questions and
confusion. You may choose to explain it to adults like this.
“There are 36,000 United Methodist churches in the United States. There is no
one person who makes decisions for those 36,000 churches. Nor is there one person
who speaks for the Church. Instead, The United Methodist Church uses what we
call ‘general agencies’ within the church that make sure things get done for the
benefit of all of us. For example, the agency that sends out missionaries is the
General Board of Global Ministries. It’s located in New York. The agency that wants
to help us, the local churches, tell our story is United Methodist Communications,
located in Nashville, Tennessee. The agency that produces resources for evangelism,
worship, stewardship and Christian education is the General Board of Discipleship.
In addition, there is another body of which we are all members. It’s called the
—————Annual Conference. It performs administrative duties, such as
receiving and sending money to and from the local churches, making plans for
camps and other ministries and providing help for all the churches in the annual
conference—which we couldn’t necessarily do by ourselves.
“One of the ways the conference and the general church want to help us is by
providing advertising that will tell people who we are as United Methodists. So, two
or three times a year, they place ads on national cable television stations. We
estimate that 65 million people see those ads each flight. Research has shown that
the ads make people curious about The United Methodist Church.
“But we know that advertising at the national level alone is not going to bring
lots of people to this church. And it’s not going to make disciples. That’s why the
communications agency of the church and our annual conference is offering us an
opportunity to partner with them, to reach out in the name of Christ to our
brothers and sisters who are not members of this church. We have an extensive
opportunity, unlike we’ve had before, to participate in getting our message of the
gospel out into our community, our state and the United States. Isn’t that glorious?
We want you to be part of the effort.
“We will be putting special ads [tell your congreagtions plans here]. These are
some of the ways we are going to be raising awareness of our church and
encouraging people to give us a try.
6B.7 Appendix
“And, more than anything, we need you to help this church be all that it can be—
all that God would like for it to be—by welcoming newcomers into this space and
into our hearts. For the next several weeks, we are going to look at strategies we can
use to invite people here, and at how this church can welcome newcomers and
encourage them into a Christian life.”
B6: Ongoing Welcoming and This appendix is

referenced in chapter 1
Hospitality Ministry Opportunities and in appendix C4.
C
onsider the first 10 minutes of contact someone has with the church—and the
welcoming and hospitality ministries that can take place from the street to the
parking lot . . . from the parking lot to the door . . . from the door to the
sanctuary (or other places) . . . from wherever he or she is in the church to wherever
he or she needs to go . . . from that place to the door . . . from the door to the parking
lot . . . from the parking lot to the street.
Directing Traffic
• “Travel From the Parking Lot to the Coffeepot and Back” could be the title of
an entire committee. Considering how many decisions someone will need to
make just to get to our church, it will be helpful if we keep the rest of the
journey as easy as possible.
• Employ signs at every juncture to assist people in finding parking and
identifying pickup curbs, restrooms, child care, classrooms and fellowship hall.
Consider having youth make the signs that express welcome or directions to
special classes.
• Let the youth have bulletin boards where they can post items that show they
are a part of the life of the church.
• Greeters in the form of “traffic directors” can be stationed in the parking lot
and in high-traffic halls (or in confusing corridors) to assist guests.
• Large churches may want to consider making small, simple floor plans
available with the order of worship.
Appendix 6B.8
Greeters
Position enthusiastic greeters at the front door and ask them to remain for a few
minutes after the service has begun for any latecomers who need to be greeted.
Experienced greeters are able to recognize visitors by their body language and
unfamiliar faces, and are prepared to respond to their needs and questions. Each
greeter is trained to offer simple directions about seating, the order of worship and
Bibles or hymnals used in the service. This personal touch and anticipation of needs
is powerful.
Having greeters of all ages who are dedicated to serving visitors will deliver the
message that our church is truly a welcoming place. The greeter’s responsibility does
not end with shuffling people off to the pews. Greeters can make sure no one is alone
any more than they want to be, which may include sitting with them during the
service. Greeters make every guest in God’s house feel welcome and appreciated.
The greeter provides newcomers a visitor’s card and any literature about the
church (brochure, a current newsletter and flyers about upcoming events). Many
churches have a visitor’s packet. This gives visitors something to do while they wait for
the service to begin and may spark an interest in an activity.
Ushers
People with warm personalities and the gift of hospitality belong in this ministry.
The usher is the host to each visitor. Besides greeting newcomers and handing them
the order of worship or other information, helping them find a seat to their liking can
also be helpful, especially if there is a large crowd. An excellent strategy is for the usher
to position the guest(s) near another couple or single in their age range and introduce
them.
All Members of the Congregation

Greet each other. Be especially aware of newcomers. Enact the “circle of 10” rule:
Anyone, member or guest, who comes within 10 feet of you will be greeted.
Also consider adopting a “rule of three,” which says you will not talk to other
members for the first three minutes after the service. It takes guests about three
minutes to exit the church after worship, and you need to make sure someone has
made contact with them before they leave.
Expect that guests are feeling uncomfortable about what’s going to happen in the
worship service. Provide assistance.
6B.9 Appendix
Fellowship Time
Use greeters for this time also. Make sure that the people pouring coffee and
arranging refreshments know they are ministers of welcome.
With guests in the house, the fellowship time is a good time for members to enact
the “rule of three” already explained. In addition to talking with friends, be sure to
invite into a conversation strangers and other people standing alone.
A brief reception with light refreshments following the worship service provides an
informal time of fellowship for the pastor and others to get acquainted with first-time
attendees. This also sends a message that the church appreciates the effort the
newcomer made to come to the service.
Personalized Notes
Members can send personalized notes thanking people for visiting and letting
them know that the congregation enjoyed their visit and would enjoy having them
return.
Letters written by the pastor or the welcoming ministry team can express thanks
for sharing our spiritual journey and outlining other programs in which the guest may
be interested.
Member Phone Calls

If guests marked that they would like someone to call them, members can do this
early in the week. Train a number of people to make friendly phone calls to guests to
thank them for coming and to answer any questions they might have about the church.
Without appearing to pry, this team can also find out vital information (such as
spiritual needs and impressions of the church). Whenever possible, callers should be
matched with guests with regard to general age group and marital status. The reason
for the call is to say, “We’re interested in you.”
Mailings
Place guests’ names on your mailing list, but not for appeals for money. Send them
information on services and programs.
Remind members frequently that welcoming is a priority for this church. The
number one reason people join churches is that they feel a sense of belonging. They
feel important, wanted, loved. Don’t assume someone else will greet the guests. You
may be the only one who noticed them. When several people greet the guests, a caring
lifestyle shows.
Appendix 6B.10
B7: Tools to Personally This appendix is

referenced in chapter 2,
Invite Guests and appendix A2.
Personal invitations are one of the most effective tools for reaching and
influencing others. Choose a variety of complementary methods, such as face-to-face
contact and business cards.
On all the pieces, be sure to include the church location and worship times, any
identifying phrase you use for your church or one from the “Open hearts” collaterals,
the name of the pastor and lay leader and a phone number, e-mail address and Web
site.
(To use other media to reinforce personal invitations through advertising, see
Part II of this handbook.)
Starter Ideas for Personal Invitation Ministry

1. Face-to-face invitations. Think about what you would say if you were
inviting this person to your home. (Remember, it’s easier if you have been
praying for this person and for yourself to be inviting.)
2. Printed invitations with a special note from the sender.
3. Telephone call.
4. Church “business cards” with location and worship times, which members
can use to invite friends, colleagues and relatives.
5. Children’s artwork (perhaps made into postcards) with a personal note.
6. Card system at Christmas and Easter. Distribute blank 3-by-5 cards to the
congregation. Have them write names and addresses on each card so the
church might send people a written invitation for a special Christmas or
Easter service.
7. Personal delivery of invitation. This idea is similar to the one above except
that the church member hand-delivers the invitation to the friend, relative,
neighbor or acquaintance.
8. Open House Sunday with dinner is an incentive for members to invite
guests who are unchurched.
9. Good News dinner. Dinners take place in the homes of members, for their
friends and neighbors. This provides a time to share the missions and
fellowship.
6B.11 Appendix
10. Special recognition Sundays. A “Teacher Appreciation Sunday,” which invites

all of the teachers at the local schools, both private and public, is an example.
You can do the same for any public official—police officers, fire fighters, etc.
11. Award Sunday. Recognition for achievements in sports, school, volunteer
activities; this would include kids and youth.
12. Welcoming weekend. Members and guests participate in planned activities
throughout the weekend, such as Bible study (short sessions), musical
concert, invited speaker, special interest groups. The weekend builds toward a
Sunday worship service.
13. United Methodist Open House Month (September). Take special care to
invite people during this month. It’s an important time of year for people to
add church-going into their lives. It is also “National Neighborhood Day” to
celebrate communitites and get to know our church’s neighbors. Visit
www.neighborhoodday.org for more information about Neighborhood Day
and www.IgnitingMinistry.org for Open House ideas.
Appendix 6B.12
B8: Worship Liturgies This appendix is referenced

in chapters 3 and 5.
he resources provided here can be used as worship texts or as starters to stimulate
T the development of your worship resources. All of them should be carefully

selected and appropriately adapted for use in your church’s setting. These
resources represent varied liturgical styles. No single church will find all of the
resources useful.
While there are some “performance” suggestions included with these resources,
each planner will need to consider basic performance issues, such as pace and pauses,
silence before and after prayer, whether to print the texts in bulletins or to use these
resources in a spoken context, and other considerations.
Calls to Worship/Greetings
For use at the beginning of the worship service
1. The love and peace of Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Once we were strangers with no hope and without God in the world.
Here Christ gathers us to share as the household of God.
Thanks be to God.
(based on Ephesians 2)
2. God, the Holy One, gathers us, saying:
“I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
In the name of the God who gathers us,
let us welcome each other.
In the name of the God who illuminates and feeds us,
let us give ourselves to the Word proclaimed and shared.
In the name of the God who sends us,
let us rest in God that we may go in the power of the Spirit.
3. In the name of the Father, who loves us, we open our hearts.
In the name of Jesus Christ, who gathers us, we open our minds.
In the name of the Holy Spirit, who stirs our imaginations, we open our
doors to the God who dwells among us.
(A hymn or song of praise and gathering would be appropriate following this call to worship.)
6B.13 Appendix
4. The love and peace of Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.
The risen Christ is with us!
Thanks be to God.
(adapted from The United Methodist Hymnal and The United Methodist Book of Worship)
5. Hail! Lord Jesus, risen from the dead!

