by Nicole Duff, Membership Development Manager
This is the time of year when we see lots of visitors… finding a new church home before the start of school and other fall activities.
For many, approaching a visitor can be intimidating. If you find yourself tongue tied… try these tips:
- Greet EVERYONE!
- Greet every unfamiliar person with “Hi, I’m _________, I don’t believe we have met yet.”
- If new, make sure they know about fellowship hour. If possible, offer to meet them and walk over with them.
Here are some conversation starters:
- “What brings you here today?”
- “How did you find us?
- “Why did you select a Unitarian-Universalist congregation to visit?”
- “Have you lived here long?” (where do you hail from?)
- “Are there any questions I can answer for you?”
- “Tell me about yourself.”
- If they ask you a question you can’t answer, say, “I don’t know the answer to that, but perhaps _____ does. Let me introduce you.”
I hope these tips help you feel more confident in approaching a visitor. Remember, most visitors are looking for community. The best way to show them they can find that at East Shore is by welcoming them with a smile and conversation!