These are individuals who have not been to G4 before and are perhaps nervous about the idea of joining our ministry because of the stigma that is attached to attending “group counseling.” Our goal is to make these individuals feel welcome and as though they have made the right choice in taking the tremendous step of courage walking through the door for the first time.
Introduce Yourself: Most often we see first time guest walk in a little bit slowly because they are nervous. They are looking around to check for some sign that they are in the correct place and are most often not carrying curriculum. When you see someone who seems nervous, introduce yourself, offering your name, and ask them if it is their first time. Continue reading
Often participants make up their mind about whether or not they will come back to an event before they ever make into large or small groups.The welcome they receive at the door matters. In addition to being welcoming, it is necessary that you are able to follow a specific procedure that allows guest to be properly signed-in so that so they get connected with the correct group and are informed about the nature of our ministry (an important liability protection measure for anything counseling-related).
Leaders want to change lives, and the best leaders know that a truly effective ministry must train its members to become leaders themselves. After all, God’s people want to change lives too—but we are all tired of approaches that promise much and deliver little. We are ready for an equipping ministry that is comprehensive, easy to implement, and relationship-oriented; not program-focused.
John H. Chapman 