Hail! dawn treader and death defier!
Hail! tomb opener and stone roller!
Hail! blessed triune God. We delight to give ourselves to you
in the mystery of your mercy and presence.
6. Lord, open our lips,

and we shall declare your praise.
Open wide our hearts,
and we will see and hear and bless one another
in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.
See also the following texts that may be adapted as greetings or used as calls to
worship: Psalm 118:19, Psalm 139:3–23, Jeremiah 29:13 and Ezekiel 37:13.
Using a concordance or an electronic Bible search tool, create your own greetings
and calls to worship, searching words like: open, search(ing), alone or lonely, belong,
longing, desire, etc.
Suggested Opening Hymns

This is a limited list of opening hymns appropriate for the emphasis of Igniting
Ministry. Planners should consult the hymnal indexes in exploring the fuller
possibilities. See especially “Opening Hymns” on page 948 of The United Methodist
Hymnal.
In The United Methodist Hymnal:

No. 158 Come, Christians, Join to Sing
No. 328 Surely the Presence of the Lord
No. 334 Sweet, Sweet Spirit
No. 388 O Come and Dwell in Me
No. 560 Help Us Accept Each Other
No. 617 I Come with Joy (When There Is Holy Communion)
Appendix 6B.14
In The Faith We Sing:

No. 2018 Honor and Praise
No. 2019 Holy
No. 2039 Holy, Holy
No. 2046 Womb of Life
No. 2236 Gather Us In
Opening Prayers
For use before or after an opening hymn or song. For additional opening prayers
see The United Methodist Book of Worship.
1. God of our journeys—of far countries and homecomings—

you gather us here with all of our longings and questions.
Look not on our doubts but upon our yearning to be with you.
Overcome in us poisoned images that alienate us from you.
Bring us near to you in the truer light of Jesus
eating with sinners and holding children on his lap. Amen.
2. The Lord be with you.

And also with you.
Let us pray:
(a brief silence for entering into awareness of God’s presence)
Holy God, holy and mighty,
like a strong runner, you do not tire or collapse in exhaustion.
In this moment of truth telling,
we confess that we are stressed out and weary.
We can’t seem to catch our inner breath.
We want to stop running but we don’t seem to know how.
Gather us into your holy peace and rest,
to dial down from the pressure of doing,
and to be with Jesus
who took his disciples into the desert to pray. Amen.
6B.15 Appendix
Litany of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

An act of confession
Voice 1: I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were
either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15–16
Voice 2: I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave
me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you
did not visit me. Matthew 25:42–43
Voice 1: Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice

and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you
with me. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is
saying to the churches. Revelation 3:20, 22
Voice 2: Christ stands at the door, knocking.

Left side: Sometimes our hearts are open, but we do not feel.
Right side: Sometimes our eyes are open, but we do not see.
Left side: Sometimes our doors are open, but we do not connect.
We are lukewarm on the inside and cold on the outside.
All say or sing the ancient Greek prayer of the church or its English version:
Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy.
Christe, eleison. Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy.
This is a time of mystery and openness to the Spirit; a time of yearning to be
more alive to God and others than we are. Singing opens our spirits to the
transforming grace of Christ. Kyrie means “Lord” in Greek and eleison is
interpreted as “have mercy.” There are several wonderful and simple ways to
sing this prayer in the hymnal (UMH) and in The Faith We Sing (TFWS).
UMH 483 (sing several times)
UMH 484 (sing several times)
TFWS 2275 (to the familiar Dvořák melody)
Following the Kyrie, all pray:
Lord, help us to live what you desire in and through us.
Help us to hear and see and touch you in the need of those around us.
Thank you for your forgiveness and fresh starts. Amen.
Appendix 6B.16
Prayers for Illumination

1. Holy One, open to us the door of your Word
that we may enter into the way of wisdom
with open hearts and minds
and welcome what you say to us today. Amen.
2. Word of life, open our hearts and minds to hear

what you say to us today through scripture and sermon,
that we may be a people open to your presence in others
here and in the world. Amen.
The Peace
Passing the peace of God is an act of blessing and giving the peace of Christ to one
another, as distinct from greeting one another. Congregations can learn to practice
blessing and declaring the gift of God to one another, not only in the ritual context but
in daily living. Invite the people to give people what they most need at the heart. It is
an ancient and biblical practice (Luke 10:5, Luke 24:36, John 14:27) among Christians.
If it is new for people, consider introducing it with the story of Jesus stilling the storm
in Mark 4:35–41 and his saying to the storm, “Peace, be still.”)
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us offer one another signs and words of peace and
reconciliation.
Here clasp hands with others around you and say to one another:
“The peace of God be with you.”
Welcome
Greeting one another in informal ways during the gathering of the people or at
some point during the early part of the service is a simple way to reach out to all who
have come and to be sure that those who are newly present are greeted. It is different
from sharing the peace of God, though it is an expression of the love and care of God.
6B.17 Appendix
Affirmation of Faith
These affirmations in The United Methodist Hymnal are strongly linked to the
strategic statement for Igniting Ministry.
No. 883 A Statement of Faith of The United Church of Canada

No. 886 The World Methodist Social Affirmation (the “Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy . . . ” could be sung, using UMH 482, 483 and 484).
You can download a musical setting of this affirmation from the
General Board of Discipleship’s website
(www.gbod.org/worship/music/social.html).
No. 887 Affirmation from Romans 8:35, 37–39
“Worship Resources for Igniting Ministry” copyright © 2001 General Board of Discipleship.
All rights reserved. United Methodist congregations may reproduce for worship and educational purposes
any item from this collection provided that the following notice is printed with the reproduction: From “Worship
Resources for Igniting Ministry.” Copyright © 2001 General Board of Discipleship. Reprinted by permission.
Other worship resources from Igniting Ministry appear in the Living Our Promise Trainer’s Toolbox (Session
6) and in the Expression Package series. Check www.IgnitingMinistry.org for more information.
Appendix 6B.18
Welcoming
WHAT IS WELCOMING?
WHAT IS WELCOMING?
Welcoming is intentionally preparing to receive others where they are and helping them feel accepted through
authentic caring and kindness that anticipates their needs. Welcoming is not the task of a committee or individual,
but rather a lifestyle shared by each member of a congregation. Welcoming is not a technique to find more choir
members, to increase your church’s budget or to grow your church. Welcoming others is just part of who we are as
Christians, a gift we offer to others with no strings attached.
WHAT IS WELCOMING CERTIFICATION?

Through its Welcoming Certification program, Igniting Ministry celebrates and recognizes the efforts of local
congregations that actively and intentionally prepare to welcome newcomers and change the congregation’s
lifestyle. When churches attain Welcoming Certification, they receive a wooden plaque recognizing the congre-
gation’s efforts and gain a special designation in the Find-a-Church database, which newcomers can access
through www.UnitedMethodist.org.
In the first four years of the ministry, almost 200 churches fulfilled the Welcoming Certification requirements,
submitted their applications, and received certification. In the second four years, Igniting Ministry will offer a more
challenging, targeted approach to Welcoming Certification. The enclosed worksheets suggest tasks and activities for
churches to accomplish as they strive to become welcoming-certified each year. The basic worksheet provides many
options, and each successive worksheet builds upon the basics to help transform a church’s welcoming lifestyle in
the course of four years. Churches that successfully complete requirements for all four years will become welcom-
ing models that demonstrate how churches are living our promise of “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.”
For more information and to view a list of certified churches, go to www.IgnitingMinistry.org.
WHO ARE WE TRYING TO REACH, ANYWAY?

