It All Starts in the Parking Lot
Sometimes the most powerful ministry begins with a handshake and a smile.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35 (NIV)
A simple handshake and a warm smile. That's all it took to make an hour-and-a-half drive feel like nothing at all.
After 12 years of serving in ministry at the same church, I've recently stepped away from my role. Now my husband, daughter, and I find ourselves church-looking. And can I just say something? It's hard. It's uncomfortable, awkward, and for someone who has spent years helping OTHER people feel welcome at church, being on the other side has been quite daunting. The churches we've visited have been friendly enough, but the greetings often feel a little like an awkward first date. A hesitant handshake, a polite smile, and an even quicker exit, leaving us wondering where to go, where to sit, or whether we should have brought our own tour guide!
But recently, we visited a small church in Wilmington, North Carolina, that reminded me of something beautiful. (Shout out to Travis Smith and Encounter Point Church! Woohoo!)
There were no flashy "WELCOME HOME!" signs or elaborate guest experiences. Instead, before we even got out of our vehicle, a couple of guys greeted us with a joke and a hearty belly laugh. (They even made my husband smile!) Inside, we were met with genuine smiles, firm handshakes, and people who seemed truly glad we were there. Even after we found our seats, several stopped by to make sure we had everything we needed. They weren't the "pretty ones" or the "cool ones" strategically positioned to impress the visitors. They were ordinary people demonstrating extraordinary love. They were the REAL salt and light.
The worship was wonderful, the sermon was exactly what we needed, and our daughter loved her group. But here's what struck me: Before the first song was sung or the pastor ever opened his Bible, we had already experienced the love of Jesus. Not through a polished hospitality program, but through a congregation whose genuine love was impossible to miss.
Sometimes the most powerful ministry doesn't happen on the platform. It happens in the parking lot.
Jesus reminds us in John 13:35 that the world will recognize His disciples by the way they love one another. Not by the size of our buildings, the quality of our worship, or how impressive our LED walls are (although I do love a good LED wall!), but by our LOVE. Romans 12:13 (NIV) gives us a simple instruction: “Practice hospitality.” And that's just it. Genuine hospitality isn't accomplished simply by training a team of greeters or assigning volunteers to stand at the doors. It's a culture of love and kindness that must be cultivated throughout the entire congregation. It's found in the warm smile, the genuine handshake, the unexpected conversation, and the church member who steps outside their familiar circle of friends to make someone new feel like they belong.
Hebrews 13:2 (NIV) reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers.” We never know what someone has experienced before walking through our church doors, what burdens they may be carrying, or how much courage it took just to show up. And while organized hospitality teams certainly have their place, the warmest welcome comes from a congregation that genuinely loves people, not because they've been told or trained to do so, but because the love of Jesus naturally overflows from their hearts.
And what an incredible opportunity to demonstrate that love before the first song is sung or the first word of the sermon is preached!
Because the best welcome doesn't come from a sign that says "WELCOME HOME." It comes from people who make you feel like you are.
