Recently, my wife and I found ourselves in the unenviable position of having to find a new spiritual home. With a decade worshipping and working with the same congregation, the thought of transitioning to a different church was not something either of us was looking forward to. Having visited numerous congregations throughout Europe and North America, we knew all-too-well the cocktail of beliefs and behaviours that awaited us. Yet the need to belong, far outweighs the inconvenience required.
Believing that ‘God places [people] in the church, as it pleases Him’[1] is one thing, but to leave the familiar and journey into the unfamiliar, is part of the challenge of change. To an introvert, attending new places, meeting new people, is difficult. Where my wife needs her daily fix of people, I don’t!
“Houston, We Have a Problem!”
This famous phrase is spoken by Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) in the blockbuster movie Apollo 13 (1995), which tells the story of a vehicle that’s no longer suitable to fulfil the vision of putting men on the moon. It’s the story of how the mission of the malfunctioning Lunar Module had to be aborted.
Just like Lovell’s malfunctioning Lunar Module, buildings have the potential to become a distraction to the overall mission and purpose. Whether a converted warehouse, school, cinema, or historic place of worship, buildings play a key role in the process of welcoming those through their doors. While some will attract the would-be visitor, others can distract. And as Christians, we need to remember that churches are not so much places as they are people.
While a postwar generation was willing to put up with the ‘old and cold’, today’s visitors are more discerning. Problems arise when the ambiance, warmth and friendly environment of a local hostelry is more inviting than a local church building. The ‘shack mentality’ that holds to a ‘mend-and-make-do’ attitude is the philosophy of a bygone age.
Two-star buildings in a four-star world, will do little to welcome would-be visitors.
The Old Testament Queen of Sheba was blown away by Solomon’s place of worship and the way people served in God’s house. When a Christian community refuses to practice excellence without extravagance, the discerning visitor is more likely to make a speedy exit.
While historic buildings are valid venues for weddings and funerals, their historical relevance and architectural beauty are often lost on today’s visitor. Then again, the drab bricks and mortar of some postwar buildings have little to attract potential visitors. Windowless facades that block the view of what lies beyond, are not only unwelcoming, they’re scary. So, three cheers for the Salvation Army, who, when designing The Glass House in The City of London, wanted to show a welcoming philosophy by using sheer glass walls on three sides. This was an intentional act to demonstrate a welcoming attitude to allcomers, no matter a person’s social, cultural, racial or financial status.
Those struggling with an ‘old and cold’ building and a ‘make-do-and-mend attitude’, know that something will have to change. A friendly smile, free gifts and great refreshments go some way to distracting visitors from an unsuitable building, but leaders need to release the creatives to consider new ways of welcoming guests – realising that the personality and mental attitude of those standing at the entrance way will leave a lasting impression that lingers far beyond the praise and preaching.
Our 21st-century purpose-built facilities maybe phenomenal,
but a great welcoming team is fundamentally essential.
Greet the Greeters
Variety may be the ‘spice of life’, but when it comes to welcoming first timers, churches are not always afforded a second chance. Glossy websites, along with a slick social media presence, is appealing, but there comes a moment when believers and non-believers feel ready to check out a local church for themselves.
With over a half-century of visiting mega and minor churches both here and abroad, when it comes to the welcoming experience, we’ve experienced the good, bad and ugly. Bad signage, old and cold buildings, poor parking and dirty bathrooms are one thing, but eventually every visitor must come face to face with those strategically placed at the entrance.
While the willing heart of a volunteer wanting to be a greeter is commendable, churches must choose the very best for the role and responsibility of welcoming. Character, calling and charisma are no less valid for the person who stands at the door, than those seated on the platform.
When it comes to welcoming, some people are born naturals!
Whether we agree or not, in an attempt to declare the churches’ vision of multi-generational congregations, some have children standing alongside adult greeters. But then there is the more embarrassing experience of having to walk the red carpet through a human tunnel of applauding cheerleaders. Or having to dodge placard-waving greeters that is more akin to a picket line of disgruntled employees, than a team of church greeters.