Igniting Ministry advertising messages and resource materials are designed to help churches reach out and connect with
unchurched seekers, ages 25-54. The definitions below may help better define that audience for you and your church.
UNCHURCHED
Igniting Ministry defines the unchurched as a person who has not attended a church activity, other than
a wedding or funeral, in the past six months; may not be seeking spiritual fulfillment anywhere outside
the church.
SEEKER
Igniting Ministry defines a seeker as a person who is not currently involved in a congregation; is actively
seeking spiritual fulfillment and is open to a message of hope.
6C1 Appendix
U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H
Welcoming
WELCOMING DEFINITIONS AND TIPS
First impressions are lasting ones. People make up their minds about your church within the first
10 minutes of contact. Long before the preacher preaches, people most often will have decided
if they plan to return. These ideas and definitions may help your church make a life-changing
impression on those who are new to your congregation.
TWO TIPS FOR THE WHOLE CONGREGATION TO DO EACH SUNDAY:

CIRCLE OF 10: Greet anyone, member or guest, who comes within 10 feet of you. Make a special effort to
greet the people you don’t already know within your Circle of 10.
RULE OF THREE: Try not to talk to other members for the first three minutes after the service. Talk only to
those you don’t know and to people that you know are guests. It takes guests about three minutes to exit the
church after worship so it’s important to make sure someone has made contact with them before they leave.
SOME EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE YOU WILL ESPECIALLY WANT TO WELCOME:

Remember that welcoming is a lifestyle that extends well beyond shaking hands at the door of the sanctuary. As
your church grows a more welcoming lifestyle, you will probably want to design different ministries and follow-up
activities for these and other groups of people.
VISITORS
Igniting Ministry defines visitors as people who attend a worship service or event at a church but are not
likely to be regularly connected to the congregation (they live out of town, have another church home, etc.).
Remember, welcoming is not about growing your church; visitors deserve special attention even if you never
see them again.
GUESTS
Igniting Ministry defines guests as people who attend worship or another event, perhaps at the personal
invitation of someone from the church, who may reasonably be expected to return and get involved in the
congregation. Those treated as “honored guests” are likely to return.
NEWCOMERS
Igniting Ministry defines newcomers as people who are relatively new to a congregation—not yet members; no
longer first-time guests; interested in connecting with the church and its members. Newcomers are trying to
find a way into the life and ministries of your church, so it’s important to remove barriers and serve their needs.
Appendix 6C2
Checklists and Worksheets

So that in everything they may be an ornament to
the doctrine of God our Savior.
T I T U S 2 : 1 0
C This appendix is referenced in
chapter 1.
Welcoming
C1: WELCOMING CONGREGATION AWARD
All appendix references relate to The Igniting Ministry Planning Kit
HOW CAN MY CHURCH BE MORE WELCOMING?

A good place to start is with this worksheet. Please choose from the following list of tasks or functions those that
are permanently placed within your church’s structure. To qualify for the award the first time, you must reach a
total of 100 points during the year and provide documentation (required). We’d love to see photos if possible…this
gives us an opportunity to see what you are doing, as well as help us when building features for our Web site. By
submitting photos, you give us permission to use them in various ways. (Please note: Photos will not be returned).
There are NO deadlines for submitting this worksheet.
Point Points Date Documentation

TASKS/FUNCTIONS with suggested documentation Value Earned Completed Attached
1. Welcoming coordinator/team (see description of duties in appendix B1) 25

e.g., team roster
2. Church brochure 10
e.g., copy/sample
3. Welcoming training using IM resources (at least 1 annually)
such as Beyond 30 Seconds /Planning Kit /Training /IM Training event. 25
e.g., list of attendees (provide actual count)
1 point per person newsletter article/handouts from event, etc.
4. Participate in September Open House Month 15
e.g., sample articles/photos
5. Hold a community event 20
e.g., sample articles/photos/flyers
6. Guest material packet 10
e.g., sample packet enclosed
7. Welcoming Center 10
e.g., photos/sample literature
8. Church cards (see page 6A.14) 5
e.g., business cards/invitations
9. Designated guest parking 5
e.g., photograph
10. Greeters 5
e.g., team list/photo/bulletin
11. Quarterly greeter/ usher training (refresher) 5
e.g., promo materials/handouts/list of attendees (5 points per training)
12. Intentional seating of guests 5
e.g., explain procedure or instructions given to ushers/bulletin if listed
13. Name badges for congregation (optional for guests)
(Worn for any on-site event/Worn at least one Sunday a month/3 points each month) 3
e.g,. photo of board/sample tag
14. Guest register (not registration of attendance) 10
e.g., photo of area
15. Church newsletter sent to guests 10
e.g., sample
16. Clergy follow-up – first week 5
e.g., sample letter or card
17. Clergy follow-up – second week 10
18. Laity follow-up – first week 5
19. Laity follow-up – second week 10
20. Guest Welcoming gift (see IgnitingMinistry.org/welcoming)
e.g., photo of mug, church magnet, bookmark (1 point per guest)
1
For More ideas and to view certified churches, go to www.IgnitingMinistry.org

For more ideas and to view certified churches, go to www.UnitedMethodist.org.
6C.3 Appendix
Point Points Date Documentation

TASKS/FUNCTIONS with suggested documentation Value Earned Completed Attached
21. Facility tours for guests 1

e.g., photo, promo article, announcement, script (1 point per guest)
22. Map of facilities posted 5
e.g., photo/sample
23. New classes and groups for guests and newcomers 10
(such as newcomer orientation)
e.g., newsletter article, photos, etc.
24. Invitational program (“Fran Plan”/door hangers) 25
e.g., samples, photos, promo pieces
25. First-impression renovation ie: landscape/entry 10
e.g., photo of area(s)
26. Welcoming sign at street 5
e.g., photo
27. Mystery Guest Audit (appendix C2) 20
e.g., send copies
28. Interior signs (i.e., classrooms, restrooms, nursery) 5
e.g., photos
29. Newcomer participation in small groups or Sunday school class
e.g., list or group name, etc. (1 point per guest per group) 1
30. Conducted Friendliness Audit (page 6A.12) 20
e.g., copies of audit
31. Yearly documentation of first-time attendees
(goal: 10% of average worship attendance) 20
e.g., list
32. Active and up-to-date Web site 10
e.g., URL provided
33. A welcoming message on your home page 15
e.g., URL provided
34. Complete evaluation of printed materials
(appendix C6) – includes “Open hearts” promise on materials 1
e.g., samples (1 point per item with “Open hearts” promise)
35. Weekly hospitality time (refreshments) 20
e.g., photos
36. Transportation to church provided 10
e.g., mention in bulletin/photo of bus
37. Utilized IM resources (Planning Kit/Beyond 30 Seconds, banner, etc.) 25
e.g., promo materials/handouts/group roster
38. Accessibility/Inclusivity (i.e., hearing devices, ramps, parking) 15
e.g., photos/bulletin articles, etc.
39. Newcomer-friendly worship bulletin 15
e.g., sample
40. Other Activities (please explain)
*For point value on this section, call us toll-free (877) 281–6535, and dial “0”
(100 points minimum) TOTAL POINTS =
Those churches certified as welcoming communities will receive an honorary plaque and a special designation
in the Find-a-Church database, which newcomers can access through www.UnitedMethodist.org
Church Name: __________________________ Conference: ______________________ District: ________________

Return signed
Contact Person: ____________________________________________________ Year Applying For:(1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) form and
documentation to:
Address:________________________________________________________________________________________________ UNITED METHODIST

COMMUNICATIONS
City: ____________________________________ State: ______________ Zip: ______ Phone: __________________ Igniting Ministry—
Attn: Welcoming
Web site: ________________________________ Email Address: ______________________________________________ Certification
PO Box 320
Nashville, TN 37202
I have seen this form and confirm the information listed here.
______________________________________________ ___________________________________ ______________

District Superintendent (sign) Print Name Here Date
Appendix 6C.4
Welcoming
WELCOMING CERTIFICATION AWARD
Year 2 Addendum Sheet
Points—Total points should equal at least 200 (including your Year 1 worksheet) and reflect at
least one of the following activities. Attach extra sheet for answers if needed.
Incorporate The Following Activities Into Your Plan: Points Documentation Ideas:
Circle point
value earned
1. Expand Web site to include “Open Hearts” graphics 20 Include Web site address
2. Intentional and ongoing Welcoming Training 25 Provide schedule, promotional

materials and participant list
3. Build a library of Igniting Ministry resources 20 Include explanation of how you

(Planning Kit, Beyond 30 Seconds, Trainers’ Toolbox) are using these resources.
4. One local media flight in conjunction with National schedule 100 Attach tear sheets, samples,
(e.g., newspaper/radio/TV/direct mail/doorhangers/cinema) photos, etc.
5. Apply for a matching grant from Igniting Ministry 50 Attach copy of application
6. Newcomer testimonial quote about experience from 20 Attach quote

parking lot to door and departure
7. Other (ie: Community events / Neighborhood Day, etc.)
TOTAL POINTS = _____
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
What welcoming/evangelism/outreach goals motivated you last year?
How did you achieve them?
What new goals do you have for next year?
What were your attendance levels (first-time attendance/total attendance) at year’s end?
Compare this to previous year.
If increased, why? (Put your team’s best thinking together as to why.)
If decreased, why? (What has been happening in your congregation that affects your results?)
6C.5 Appendix
Welcoming
Points: 300 points required for re-certification; at least 100 points from each (Year 1, Year 2,
Year 3). Attach extra sheet for answers if needed.
Circle point
value earned
1. Highlight national campaign times with welcoming/ 50 Provide sample. Explain how you are
inviting activities during Lent/Back to School/Advent training your people (50 points per flight)
2. Local advertising during the above three flights 100 Provide sample. (50 points per flight)
3. Use Igniting Ministry resources for refresher training 50 Training plan, schedule, promotional
materials, participant list
4. Attend Igniting Ministry training (or host for other churches) 100 Promotion, date, location, participant
list, name of trainer, photos
5. Use seeker-friendly language and description on your Web site 25 Provide URL and all printed materials
6. Newcomer testimonial quote about experience from 20 Attach quote

parking lot to door and departure
7. Other (Please explain; call our office for point value.)
Tell us what goals motivated you last year.
Do you have an attendance goal? A visitor packet goal?
What were your attendance levels (first-time attendance/total attendance) at year’s end?
Compare this to previous year.
If increased, why? (Put your team’s best thinking together as to why.).
If decreased, why? (What has been happening in your congregation that affects your results?)
What other positive observations have taken place that revitalized participation?
What impact do you believe your welcoming efforts have on attendance and participation? What are the trends?
Appendix 6C.6
Welcoming
Points: 400 points required for recertification; at least 100 points from each (Year 1, Year 2, Year 3,
Year 4). Attach extra sheet for answers if needed.
Circle point
value earned
1. Mentor another church to become a welcoming congregation 150 List of activities, contacts,
photos of event
2. Intentional and ongoing welcoming training 100 Provide schedule, promotional

materials and participant list
3. Host a district training event 150 Promotion, date location, participant

list, name of trainer, photos
4. Strive to be a “Model Welcoming Congregation” 75 Show how you used all five Igniting
Ministry components
5. Have someone from your church become an IM trainer 150 See Conference communicator/
IM Training Manager
6. Have 70% of your congregation finish 75 List of attendees

a Beyond 30 Seconds study group
7. Newcomer, pastor or team member testimonial quote 20 Attach quote
8. Other – (e.g., 10% attendance increase during quadrennium;

call our office for point value.)
Tell us what goals motivated you last year.
Provide year-end attendance figures that support your welcoming effort, along with performance measurements
(increased attendance/membership/participation).
What were your attendance levels at year’s end?

