Seven touches
Congregations that have guests leave worship feeling like they have made significant connections make an intentional effort to have those guests greeted multiple times as they approach the worship space. The general rule is “7 touches,” which does not mean actual physical contact but some expression of welcome by multiple persons. For example:
Parking lot greeters
Front door greeters
Ushers
Hospitality hosts/hostesses
Greeting time
Connection cards
Pastor welcome
Hospitality Center with hosts/hostesses
Conversations initiated by regular participants
There are, of course, many other possible connection points!
Why Jesus Is Not Our Copilot?
By J.D. Walt
"We are broken in our inmost being from the beginning. We cannot educate ourselves out of this condition or we would have by now. I wish it were not so, and yet the gift of God is complete restoration, deep salvation, redemption, healing and not so much being taught to fly as being lifted up on eagles’ wings. By the Word of God we are given the perspective of faith and hope and love, endowed with the very Spirit of God and the mind of Christ, and come to bear the flourishing fruit of the kingdom. This is the stuff of attunement."