There are two types of visitors:
- Those who have never attended a House Church.
- Those who are switching House Churches.
Your approach will differ based on the type of visitor.
First-Time Visitors
When someone new expresses interest in your House Church, it’s best to meet in person first. You can arrange to meet after Sunday service or in a public place. This meeting helps you understand what they’re looking for and ensures they are aligned on the purpose of House Church. Emphasize that commitment is a core value at SP and explain its importance.
Key points to cover:
- Commitment
- Attend Sunday Service regularly.
- Attend House Church weekly.
- Purpose of House Church
- It’s a place to encounter God.
- The goal is spiritual growth.
- What’s unique about your House Church.
- Visitor Guidelines
- Visitors can attend up to 3 different House Churches.
- They can visit each House Church up to two times before deciding whether to commit.
This conversation helps set clear expectations and may reveal whether House Church is the right fit for them.
Visitors Switching House Churches
People switch House Churches for various reasons, such as:
- Scheduling conflicts
- Conflict with a member or leader
- Feeling disconnected
- Not experiencing growth
Before they commit to your House Church, it’s important to:
- Talk with them about why they left their previous House Church and if they received their leader’s blessing.
- Reach out to their previous leader to understand any issues.
The goal is to be prepared when welcoming these members, not to find reasons to reject them.
Why We Don’t Reject People
House Church is meant to be a place where people, even those who are broken or challenging, can encounter God and be transformed.
“A church without the broken is a broken church.” — Ed Stetzer