If increased, why?
If decreased, why?
What advice would you give to other churches who are considering certification?
What worked?
What didn’t work?
Would you be willing to let us share your story?
Tell us about your experience on becoming a four-year certified church. You will receive an “Open hearts” banner
and welcome mat for your efforts!
6C.7 Appendix
C2: The Mystery Guest Audit This appendix is referenced

in chapter 1, as well as
appendixes A1, A6 and C1.
L
ook for mystery guests who would represent at least two different age groups
and cultural backgrounds. For the most value, have one of your friends from
another church find the mystery guests and make all the arrangements. That
way, no one in your church knows who they are.
How to Benefit Most from Mystery Guests

• Explain to your mystery guests that the people of the church want to be more
welcoming and hospitable to strangers, but they first need to know in what
ways they must change.
• Give each mystery guest a copy of one of the audit sheets on the next pages,
and provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for them to return the audits.
• Instruct them to fill out the audit at home, not during the church service.
• Ask the mystery guests to visit the church sometime within the next month
just as if they were regular visitors.
• Consider giving a gift certificate in appreciation for mystery guests’ time. At a
minimum, send thank-you notes and, of course, invite them back to the
church to check up on the progress the welcoming ministry is making.
Audit forms you can duplicate and distribute are provided on the next pages.
Appendix 6C.8
When completed, please return to (churches, stamp name and address below):
The Mystery Guest Audit

Yes No
❑ ❑ Was it easy to find the church and convenient to park?
❑ ❑ Was it clear where to go once you got there?
❑ ❑ Did you find the grounds in good repair?
❑ ❑ Were you greeted when you went in?
❑ ❑ What was the tone of the greeting?
❑ ❑ Did you find the bulletin board displays timely and interesting?
❑ ❑ Was the worship space pleasing to your eye?
❑ ❑ Was there music playing as you entered?
❑ ❑ Was your seat comfortable?
❑ ❑ Was there enough light?
❑ ❑ Was the temperature comfortable?
❑ ❑ Did you feel welcome to participate in all aspects of the worship service?
❑ ❑ Were a hymnal and a Bible available?
❑ ❑ Was it easy to follow the order of worship?
❑ ❑ Was the sermon meaningful to you?
❑ ❑ Were the restrooms clean and odor free?
❑ ❑ Were you greeted after the service?
❑ ❑ Did you request contact from someone with the church?
❑ ❑ Did you receive any communications from the church the following week?
How would you describe the “mood” of the worship space?
Did you find the members friendly, disinterested or unfriendly?
If you visited the nursery, what was your impression?
Was the sound level too soft, just right or too loud?
What was your overall impression of the church?
Would you return? Why or why not?
©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church. 6C.9 Appendix
Mystery Guest Audit

Use this form to help another church identify its welcoming and hospitality strengths and limitations.
Please write an explanation after each item.
Needs Average Great
Improvement
Your experience the first 10 minutes of contact
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
Your impression received from the signage

(indoor/outdoor)
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
Your impressin received form greeters
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
Your impression received from ushers
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
Your experience from individual members
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
Your experience during social time
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
Your experience aided by helpful bulletin contents
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
In your experience, people are warm and generous
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
If I were seeking a spiritual home, I’d choose this church.
Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________
©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church.
Appendix 6C.10
C3: Communications Plan This appendix is referenced

in chapter 1.
Worksheet
Develop a communications plan for each step of the way: Initial introduction,
classes, special welcoming/inviting event(s)
I. What is our vision for the future?
II. What is the purpose of communicating the plan?

(What attitude, behavior or action do we want the congregation to adopt?)
III. Who are our target audiences in the congregation? (People who have
similar needs, such as high school students, active members over 55,
parents, etc.)
IV. What messages will have the most effect on each audience?
(What “need” or “value” do they have around which we can form our
messages? In other words, how would you convince them of the importance
of participating in any activity?)
©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church. Appendix 6C.11
V. What communications vehicles will we use that will best communicate to

our members? (Letters, sermons, newsletter, bulletin inserts, bulletin
boards, e-mail, phone calls, personal contact, balloons, teaching events,
existing small groups, special small group meetings, etc.)
VI. When will we use each of these methods?
VII. Who will do what, when?
VIII. How will we know if we are on the right track?
Appendix 6C.12 ©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church.
C4: Comfort Checklist This appendix is referenced

in appendixes A1, A2 and A4.
❑ Is every church sign in good repair? Are the messages clear and timely?
Can someone in a passing car read outside signs from all angles?
❑ Do we have adequate signage to move people into and through the
church easily?
❑ Are the grounds and interior of the building in good repair (no weeds,
peeling paint)?
❑ Do we have “visitor” or “guest” parking spots?
❑ Is the parking lot space adequate and easy to navigate? (Reserve 10 percent of
your parking spaces for your guests.) Consider having an “umbrella brigade”
to help everyone, members and guests, into the church on rainy days.
❑ Are the entrances clearly marked and well lighted?
❑ Is the front door to our church unlocked? This may seem like a strange
question, but some churches actually keep the main door locked because
“everyone here knows we come in the side door.” Of course, guests don’t know
that.
❑ Do we have directional signs throughout the inside of the building?
❑ Is there an information table? This makes people more comfortable asking
questions; they know you anticipate them by providing a place to get
information.
❑ Are the bulletin board displays timely and interesting?
❑ Do we have greeters stationed at all entrances to our building? Greeting is not
a social pastime. The few moments our greeters spend with a guest could be
the turning point for strangers.
❑ Is our sanctuary (our living room) aesthetically pleasing with comfortable
seating?
❑ Do we have trees, plants and greenery as decorations, giving the impression of
life?
❑ Does the lighting create an atmosphere of celebration or is the lighting dull
and dreary?
❑ Is the temperature comfortable? Too hot . . . too cold . . . or just right?
❑ Do we have music playing as people enter the sanctuary in preparation for

worship? (Music calms people. Consider using recorded music intended for
relaxation and focus.)
❑ Do the members, as a whole, display a genuine, ongoing attitude of friendli-
ness? Here is where it is important to ask the question: “To whom are we
friendly?” Often we perceive ourselves to be friendly, but that is not what
“outsiders” experience.
❑ Do we provide a special time for fellowship following the service when we
can again welcome our guests and show them hospitality?
❑ Is our program user-friendly? With much of the U.S. population being
unchurched, many will have never heard of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, let
alone know where to find them in the “pew Bible,” and they probably won’t
know the words to the Lord’s Prayer.
❑ Do we have effective church information brochures?
❑ Do we have ample seating?
❑ Do we have a good sound system?
❑ Is our nursery safe and clean? This will be the most important feature for
young families with small children.
❑ Are our restrooms clean, odor free and fully stocked?
Because we are so accustomed to our own environment, some of these fix-it things
may seem like trivial matters, but when a guest enters God’s house, if these things are
lacking they will be noticed. After four weeks, we tend to overlook things like leaky
faucets, squeaky doors, burned-out bulbs and dirty carpets, but our guests will notice
right away.
We say we care . . . but our building may say we don’t care. We say we are up to date
. . . but our building may say we are out of date. We say we are friendly . . . but our
building may be cold and uninviting. Use this checklist to create a plan to make the
building a haven for members and guests.
C5: Walk-through Assessment This appendix is referenced

in appendix A4.
How could the worship space be made more welcoming?
Is our church welcoming to people who have difficulty getting around, including
elderly people and people with physical challenges?
Is it welcoming to families with children and youth and to the children and youth
themselves?
What are the kinds of things that can be done immediately to make the worship
space and the culture more welcoming?
What will take a little more time and planning?
C6: Evaluation of Printed Materials This appendix is

referenced in
appendix C1.
Church Bulletin (Order of Worship)
AKA “Program”
❑ Is everything we do in the service listed and are all the terms easily
understood by unchurched attendees?
❑ Are the words to the Doxology and the Lord’s Prayer printed, or are
references given as to where they may be found?
❑ Is the page on which the scripture is found in pew Bibles noted?
❑ What improvements are needed?
Church Newsletter
❑ Is the newsletter readable? Is the print clear?
❑ Are there ways the design could be improved to be more reader-friendly?
❑ Does the newsletter have a clear purpose?
❑ Do the articles reflect the life of the church in interesting, compelling ways?
❑ Are the church name, address, phone numbers, Web address and times of
services included?
Church Information Brochure

