Practice: Welcome Experience Audit

Evaluate your church's current welcome experience from a newcomer's perspective to identify strengths and areas for potential enhancement.

Instructions

1. Observation: Attend a service or church event as if you are a newcomer. Try to see everything through fresh eyes. Note your first impressions, interactions, and how you felt during the experience. Set aside about 45 minutes for this step.
2. Evaluation: Review your observation notes and start your evaluation by:
1. Listing the observed strengths of the current welcome experience.
2. Identify areas with room for improvement. Consider aspects such as:
1. First impressions and their impact on your feeling of welcome.
2. Any confusion or discomfort experienced due to lack of information or guidance.
3. Interactions that stood out, both positive and negative, and why.
4. Follow-up processes (or lack thereof) for newcomers after their initial visit.
3. For each area, consider why it might be happening and the effect it may have on a newcomer's perception of the church.
4. Reflect on how these aspects of the welcome experience align with the principles of hospitality discussed in the course. Use specific examples from your notes to illustrate your points.
5. Conclude your evaluation by summarizing the key strengths that should be maintained and the top three areas where enhancements could significantly impact newcomers' experiences.
   Set aside about 75 minutes for the evaluation.

Submission

Upload your evaluation and notes using the option below.