Visitors

Does anyone else still think we should have visitors to our churches wear that visitor name tag? I'll gladly wear the member name tag if that will help.
In fact, when you are a part of a large church and you have a poor memory, maybe having the members wear them would be more beneficial and not have the visitors wear one. I am just tired of being embarrassed on Sunday mornings when I shake hands and say my name to a new person or someone I should know their name but I don't know their name or they've been attending the church for 5 years.

That's why I think being a part of a small group or Sunday school class is so important. Connecting with members of the church can be impossible if the only time you have a conversation is the 2 minutes after the greeting and before the next song in worship.
Making connections takes time and effort. Making connections means you are spending time outside of worship with others. Bringing up prayer requests for your hurts or joys in life. Having folks over to your house for a meal or fellowship. Opening up the Scriptures with one another and having a real conversation about it.
That's a community that I want to be a part of.

But it takes effort on my part. Let's be honest, if I want to exclude myself in a large church I can. The job of the leadership in a church, I believe, is to give opportunities for people to lead and meet and worship.

As a coach and teacher, I don't really have any power. It's up to the individuals on my team or in my classroom as to whether real change or learning is taking place. It's not me, it has to come from them. Same goes for the church.