March 2020
When I attended a church conference at the Saddleback Community Church many years ago, Pastor Rick Warren mentioned that each person who came to worship in that church would receive a warm welcome by at least three people! So, that Sunday morning, when I came to worship, I was counting. And guess what? He was right. My hand was shaken by three different sets of greeters on the way from the parking lot into the Sanctuary Building.
Well, I was impressed. By the time I reached the worship center, I felt noticed, warmly welcomed, and glad I had come (and the service hadn't even begun yet). What also impressed me was the level of intentionality that had gone into making that kind of welcome possible. There was a large cadre of people who saw greeting others as a real ministry in and of itself.
After returning to SCFBC I was thrilled to be asked by Pastor Valui to partner with Karen Dong in working on this significant ministry. The "Welcoming Ministry" of our church is responsible for extending to those who attend our services and our events a grace-filled greeting. It lets people know they are important and included, no strings attached. It takes as a guidepost the admonition of God to His people the Jews in Leviticus 19:33-34 (MSG):
"When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God."
Those of us already in the SCFBC family are on the inside, so we are no longer "foreigners." Our call is to welcome those new to our family as honored "guests." Would you like to join our band of greeters? Let me know. You can contact me at pastor.rich.123@gmail.com.
Blessings!