❑ Is the brochure attractive and eye-catching?
❑ Is the information inclusive and up to date?
❑ Does it answer, “How could this church be important to me?”
*More information on print materials can be found in How Shall They Hear? A Handbook for
Religion Communicators, published by the Religion Communicators Council.
Resources for Advertising

and Promotion
D
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to
the steadfastness of Christ.
2 T H E S S A L O N I A N S 3 : 5
D1: Guidelines for Placing This appendix is referenced

in chapter 5.
Advertising
(Visit www.MediaWarehouse.org to browse all “Open hearts” advertising.)
1. Determine when you would like to advertise. We recommend coordinating
your local advertising with the national schedules for greater impact in your
community. By using the same advertising expression that’s running nationally,
you will deliver the same message more times, resulting in greater likelihood of
your target audience recalling the message.
2. Use media professionals in your congregation to help you purchase advertising.
You can also contact Igniting Ministry's Media Services to assist you at no cost
with media estimates and placement (IMMediaServices@umcom.org).
3. If you choose to purchase your own media, contact sales representatives from
your TV and radio stations, cinema or outdoor sign companies. Ask for cost
proposals and “Avails” (lists of commercial time slots and costs) to meet your
specifications.
4. Remember the targeted audience for the
Negotiating Basics
national campaign is seekers age 25-54. Your
egotiating media rates is not unlike
goal is to purchase media that reaches this
audience.
N buying a house or car. Never agree to
the initial asking price. Once you have that
5. Negotiate! Special rates for non-profits exist. Ask asking price, offer at least 25 percent less
for them. and then reach a compromise amount. For
broadcast television, requesting
6. Before signing a contract, make sure the air
information from multiple stations and
dates and amounts are correct. Check clauses
pitting them against one another is a
that may prohibit religious advertising. Most bidding process that can be very effective in
contracts will state when advertising materials getting the best rates for your church.
need to be submitted. You must meet this
deadline. Failure to do so could mean the loss of your advertising schedule.
7. We recommend that customization of “Open hearts” advertising be handled by
Igniting Ministry Media Services. A nominal fee is charged to execute your
customization.
8. Always request performance reports from each vendor. These reports will
verify that the media purchased was executed. If not, a refund is given.
6D.1 Appendix
9. Make everyone in the congregation aware of times the commercial will

appear and then evaluate your buy after the schedule runs. Did you receive
comments? Did it strengthen the spirit of the congregation? Did you welcome
new visitors?
A Simple Formula for Effective Advertising

eep in mind that radio and TV airtime purchases succeed with a simple formula:
K FRIC, or Frequency, Reach, Impact and Consistency, which are the building blocks
of campaigns that move people to action.
• Frequency refers to the number of times people hear or see your commercial
during a one-week period. It should be no less than four times and is best in the
seven- or eight-times range. This requires buying multiple airtimes throughout
full days and parts of days. If your ad budget can’t cover a seven-day week, move
to three days, but still buy spots in the morning, midday, afternoon and night.
All radio and TV stations can calculate the exact number of commercials to put
on their station to reach these listener levels. Radio stations may refer to OES,
which stands for “optimum effective schedule,” a radio standard in determining
the number of commercials.
• Reach is the number of people who hear or see your advertisement. Radio
stations get audience data called “cume” (short for cumulative). This is the
number of people who listen to the station in a week, similar to a newspaper’s
circulation. The bigger the cume, the more reach a station has.
• Impact has two factors: High frequency delivers impact, and so does the
message you communicate. The Igniting Ministry commercials will provide
that impact.
• Consistency dictates that the “Open hearts” spots be seen and heard on a regular
basis. Radio and TV need to be used repetitively to work, so plan on running at
least a full flight to coordinate with the national commercials during Lent,
Back-to-School or Advent.
Create a Media Schedule That Works!
Minimum TRPs
Medium (Target Rating Points) Ideal Air Time Minimum Run
Broadcast TV 125/week during high Two weeks

Over 2 or 3 attendance times
networks
or to publicice
an event
Cable TV 48/week same Two weeks
At least 3 networks
Radio 125/week drive times and Two weeks
various stations midday
Outdoor consider leading up to Month
Major arteries national flights
Cinema closest theatre leading up to Month
Appendix 6D.2 national flights
Radio Commercials
Do not spend too much time worrying about rank or ratings of the radio station.
(Radio ratings are called “Arbitron.”) A station may have a great listener or viewer
audience for you, yet not rank high. This means it should be moderately priced and
can be a hidden gem. Even a station ranked 10th (meaning it’s the 10th most popular
station in the area) could reach 100,000 people a week.
There are some broad generalities that can help you begin to sort stations.
However, remember the audience for our message is 25–54 years old. Mention that to
the stations you call or visit. Using these guidelines should narrow your search to three
or four choices.
• Rock formats tend to attract men in the 18- to 34-year-old category.
• Dance/energy or current hits stations will draw women aged 25 to 34.
• Mix/adult contemporary/lite rock formats will reach adults in their 30s and
40s. The gender of the audience will depend on the degree of softness in the
station’s sound. The softer the sound, the more female the audience.
• Oldies and Country formats will have equal distribution of male and female
audience members in their 40s and early 50s.
• News and talk formats
attract a 45-plus age group. Media Buying Basics
ealing with TV stations, cable systems and radio stations is
• Heavy politics and sports
will skew male; other talk,
D much the same. If you choose to handle the negotiation and
buying yourself, be sure to
female.
• select stations and programs on the basis of what your target
You can either buy your radio audience will be listening to or watching
advertising time yourself or have • ask for ratings and qualitative data relative to the audience of
IM Media Services do it for you. If individual shows and cable networks to be used in evaluating
you want to do it yourself, read on. your selection
If not, know that a media buyer • ask to work with an experienced account executive
won’t cost you extra directly. The • concentrate schedules between 6 P.M. on Wednesday night and
rates charted by stations include a midnight on Saturday night (when the decision to attend
15 percent commission for the church is more likely to be made)
buyer provided that buyer is a • require affidavits of performance that provide the exact days
recognized buying entity. and times your spot(s) air (this affidavit should be provided
before payment is made to the station).
If you are negotiating your own media placement, request
information from all possible stations and cherry pick your
schedules. Use a variety of stations and programs to maximize
exposure of your message.
6D.3 Appendix
The simple, do-it-yourself method is as follows:

1. Call each station and make an appointment with an experienced account
executive, someone who has been with the station three or more years. An
experienced salesperson will know the station’s ins and outs and can
maximize your investment for you. He or she will even work to ensure that
your placement is excellent.
2. Radio pricing is flexible. The bargain areas are early weekdays (Monday or
Tuesday), weekends and nights. Continue to ask for improved pricing or
packages until you feel comfortable with the deal. You will be able to get the
best pricing and placement of your commercial if you work with the station
six to eight weeks ahead of your targeted starting date.
3. Radio commercials can be selected and downloaded as MP3 files from our
MediaWarehouse. That means that the radio station can retrieve the file and
customize the commercial(s) for you. To listen to/and or download all radio
ads, visit www.MediaWarehouse.org.
Newspaper and Magazine Ads

Print advertising (for newspapers and magazines) is designed to reinforce the basic
emotional message of the Igniting Ministry campaign. It should provide the target
audience with the specific information they need to foster willingness to attend a
United Methodist church (particularly at the address and time of service mentioned in
the ad).
Newspaper advertising is purchased either “run of paper” (ROP), which means
your ad may appear anywhere in the newspaper, or in a specific position. Purchasing a
guaranteed position is more expensive, but it allows you to specify a section or a
particular page in the newspaper (back page, opposite of editorials, etc.) that you
believe will be most effective in reaching your target audience.
• If affordable, ads should be placed in the main news section of the paper (not
the religion section).
• Request placement on a right-hand page.
• Friday is the best day, since papers frequently highlight weekend events on this
day and readers pay special attention.
For newspaper advertising to be effective, it must have “presence”: It must be large
enough and prominent enough to catch readers’ attention. Accordingly, newspaper
advertising for the Igniting Ministry campaign . has compelling graphics and themes,
designed to catch the reader’s eye. The ads also have enough size to create a “presence”
Appendix 6D.4
on the page. Tip: Instead of placing a weekly, one-line ad in the religion section, use
these ads on specila occasions to create an opportunity for invitation.
In addition to city- or town-wide general circulation newspapers, your Igniting
Ministry team should also consider specialized media that may reach subgroups
within the target audience. These could include ethnic or cultural newspapers and
magazines and community newspapers in neighborhoods with a high proportion of
single parents, working families or young professionals.
For all ads, visit www.MediaWarehouse.org.
Note: United Methodist Communications does not customize print ads. Please consult appendix D2
for more information on customization of all media.
Direct Mail
Direct mail is an efficient medium for reaching narrowly focused audiences with
specific messages. It is not effective for reaching broad audiences, as the cost is high
per impression and the response rate for most direct mail advertising is well under 5
percent. It is highly ineffective when used alone, without other media to support it. If
your church wants to consider using direct mail advertising, it needs to identify
specific audiences it believes would be interested in attending The United Methodist
Church, and the specific executions that would lead the targeted subgroup(s) to take
action on the invitation.
• Direct mail lists can be purchased from list companies and are sometimes
made available for a fee or no cost by membership organizations. Never use a
membership list without discussing it with that organization’s local leadership,
even if you have purchased the list from a list-management firm.
• If sending a small quantity, send direct mail pieces first class so they will arrive
in a timely manner.
• Direct mail cards support most of the TV messages. View all direct mail
options at www.MediaWarehouse.org.
• You will need to arrange to have the artwork printed (see Media Specifications,
appendix D4).
Outdoor Advertising (Billboards)

