Recorded Webinar—Hospitality as Our Compass: Small Church Ministry in Action
- Steve Welch
- Oct 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 31
More than 140 clergy and lay leaders from across the United States, Canada, and Europe gathered online for an inspiring conversation about welcome ministry in small congregations.
When Canon Jenni Faires visits small Episcopal churches across the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, she often hears the same concern: "We have people walking through our parking lot to go to the non-denominational church on the corner." Sound familiar?
But here's the good news: visitors to small churches are looking for something very different from what they'll find at that mega-church down the street. They're looking for relationship. The opportunity to know and be known. And that's exactly what small congregations do best.
In our first webinar of the Small Congregations Series, Jenni joined Mary MacGregor, Invite Welcome Connect board member and former Canon for Congregational Vitality in the Diocese of Texas, for a practical, hope-filled conversation about welcome ministry. If you missed it, you can watch the full recording on this page—and we hope you'll join us for the next two sessions in November and January.
The Unique Gift of Small Churches
Small churches—those with average Sunday attendance under 75—make up the majority of congregations not just in The Episcopal Church, but across denominations. And they have something special to offer.
As Jenni noted, small churches provide:
A warm, family-like atmosphere
Opportunities for deep involvement
A place where children are known, loved, and raised up in faith
Authentic relationship
"Small churches offer relationship," Jenni emphasized. "The opportunity to know and to be known."
The Changing Landscape
But our rural communities are evolving. Jenni shared two significant trends:
First, fewer young people are returning to their hometowns, leaving generational churches without the automatic continuity they once enjoyed. The urgency for intentional evangelism has never been greater.
Second, suburbs are extending into rural areas, bringing families actively looking for a church home. "Our small churches are recognizing that they have something to offer to the community," Jenni said, "and want to know how to go about sharing their stories."
Yes, You Need Greeters
One of the most memorable moments came when Mary addressed a common objection: "Everybody knows each other here. Why would we have greeters?"
Her response was clear: "A greeter helps set the tone for the welcome, and it can actually impact the welcome culture of a church."
Greeters are different from ushers. Their job is to:
Ask a person's name
Initiate genuine conversation
Gather visitor information (simple details only—no tax forms!)
Create connection
"After a church has had greeters and never had them before," Mary observed, "after a year or two, they go, 'We are such a welcoming congregation.' And a lot of it started by having people really nicely greeted."
Practical Steps to Get Started
The presenters offered concrete, doable suggestions for small churches:
Make Your Church Look Alive
Fly flags on Sunday mornings (yes, even if it seems a bit "tacky"!)
Invest in perpendicular, double-sided road signs ($100-$120 on average)
Keep signage current and readable from passing cars
Consider bold theological statements like "All Welcome, No Exceptions"
Prepare for Visitors with Children
Have board books available
Print free resources from Sermons for Kids
Consider having clergy invite children forward for a brief story during the sermon
Remember: families are actively looking for churches to help raise their children in faith
Rethink the Passing of the Peace "Be authentic to who you are," Jenni advised. If your congregation hugs during the peace, greet visitors warmly—but they don't need a hug. If your congregation holds up peace signs and stays in place, do that with visitors too. The key is consistency. "What's more uncomfortable," Jenni asked, "being greeted or standing alone while everyone else is being greeted?"
Embrace Appropriate Technology Don't let being small keep you from being relevant. QR codes linked to simple online forms make follow-up easier and faster. And yes, you absolutely must follow up with every visitor—by text, email, or phone call within a few days.
The Power of Expecting Visitors
Perhaps the most transformative shift is simply this: expect visitors to show up.
"One of the harder things to do in our small church is expect someone new to walk through the door," Jenni acknowledged. But when we prepare—when we have welcome bags ready, children's resources available, greeters trained, and follow-up systems in place—we honor every invitation extended and trust that the Holy Spirit is at work.
A Word of Encouragement
Mary reminded us of the deeper purpose behind all these practical steps: "This isn't just a format of, we get your information and we're gonna contact you. No, this is about caring. From a sincere place that we want people to be a part of our worshiping community."
And Jenni offered this powerful encouragement: "About a little over 40% of our churches are seeing increases in attendance, and it's because of the work of just adding new things, or going outside of their comfort zone... Just pick something and start. Shake the ground underneath your feet."
What's Next?
This webinar is the first in our three-part Small Congregations Series:
November 13: Connect ministry for small churches
January 21: Invite ministry and social media for small churches
We're also offering a general Introduction to Invite Welcome Connect webinar in December—perfect for sharing with your whole congregation or vestry.
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing, some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." —Hebrews 13:2
Resources & Links Referenced
Invite Welcome Connect Core Resources:
Invite Welcome Connect book (Forward Movement/Amazon)
Book study guide (free download)
Greeter Ministry Guide (in the “Welcome” section of our online Tool Kit)
Invite Welcome Connect On-Demand subscription learning
Children & Family Ministry:
Sermons for Kids - Free weekly bulletins and activities
Signage & Design:
Canva - Design platform for creating church signs
Local sign companies (check for vendors in your area specializing in church signage)
Contact Information:
Questions or topic suggestions: iwcteam@invitewelcomeconnect.com
Connect with Jenni Faires: jfaires@dioswva.org
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