How Churches Are Building a More Welcoming Community
- Thaddeus Sieverding
- Jun 26
- 4 min read
Real stories. Real ideas. Real ways to open your doors wider.
If you’ve ever asked, “How can we make our church more welcoming?”—you’re not alone. Churches everywhere are wrestling with how to offer a deeper sense of belonging, especially to new faces, those returning after time away, or people who’ve never set foot inside a sanctuary before.
So we reached out to church leaders across the FaithMesh community and asked: What are some simple, effective ways your church is working to be more welcoming?
Here’s what they shared.
Say Hello Before the Service Starts
It sounds simple—because it is.
At Deerfield Community Church, Cindy Bradley says their hospitality begins before the first hymn is sung.
“Before the service starts, someone—or a few people—make sure to greet new faces, introduce themselves, and invite guests to coffee hour. Often, that same person walks them there and introduces them to others. An invitation to return is always part of the conversation.”
For Deerfield, this happens organically. “Without assignment or schedule, it just happens.” But if you’re in a congregation where that kind of welcome needs structure, try assigning a few “guest greeters” whose sole role is to spot newcomers and help them feel at ease.
🤔 Quick Thought: Don’t just ask people to come to coffee hour. Offer to walk with them. That extra step turns a kind gesture into a real connection.
Let People Tell Their Story
Your church’s welcome isn’t just what you say—it’s who you are.
Ashley Sylvester from Granby Congregational Church shared a heartfelt idea: a sermon series that spotlights the voices in your pews.
“Last year, we did a short series on how the church has shaped people’s lives. I was asked to speak as a former youth group member about how faith and the church shaped me. Deacons, youth, committee members—everyone shared.”
The result? A church that felt more personal, more connected, and more inspiring.
Want to keep that energy going beyond a sermon series? Try this easy habit: ask the person reading scripture each week to briefly share why they’re part of your church. A few words can go a long way in showing that faith is lived out by real people—not just preached from the pulpit.
Make the Space Physically (and Visibly) Accessible
Welcoming isn’t just emotional—it’s architectural.
At Pilgrim United Church of Christ Brentwood Kingston, Rev. Tara Olsen Allen shared a thoughtful list of physical changes they’ve made:
A ramp and railings for easier building access
A designated pew space for wheelchairs and walkers
Improved sound systems for the hearing impaired
A cozy “pray-ground” in the sanctuary for kids, with fidget toys and books
Gender-neutral bathrooms throughout the building
A rainbow flag and rainbow chairs during Pride month to visibly show their ONA status
But what makes those updates work—what makes them mean something—is the spirit behind them.
“Most importantly, though, I think the initiative we’ve implemented to be more welcoming isn’t really an initiative at all. It’s the genuine, warm, loving nature of the members of this church. I always say that Pilgrim Church is a small church with the biggest heart.”
That kind of welcome can’t be manufactured—but it can be supported. Start by looking at your space and asking, Who’s missing, and why? A small team can help assess your building and offer realistic, affordable next steps that create a more inclusive environment.
🤔 Quick Thought: Physical accessibility sends a powerful message: You belong here—and we planned for you.
Create Consistent Community Moments
Welcoming doesn’t have to be on Sunday morning.
Rev. Andrew Ponder Williams church, North Community Church, created two powerful initiatives that go hand in hand:
Sensational Saturdays – a consistent monthly event for families and neighbors to gather, play, and connect.
Friendship Hall – they renamed their community building to make it more accessible, less intimidating, and… well, friendlier.
“It’s about showing up in ways that feel approachable to people who might not walk through our doors on Sunday.”
It’s a reminder that church happens outside of Sunday worship, too. Whether it’s a recurring Saturday event, a quarterly meal, or a community game night—when you create space consistently, people start to show up.
🤔 Quick Thought: Ask yourself, "What does our neighborhood actually need from us?" Then do that thing. Often.
Build Systems That Support the Welcome
The goal is that your culture becomes so welcoming, you barely need to assign it.
That’s the dream, right? Cindy Bradley said it best:
“Without assignment or schedule, it just happens.”
But even that culture doesn’t happen by accident. Behind the scenes, many churches have intentionally designed processes and workflows that help support the welcome they want to offer—things like assigned greeters, follow-up email sequences, or a coffee hour host schedule.
Structure can support the spontaneous.
🤔 Quick Thought: Read our article “Creating a Welcome Workflow” to start mapping out how your church can follow up after that first visit.
Final Word
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for being a welcoming church—but these stories are proof that small, intentional steps can create big impact. Whether it’s greeting someone at the door, upgrading your building, or sharing stories from the pews, your welcome matters.
And if you’ve tried something that’s worked in your church—we want to hear about it! Become a contributor to FaithMesh and share your ideas with churches across the country.
Let’s build a more welcoming church, together.
What initiatives has your church taken? We'd love to hear more. Leave a comment and get the conversation started.
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