Outdoor advertising is a great way to create interest with the traveling public 24/7.
Coupled with radio, you can effectively reach people who are away from home.
Outdoor advertising creates a sense of momentum and presence to reinforce messages
in other advertising media. By its nature, outdoor advertising is not useful for
conveying detailed information or calling for an action that requires having
6D.5 Appendix
information available. To be effective, the text and the image must communicate the
message in the few seconds it takes to drive by in a car. It can be used to create visibility
and provide directions to your church.
Outdoor advertising is purchased from companies that either own or represent the
owners of signboards. Costs vary depending on location and the number of cars
passing the site. The advertising material must fit the dimensions of the available
signboard. The outdoor advertising company will erect the material (either within the
fee structure or as an added cost) and remove it at the end of the contract period.
Contract periods generally run for a minimum of one month.
• Sample signboards are presented on MediaWarehouse. To view or download all
ads free from the ftp site, visit MediaWarehouse.org. Call United Methodist
Communications’ Igniting Ministry offices at (877) 281-6535 for more
information.
• Outdoor advertising should be used in strategic, high-traffic areas that are
nearby the church. Always drive by the locations with sales representatives of
the outdoor company to pick out the best board(s). View the board(s) in heavy
traffic conditions, at varying speeds and at night.
Door Hangers
Door hangers have been prepared for door-to-door canvassing during periods
when flights of advertising are running. They can be used either when nobody is home
or as something to leave behind after a visit.
• Door hangers are available in most of the expressions.
• They can and should be customized with the name and address of your United
Methodist church.
• Camera-ready art can be downloaded from www.MediaWarehouse.org and also
appears in the Expression Package series.
• Check local laws governing placing door hangers. Most allow this type of
advertising.
Appendix 6D.6
D2: Instructions for Customization This appendix is

referenced in chapter
5 and appendixes D1
Please follow these instructions carefully. and D4.
Television Customization
1. United Methodist Communications is the only agency authorized to perform
any customization of the ‘Open hearts” television commercials.
2. Any local church, district or conference can request television customization.
3. The charge for each master (broadcast quality) tape is approximately $30
plus shipping. Call (877)281-6535 to receive exact cost quotes.
4. Both an audio (voiceover) and visual tag will be recorded at the end of each
commercial. Tags must be edited to fit a 3-5 second time frame. Generally, a
church name and Web address will be all you can include in that time.
5. To place a customization order, please call the Igniting Ministry office.
6D.7 Appendix
Page 1 of 2
This is a “master” two-page form. Please photocopy prior to filling in
information so that the form can be used more than once.
This form is for TV only. Radio customization must be done by radio stations. Print,
newspaper and outdoor customization is done by the respective media operators. Use this form to
1. order professional TV-commercial tapes for use by broadcast and cable operators,
2. customize Igniting Ministry TV ads.
Use an additional page 2 of this form for different customizations and/or stations. Fill out
the first page portion only once.
Do not use this form to order VHS church-viewing copies. Use the order form in the Igniting
Ministry promotional catalog for that purpose.
Please fill out completely and fax to UMCom’s Igniting Ministry campaign offices
at (615) 742-5777.
If you need further information, call the Igniting Ministry campaign offices toll-free at
(877) 281-6535.
Church Billing Address Shipping Address of TV Operator/Station
Name of local church: Name of station:
Name of contact person: Name of contact person:
Mailing address: Delivery address:
City: City:
State/ZIP: State/ZIP:
Phone: Phone:
Fax: Fax:
E-mail:
Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard only)

Name of cardholder, exactly as it appears on card:
Credit card number: Expiration date:
Account to credit (office use only):
Appendix 6D.8 ©2001 United Methodist Communications. Permission is granted to United Methodist churches for duplication and distribution within the church.
Radio Customization
1. Radio commercials can be found on MediaWarehouse. The audio files are for
both in-church previewing and also airing by radio stations.
2. Any 30-second commercials are not customizable. However, if you choose a 60-
second commercial to air, you can customize it with a voiceover, which the
radio station will record with one of their deejays or other on-air talent. At
the end of the 60-second commercials, you’ll hear several seconds of
background music (called a “bed”), over which your ending message (called a
“tag”) will play. The following are two effective tags:
• For a church advertising on its own: “The people of the (name of)
United Methodist Church. (Address of church.) Worship times at
(times) on (days).”
• For a group of churches advertising together: “The people of the United
Methodist churches of (contributing region or geographic area). Join us
for worship this Sunday. To learn more, visit www.unitedmethodist.org.”
Newspaper Customization
View all newspaper ads on MediaWarehouse to download desired size.
Outdoor Customization
1. Contact Igniting Ministry Media Services for customization of billboards.
2. Check www.MediaWarehouse.org for guidelines for production and
placement of billboards and other outdoor media.
3. Sign companies can also prepare customized billboards. Igniting Ministry
must approve artwork and customization.
Door Hanger Customization

Browse the MediaWarehouse for available designs and sizes. You can
download the design in a camera-ready format (PDF or PSD) or have your
print vendor download it.
6D.9 Appendix
D3: Sample News Releases This appendix is

referenced in chapters
4 and 5.
Your Igniting Ministry team may decide that your church would benefit from
publicity about our media campaign. Following are a series of news releases provided
as examples for you to adapt to meet your particular needs.
The style of a news release can be modified to reflect the graphic style of other
communications from the church. However, as a minimum, the format must include
the following:
• Identification of the document as a news release
• A contact name for media to call with questions or information requests,
including phone numbers and e-mail if available
• A dateline: the city and state from which the release is being issued and the
date it is being issued
• A release time or “For Immediate Release” statement
• At least 11/2 line spacing (to provide room to edit)
Appendix 6D.10
Sample News Release 1

(Name of) United Methodist Church
News Release
For Immediate Release Contact: (Contact Name)

Phone: (000) 000-0000
E-mail: (Contact E-mail Address)
(Name of) United Methodist Church to Participate in

National Igniting Ministry Campaign
(City, State, Month Year) -- (Name of) United Methodist Church today announced
that it is participating in a national campaign to attract additional members through cable
television, radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor advertising and public relations
initiatives. The campaign, called Igniting Ministry, will launch in spring 2001, and is aimed
at “men and women who are not current members of any church, but who are looking for
a sense of spiritual well-being and involvement in a caring community,” said (Firstname
Lastname), campaign chair for (Name of) United Methodist Church.
Research conducted by The United Methodist Church indicates that over half of
adults aged 25–54 are not members of any church, but more than half of these people
indicate that they are "religious" or interested in bringing spiritual belief and activity into
their lives. “Our research shows that many people in this category would like to participate
in a church activity, to determine whether regular membership would bring something
valuable to them, but they are concerned that they will not fit in, or that their unfamiliarity
with the practices of a specific church will make them feel uncomfortable,” (Mr./Ms.
Lastname) said.
According to (Mr./Ms. Lastname), the United Methodist campaign will specifically
reach out to people who are looking for a more spiritual and connected life with
advertising and other messages that will appear in unexpected places and that talk about
everyday occurrences. The campaign will also position The United Methodist Church as
one with a diverse membership, with no formal or required religious practice, which
focuses its adherents on doing good works with others in the community to reach a
greater level of satisfaction with themselves and their lives and to open themselves to
religious spirituality.
“We do not seek to recruit members from other denominations or faiths,” (Mr./Ms.
Lastname) said. “We are reaching out to men and women who feel unfulfilled, and who
6D.11 Appendix
may find participating in our church a way to meet the need everyone has for being more
satisfied in more aspects of their lives.”
(Mr./Ms. Lastname) said that The United Methodist Church has budgeted to spend
over $20 million in the next few years to fund national advertising for the campaign. A
budget for local advertising and marketing activities is being developed and the church
is seeking grants as well as conducting fundraising among its members to fund the
campaign here. More information about the church can be found online at
www.unitedmethodist.org.
###

News Release

Phone: (000) 000-0000
(Name of) United Methodist Church Launches Campaign to Attract New Members
(City, State, Month, Year) -- (Name of) United Methodist Church today announced it is
launching a major campaign to attract as new members men and women who are not
presently associated with any church or religious organization. The campaign will include
advertising and events that are designed to communicate that The United Methodist
Church is open to people of diverse backgrounds and experiences who are looking to
bring spiritual values into their lives. The theme of the campaign is “Our hearts, our minds
and our doors are always open,” and all of the advertising notes that the campaign is
brought to the community by “the people of The United Methodist Church.”
The local campaign will begin this (day of week) with the appearance of (cable
television) (radio) (newspaper) advertising focusing on (the diversity of The United
Methodist Church) (the commitment of United Methodist church members to good works)
(the small daily occurrences of life that remind people of the value of spirituality and
Appendix 6D.12
community). The advertising campaign will run for (four)(two) weeks, and will appear at
least three times during the year. (Name of) United Methodist Church said it has raised
approximately ($00,000) to fund the local campaign, which in addition to the advertising
will include events at the church and sponsorship of community activities such as (event
name). “We want people not just to know about our church, but to have the opportunity
to experience it in a natural, comfortable way,” said (Firstname Lastname), campaign
chairperson. “Many people not presently members of a church are concerned that they
will not fit in, or that they will be embarrassed because they do not know the practice or
the liturgy. Our campaign is based on the belief is that if we welcome our visitors into our
church as we would welcome them into our homes, we can overcome those inhibitions
and, we hope, build lasting and meaningful shared relationships.”
(Name of) United Methodist Church is located at (address). More information about
the church can be found online at www.unitedmethodist.org.
###

News Release

Phone: (000) 000-0000
(Name of) United Methodist Church Announces (Name of Event)

(City, State, Month, Year) -- (Name of) United Methodist Church today announced it would
hold (event name) on (day, date) at (0:00 P/AM). The event is part of a campaign by the
local church and the national body of The United Methodist Church to attract new
members among men and women not presently associated with a religious denomination
or practice.
“The theme of our campaign is ‘Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.’ and this
event reflects our commitment to people who are seeking to experience a higher level of
spiritual well-being through participating in a caring community,” said (Firstname
Lastname), (campaign chairperson)(event chairperson). “This event should prove
6D.13 Appendix
particularly attractive to (identify target audience) because (indicate rationale).”