Then there was the one occasion when we – baby booming, classical music-loving individuals – were greeted with a friendly smile, the obligatory handshake, and the slightly disconcerting gift of ear plugs. Such gifts make it loud and clear that the volume could be off-putting. The importance and implications of those standing at the door reflects the culture of the church. Together, these interactions prove the fact that first impressions are lasting ones.
To quote Psalm 84 verse 10 in a way that is dismissive of the role, using the descriptor ‘doorkeeper’ is to miss the significance of ‘those who stand at the threshold’.[2] In Old Testament times, as now, the ‘doorkeeper’ is a person ‘set apart’ for guarding, guiding and gracing the gate to the house of the Lord. Throughout our long lives, we can think of those occasions when we have been greeted by a person who was truly gifted for the role. With a demeanour that puts you immediately at ease, they make the journey into the unknown far more enjoyable than it might otherwise be.
The Enrico Angeletti Experience
When the one-time Williams Formula One racing team was asked which hotel they preferred when attending the Australian Grand Prix, the answer was always the same – The Park Royal Hotel.
We might immediately wonder what made this facility their preferred choice. Was it the great accommodation, gymnasium, gourmet food? No, it was all down to a single doorman who went by the name of Enrico Angeletti, or ‘Ric’ to those who knew him.
Ric was a doorman who managed to turn a mundane job
into an incredible career!
Given the ‘Keys of the City’ and honoured as ‘South Australian of the year’ – an honour shared by Sports Stars and Scientists alike – Ric Angeletti took the somewhat lowly role of doorperson to the highest echelons of serving.
While most of us would consider the role and responsibility of a common doorman as mundane, unrewarding and mindless, Ric saw it as a star role in his own movie. Unloading bags, calling taxis, giving directions, parking cars and taking delivery parcels all while standing in the rain or the blazing sun were all part of his career choice.
Rick had the ability to turn the role of doorman into a daily star-studded performance. When he saw your car or taxi pull up, he would run over to the boot while waving to you through the window with his infamous cheeky grin. Before you could turn off the ignition, he had unloaded your bags and opened your door.
“Park here for now,” he would say. “We’ll shift your car later. The parking inspector is my cousin!” he’d add with a wink.
“You having dinner? Get the fish, my other cousin Louie caught it this morning…”
He’s laughing, you’re laughing – you’re glad you booked into this hotel.
He had a different, cheerful chit-chat line for everyone, regardless of whether you’re the state premier, a chairman of a major cooperation or a couple of country bumkin honeymooners.
He could hold four conversations at once, manage three couple’s bags and hail two cabs all without his feet touching the ground. Never breaking his precious smile, he knew every restaurant in town, every employee in the hotel, all the cab drivers in the street and half the passers-by. His memory for names was incredible and his recall on faces astounding.
This man was not just a hotel doorman, his handle on life was the difference that made the difference.
Back to the Beginning
In our recent search for a new spiritual home, we were pleasantly surprised to find someone who – though perhaps not in the same league as Ric Angelletti – demonstrated many of his characteristics. With his winsome smile, friendly banter and a wealth of information, he managed in a matter of moments to make our journey into the unknown an enjoyable experience.
Pleasant, but not pushy, friendly but not fake, having introduced himself with a smile and handshake, he became our self-appointed carer for the morning. Handing us a welcome gift, he introduced himself, while in the same breath telling us all we needed to know about the in-house facilities. Walking with us to the refreshment area while introducing various people along the way, he made us feel like welcomed guests into the spiritual home he clearly loved.
Checking in on us throughout the morning, he was overtly friendly, but never overbearing. His humour and outgoing persona were sufficient to make us want to return.
With a follow-up social media message, he extended this welcome to beyond the church service. Here was a greeter in the ilk of Enrico Angeleti, someone who generated that basic of human need – to feel approved, accepted and appreciated.
[1] 1 Corinthians 12:18 – paraphrased
[2] Literal translation of the Hebrew word translated ‘doorkeeper’.
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