Greeters make a difference in a church, and some of the strongest churches I know have them everywhere from the parking lot to the welcome center to the hallways to the small group rooms. Here are some things greeters can do in the parking lot:
1. Be a smiling face as people enter the lot. Some folks coming to church have had a rough week. Maybe even a rough life. A smile can go a long way for them.
2. Direct traffic if needed. Even if the church has a separate parking team, greeters are sometimes pressed into service in the busiest times.
3. Help families with children. Clearly identified and vetted greeters can assist families who are unloading multiple kids with all their associated stuff.
4. Guide people to the right door. It’s not always easy to know which door is the best entrance to a church. Parking lot greeters can help with that decision.
5. Offer rides if the lot is large. A greeter with a golf cart is a welcome sight for some folks who must park a long way from the building.
6. Guard spaces for the handicapped. You might be surprised how often our church consultation teams have seen seemingly healthy people with no handicapped sticker park in these spaces.
7. Provide umbrellas and an arm in inclement weather. Not everybody comes prepared for bad weather, and some people need a helping hand when the parking lot is slick or icy.
8. Answer general questions about the church. You never know what kinds of questions a guest or new member might have – and a greeter might be the first person available to answer those questions.
9. Pray silently for attenders as they arrive. How might a church service be different if every person who enters the building is a recipient of prayer?
10. Provide security. Just their presence, assuming the greeters are clearly recognizable, can be a deterrent to other problems like vandalism and theft.
11. Welcome the late-comers to church. It’s easy to get frustrated (often, at somebody else in the family) when people are late for church. A friendly greeter can say, “It’s all good. We’re just glad you’re here.”
12. Encourage people as they leave. Few churches use parking lot greeters in this way, so your church can be unique if your greeters serve after the service as well. A smiling face on the way out is just as important as a smiling face on the way in.
What would you add to this list?
Posted on July 18, 2023
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a leading expert in spiritual consultation, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Answers to provide advice and counsel for church leaders.
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