(Paragraph describing activities of event, any registration requirements, prominent
participants or speakers, location within church or facility at which event is being
conducted.)
Additional information about the (event name) can be obtained at the (Name of)
United Methodist Church or by calling (Firstname Lastname) at (000-0000).
(Name of) United Methodist Church is located at (address). More information
about the church can be found online at www.unitedmethodist.org.
###
Sample Letter to Arrange an Interview about the Campaign

(Reporter’s Name)
(Medium)
(Address)
(City, State ZIP)
Dear (Name):
(Name of) United Methodist Church recently announced its participation in a national
campaign to attract new members to The United Methodist Church, one of this nation’s
largest Protestant denominations. A copy of the news release is attached to this letter.
The campaign is directed to the “unchurched,” men and women in the age range of
25–54 who are not currently members of a church or other religious group but who may
feel that their lives would be enhanced if they could participate in something with spiritual
values and a sense of caring community. We believe The United Methodist Church offers
them that opportunity and have prepared ourselves to welcome new members.
The campaign is designed to address such important issues in our community and
among adults as enjoying and valuing diversity, linking everyday occurrences to
community and higher values, and the spiritual benefits of becoming involved in good
works.
Appendix 6D.14
The campaign consists of television, radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor advertising
as well as editorial initiatives and events at the church. At its last General Conference, a
budget of more than $20 million for the national campaign was approved, and the United
Methodist churches in this area have budgeted an expenditure of ($00,000) to
complement and expand on the campaign’s reach.
We believe that the campaign will not only help build (Name of) United Methodist
Church’s membership in this community, but provide values to the community as a whole
whether or not people choose to become affiliated with us. (Firstname Lastname), our
campaign chairperson, would welcome the opportunity to discuss the Igniting Ministry
campaign and its values with you, and can be available (identify dates and times).
I will contact you in the next few days to determine your interest and, I hope, to schedule
an interview. Should you need additional information about (Name of) United Methodist
Church or the national campaign, please feel free to contact me directly. Information can
also be obtained online at www.unitedmethodist.org.
(Name)
Communications Director
6D.15 Appendix
D5: Glossary of Media Terms This appendix is

The following are terms commonly used by media professionals.
adjacent. A program or time period immediately preceding or following a scheduled

program on the same station. Also called break position.
affiliate. A broadcast station bound to a contractual relationship with one or more
networks to carry network-originated programs and announcements.
audience composition. The demographic profile for audiences of a particular
advertising medium.
Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). An organization formed by media, advertisers
and advertising agencies to audit the circulation statements of its member
magazines and newspapers.
availability (“avails”). The commercial position in a program or between programs
on a given station or network that is available for purchase by an advertiser.
average audience. 1) Broadcast media: the number of homes (or individuals) tuned
to the average minute of a program. 2) Print media: the number of individuals
who looked into an average issue of a publication.
billboard. 1) Broadcast media: free airtime given to a sponsoring advertiser.
2) Outdoor media: an advertising structure.
black and white (B/W). An ad or photo that uses black, white and shades of gray.
bleed. To extend an illustration or text to the edge of a printed page so there is no
white border. A full bleed occurs when the text or illustration runs off all four
edges of the page.
break position. See adjacent.
camera-ready art. Prepared artwork ready for use by a printer or publication such
as a newspaper or magazine. Also called an ad slick.
circulation. 1) Print media: the number of copies sold or distributed by a
publication. 2) Broadcast media: the number of homes owning a set within a
station’s coverage area. 3) Outdoor media: the number of people passing an
advertisement who have an opportunity to view it.
closing date. The date set by a publication for receipt of material for an
advertisement to appear in a forthcoming issue.
Appendix 6D.16
combination rate. A special rate for advertisers using both morning and evening
editions of a newspaper or more than one vehicle in a group of publications. Also
known as continuity discount.
controlled circulation. The circulation of a publication that is sent free and
addressed to specific individuals.
cost per point (CPP). The cost per rating point delivered by a particular medium or
media schedule.
cost per thousand (CPT). The cost per 1,000 individuals (or homes) delivered by a
medium or media schedule.
county size. Designation of a county into one of four categories as defined by
A. C. Nielson based on population.
coverage. The percentage of people (or homes) covered by a medium.
day parts. Times of broadcast for television and radio.
daytime. The daytime hours of TV programming, usually 9 A.M.–3 P.M. EST/PST and
9 A.M.–4 P.M. Central/Mountain.
demographics. Information about a particular population’s characteristics, such as
geographical, age and gender distribution; birth and death rates; and
socioeconomic status.
designated market area (DMA). An unduplicated television area to which a county
is assigned on the basis of highest share of viewing.
drive time. The morning and afternoon hours of radio broadcasting. Morning drive
time is 6–10 A.M.; afternoon drive time is 3–7 P.M.
duplications. The number of individuals (or homes) exposed to more than one
advertising message through a media schedule.
efficiency. The relationship of media cost to audience delivery.
exposure. The audience’s physical contact (visual and/or audio) with an advertising
medium or message.
fixed position. 1) Broadcast media: a commercial unit purchased with non-
preemption guarantees. 2) Print media: a position guaranteed to the advertiser in
specific uses.
flat rate. The non-discountable rate charged by a newspaper for advertising.
flighting. Broadcast schedule in a heavy advertising effort for a period of time,
followed by a hiatus, then coming back with another schedule at the same, higher
or lower level. A flight is the period when the advertising is being broadcast.
6D.17 Appendix
four-color. The printing industry process for reproducing full-color images

(pictures, colored type, etc.) in printed media. Term is derived from the use of
only four standard ink colors: cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black.
Also referred to as full-color.
frequency. The number of times individuals (or homes) are exposed to an
advertising message.
frequency discount. A rate discount allowed an advertiser who purchases a specific
schedule within a specified period of time.
fringe time. In TV, the hours that precede and follow primetime, usually 3–6 P.M.
and 11:30 P.M.–1 A.M. EST/PST, and 4–6 P.M. and 10:30 P.M.–12 A.M.
Central/Mountain.
full-color. See four-color.
gatefold. A folded advertising page (or brochure), which, unfolded, is bigger in
dimension than the regular page.
gross rating points (GRPs). The sum of ratings delivered by a given list of media
vehicles.
hiatus. A period of non-activity.
homes using TV (HTV). The percentage of homes using TV at a given time.
identification (ID). A broadcast commercial that is not longer than 10 seconds
(visual) or 8 seconds (audio).
impressions. The sum of all exposures.
independent station. A broadcast station not affiliated with a line network.
lead-in or lead-out. Program preceding or following a particular time period or
program.
makegood. 1) Broadcast media: a commercial position given in lieu of an
announcement missed due to the fault of the station or network. 2) Print media:
the free repeat of an advertisement to compensate for a publication error in the
original insertion.
merchandising. Promotional activities that complement advertising and which are
provided free or at a nominal charge by media purchased for advertising.
music bed. Background music, which can run behind a voiceover.
open rate. The maximum rate charged by a magazine for one insertion.
optimum effective schedule (OES). A radio standard in determining the number of
commercials needed to reach a specified number of listeners.
Appendix 6D.18
painted bulletin. An outdoor advertising structure on which advertising is painted

directly.
passalong readers. Readers of a publication that they or other members of their
household did not purchase.
penetration. The proportion of people (or homes) that are physically able to be
exposed to a medium.
people using radio (PUR). The percentage of people who listen to radio at a given
time.
people using TV (PUT). The percentage of people who watch TV at a given time.
porta-panel. A mobile poster panel that is wheeled to a given location (e.g., a
supermarket parking lot).
poster panel. An outdoor advertising structure on which a preprinted advertisement
is displayed.
preemption. The displacement of a regularly scheduled program, or announcement,
on a broadcast facility by the station or network.
prime access. The half-hour immediately preceding primetime television in which
local stations were originally charged by the Federal Communications
Commission to broadcast programs in the interest of the local community.
primetime. A three-hour period designated by a TV station as its highest viewing
time. Usually 8–11 P.M. EST/PST and 7–10 P.M. Central/Mountain.
psychographics. Personality characteristics and attitudes that affect a person’s
lifestyle and purchasing behavior.
rate base. The circulation of a print vehicle upon which advertising space rates are
based; it may or may not be guaranteed by the publication.
rating. The percentage of individuals or households tuned to a specific
program/time.
rating holder. A unit of time or space, usually small, that is used to maintain or
establish a contractual agreement over a period of time.
reach. The percentage of individuals (or homes) exposed to a media schedule within
a given period of time.
rebate. A payment to the advertiser by a medium when the advertising schedule
exceeds the contractual commitments originally agreed to and the advertisement
earns a lower rate.
6D.19 Appendix
run of press (ROP). A request to run an advertisement anywhere in a publication.

