Do you believe in love at first sight? How about the power of first impressions? How about the power of first impressions when you find out that you were wrong? I don’t know about you, but I have had some pretty amazing experiences in my life that could have come about much sooner had I not held on to my initial impression of something or someone. Turn that around, and the same concept applies in a positive light as well. Are there not those in your life whom you warmed up to immediately because of the way they received you upon your initial contact with them?

First impressions are extremely influential. They can dictate the way we experience somebody or something forever. Consider, for example:

• Do you ask for a particular server at a restaurant because his/her service was impeccable the first time you went?
• Do you look back on a particular grade in school with fondness because on the very first day one of your new classmates simply decided to smile at you?
• Do you remember revisiting a particular church because the very first person to greet you there made you feel welcomed and accepted?

Or maybe you remember the opposite— not returning to a church because you were not embraced and included by the first person you encountered. The truth is, of all the ministry and program teams that make up a church, the welcome team is the one with the power of first impression.

At our church, the welcome team consists of greeters, ushers, and a group of people set up at what we call "The Welcome Center." Anyone can hand out a bulletin, but it takes a person with a love for people to be a greeter. A smile and a warm, caring word could make the difference between whether someone returns to a church or not. More importantly, it could mean whether or not they accept the gift of salvation. It is important to be sensitive to the needs of all in attendance, both visitors and regular attendees alike. This is a critical part of being a greeter.

Ushers have an additional challenge. Not only are they needed to answer questions and create an atmosphere that is inviting, but they also are responsible for seating people as discreetly as possible, even when those seated on the end of the row look up and respond with, "This is my seat, and I’m not moving." (Yes, that really happens.) Ushers also help with  picking up items that are left, looking for empty seats, being ready to answer a question, or giving out programs. If someone is sick or doesn’t feel well, ushers should stay with them, or quiet minor disturbances which would distract you from the meaning of the pastor’s message.

Finally, we have the Welcome Center. This is a marked table set up outside the foyer of the Worship Center. Two or three members of the team stand around the table, hand out literature, and answer questions at the beginning and end of each service. This also acts as our information center. Upcoming events, calendars, and general activities are publicized here. Having someone smile and provide information can make the experience be a pleasant one. It is important to provide accurate and timely information to all who are inquiring at the center. Another key ingredient is to be gracious and not "bossy." Your attention should always be directed to the visitors, not to ignoring them by talking with friends.

Making anyone, especially a visitor, feel unimportant and unwelcome is the last thing any member of the welcome team desires to do. After all, they have the power —the power of first impression. I figure, if Jesus really lives in the hearts of those who serve on that team, and I believe that He does, then there is every reason to expect that His love will be evident in the very first seconds of the initial contact. I guess that opens up only one question: If Jesus were on your welcome team, exactly how would He represent you, your church, and Himself?

Robert Rivera, a minister on the staff at University Baptist Church in Coral Gables, Florida, directs the Frontline Ministry Team.

LifeWay Resources, used by permission