DON’T CALL VISITORS “VISITORS”
by Pastor Lem
“Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life” Titus 1:8 Living Bible
Let’s play a word-association game. The first word: visitor. What comes to mind? Here are some ideas: uncertain, curious, stranger, unfamiliar, uncomfortable. Being a visitor—in most situations—can be a rather uncomfortable experience. Here’s another word: guest. First impressions? Mine includes important, respected, invited, welcomed, honored, getting attention. Much more positive images, don’t you think?
Now I want you think about the words used at our church to describe newcomers who attend for the first or second time. What do you call them publicly and privately? Which of these words: visitor or guest—best describe how you feel about them? And which word do you think best describes how they feel themselves?
The word visitor is defined as “a person who resides temporarily; one who goes or comes to inspect; one who makes a short stay at a place for a particular purpose.” The word implies previous distance from an experience or event or people.
Why don’t we begin referring to our visitors as guests instead? That word is defined as “a person welcomed into one’s home; a person to whom hospitality is extended; a person held in honor and treated with utmost courtesy.” That word still suggests “newcomer,”—but one who is treated with importance.
Changing our vocabulary may not change how newcomers feel about their coming, but it may very well change the way we members feel about the newcomers.
Let me therefore make a suggestion by introducing the term guests into the vocabulary of Cambridge SDA Church in addressing those who attend church with us for the first or second time. It is surprising how our language affects our perception of others, which in turn affects our behavior toward them. Calling newcomers guests rather than visitors is a first step toward extending to them the honor and importance they would feel nice about!
I know of a pastor at a large church in Oklahoma City who took seriously the importance of changing the language that he decided to fine his staff $5 anytime they used the word visitor in their staff meetings. Now, I am not about to do that here—but at least let us remind ourselves whenever there is a slip in our tongue! Remember, the way newcomers are received and welcomed will have a great deal to do with whether they will come back to church.
The next time you ask me to change some of the language to use here in church—let me suggest that the people assigned at the doors who extend a smile, shake the hands of newcomers and say “Good morning” or “Happy Sabbath” to our guests—what do we call them now? Greeters. That we also change the word—from greeters to hosts.
But that’s for blog!