share. The percentage of homes using TV (or radio) tuned to a particular program.
short rate. The dollar penalty an advertiser pays for not fulfilling space requirements
that were contracted for at the beginning of a given period, usually one year. The
penalty is the difference between the contract rate and earned rate.
simulcast. The concurrent broadcasting of a television and radio program.
spot. A commercial prepared for radio or TV.
spot-color. The use of a second ink color—in addition to black—in a printed piece.
tag. A memorable phrase. In radio, it is often the last spoken words in a commercial.
(Also called tagline.)
total survey area. In radio, the area in which radio signals from an origination
market can be received.
TV market. See designated market area.
ultra high frequency (UHF). The band added to the VHF band for television
transmission, channels 14–83.
very high frequency (VHF). TV channels 2–13.
viewers per set. The number of people viewing or listening to a program in each
home.
voiceover. An announcement played “on top of ” another audio track. (Also called
VO announcement.)
Appendix 6D.20
Notes
6D.21 Appendix
Contacts and References
Igniting Ministry Contacts

7
United Methodist Communications
Web with online store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.IgnitingMinistry.org
Online “Open hearts” resources . . . . . .www.MediaWarehouse.org
Toll-free ordering and information . . . .(877) 281-6535
Fax number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(615) 742-5777
Seeker Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.UnitedMethodist.org
E-mail addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IM@umcom.org
IMMediaServices@umcom.org
IMMatchingGrants@umcom.org
IMTraining@umcom.org
Shipping address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .810 12th Ave. South, Nashville, TN
37203-4744
Mailing address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320
Cokesbury (United Methodist Publishing House)

To order other resources mentioned in this handbook:
Toll-free telephone number . . . . .(800) 672-1789
Web address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.cokesbury.com
The Foundation for United Methodist Communications

For information on how your financial gifts can increase the impact of Igniting
Ministry, contact:
Telephone number . . . . . . . . . . . .(615) 742-5776
Mailing address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 440228, Nashville, TN 37244-0228
General Board of Discipleship

For education and evangelism materials and services for The United Methodist
Church, particularly these Discipleship Resources: the FRAN Plan and Faith-Sharing,
The Faith-Sharing Congregation and other publications
Toll-free ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 685-4370
Website addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.discipleshipresources.org, www.gbod.org
7.1 Contacts and References

General Board of Global Ministries, Office of Research

For demographic information about your community.
Telephone number. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 870-3600
Website address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://gbgm-umc.org/research
E-mail address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . research@gbgm-umc.org
Mailing address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10115
InfoServ
To gain current information about United Methodist resources, programs and staff
Toll-free telephone number . . . . .(800) 251-8140
TechShop
To purchase Microsoft software, PCs, printers, scanners, etc. at special, discount-
ed rates for United Methodists.
Toll-free telephone number . . . . .(888) FIND-UMC (346-3862
Website address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.techshopministry.org
Contacts and References 7.2

Bibliography and Suggested Reading

Quoted in This Handbook
Page vi: Peck, M. Scott. The Road Less Traveled. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.
Page viii: Carder, Kenneth L. Sermons on United Methodist Beliefs. Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 1991.
Page 1.2: Weeks, Andrew D. Welcome! Tools and Techniques for New Member
Ministry. Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute, Inc., 1992.
Page 3.2: Sweet, Leonard. SoulTsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture.
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1999.
Page 3.3: Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven™ Church: Growth without Compromising
Your Message & Mission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House,
1995.
Sample, Tex. U.S. Lifestyles and Mainline Churches. Louisville, Ky.:
Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990.
Pages 3.7, 3.11–12: Miller, Craig Kennet. NextChurch.Now: Creating New Faith
Communities. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2000.
Welcoming, Inviting and Discipleship

Being a Welcoming Congregation. Louisville, Ky.: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2000.
Geitz, Elizabeth Rankin. Entertaining Angels. Harrisburg, Pa.: Morehouse Publishing,
1993.
Halverson, Delia. The Gift of Hospitality. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press, 1999.
How Shall They Hear? A Handbook for Religion Communicators. New York: Religion
Communicators Council, 2000.
Miller, Craig Kennet. NextChurch.Now: Creating New Faith Communities. Nashville:
Discipleship Resources, 2000.
Morris, George E. and H. Eddie Fox. Faith-Sharing. Nashville: Discipleship Resources,
1996.
Oswald, Roy M. Making Your Church More Inviting: A Step-by-Step Guide for In-
Church Training. Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute, Inc., 1992.
———. The Inviting Church: A Study of New Member Assimilation. Washington,
D.C.: The Alban Institute, Inc., 1987.
Swanson, Roger K. and Shirley Clement. The Faith-Sharing Congregation. Nashville:
Discipleship Resources, 1996.
Weeks, Andrew D. Welcome! Tools and Techniques for New Member Ministry.
Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute, Inc., 1992.
7.3 Suggested Reading

Connecting with the Unchurched

Barna, George. Casting the Net: The Unchurched Population in the Mid-Nineties.
Oxnard, Calif.: Barna Research Group, Ltd., 1995.
———. The Second Coming of the Church: A Blueprint for Survival. Nashville:
Word Publishing, 1998.
Barna Research Group, Ltd. The Igniting Ministry Campaign: National Audience
Research. Nashville: United Methodist Communications, November 2000.
Hunter, George G. How to Reach Secular People. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992.
Klaas, Alan C. In Search of the Unchurched. Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute,
Inc., 1996.
Net Results: New Ideas in Church Vitality. Lubbock, Tex.: Net Results, Inc., March
1999; Vol. XX, No. 3.
Roof, Wade Clark. Spiritual Marketplace: Baby Boomers and the Remaking of
American Religion. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1999.
Sample, Tex. U.S. Lifestyles and Mainline Churches. Louisville, Ky.:
Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990.
Vassallo, Wanda. Church Communications Handbook: A Complete Guide to
Developing a Strategy, Using Technology, Writing Effectively, Reaching the
Unchurched. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1998.
Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven™ Church: Growth without Compromising Your
Message & Mission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.
Media and Public Relations

Blum, Sandra J. Designing Direct Mail That Sells. Cincinnati: North Light Books,
1999.
Caples, John and Fred E. Hahn. Tested Advertising Methods. Upper Saddle River,
N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1998.
Corbett, Michael. 33 Ruthless Rules of Local Advertising. New York: Pinnacle Books,
1999.
Howard, Carole and Wilma K. Matthews. On Deadline: Managing Media Relations.
Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 2000.
Parkhurst, William. How to Get Publicity: And Make the Most of It Once You’ve
Got It. New York: Harperbusiness, 2000.
Rosen, Emanuel. The Anatomy of Buzz: How to Create Word-of-Mouth Marketing.
New York: Doubleday, 2000.
Surmanek, Jim. Media Planning, A Practical Guide. Lincolnwood, Ill.: NTC
Suggested Reading 7.4 Publishing Group, 1995.

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Welcoming and Media Planner

© 2001, 2006 by United Methodist Communications

Our Theological Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii

Part One: Establishing a Welcoming and Inviting Culture

2. Open Minds: Rethinking the “E-Word” to Build an Inviting Congregation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.1

Part Two: Implementing an Effective Media Campaign

he days of placing a one-inch ad in the newspaper’s

T religion section and then simply passing out worship

To support the advertising ministry, this handbook is a practical guide

We are the people of The United Methodist Church. Therefore, this is

The staff at United Methodist Communications thanks the hundreds of

Our Theological Foundation

I let you loose, George, on the great continent of America.

vi Our Theological Foundation

Using the mass media of our culture, Igniting Ministry’s messages

Our Theological Foundation vii

Igniting Ministry calls that transforming power and possibility to

viii Our Theological Foundation

I was a stranger, and you invited me in.

THIS IS ONE SNAPSHOT OF A PROMISING FUTURE. What is your congregation’s

About Igniting Ministry

minds and our doors are always open,” is designed to

Because you are reading this handbook, you must be interested in

How to Use This Handbook

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Step 1. Review the handbook.

Step 2. Participate in Training.

Step 3. Build your Igniting Ministry team.

2. Assemble an Igniting Ministry team. Start with the coordinators, then

Step 4. Train your people.

1.1 Open Hearts

OBVIOUSLY, THIS CHURCH IS TRYING TO BE WELCOMING—after all, two

Open Hearts 1.2

The difference would be if all the members saw themselves as

1.3 Open Hearts

Open Hearts 1.4

congregation will need the following to get on board:

1.5 Open Hearts

welcoming? What information do they need? How will you make

Open Hearts 1.6

and the pastor. (Have one of the teachers

1.7 Open Hearts

Open Hearts 1.8

2.1 Open Minds

“I’ve gone on to be a youth minister at great UMCs in North Texas and

NO MATTER HOW MUCH ADVERTISING WE DO, no matter how welcoming we

Taking the Fear Out of Evangelism

2.3 Open Minds

You’ll need to provide special teaching events where participants practice

Open Minds 2.4

The goal is to invite and welcome people to church—not simply to fill

2.5 Open Minds

When Should We Invite?

The Inviting Ministry

2.7 Open Minds

However you choose to follow-up with newcomers, the following

Open Minds 2.8

• Helping generate new groups and activities for newcomers

Churches find an effective tracking system consists of these activities:

2.9 Open Minds

Know your church’s strengths and you will be well-positioned to

Open Minds 2.10

C arlos was searching for a church where the people were