We Want You Here

Thom S. Rainer

• Publisher: B&H Books
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781462780907
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

The message is basic but profound. We want guests to know they are welcome to the church. This book is a gift to guests to communicate that very message. Bestselling author Thom S. Rainer (I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church) has created a tool for churches to become more hospitable through a brief, welcoming book that introduces the ministry of the local church to guests. We Want You Here is a clear and instructive message to be given to church guests. Rainer facilitates the follow up conversation that every pastor would have, if they had the opportunity. By giving away the book to guests, they are encouraged, in a non-intrusive manner, to continue to reflect on the decision to visit their church. Those churches who share We Want You Here will be able to tell their guests:

• We Really Want You Here
• This is Not a Place for Perfect People
• We Would Like to Get to Know You
• This is Where Families Grow Strong
• Getting to Know the One Who Made Us
• Come Make a Difference with Us
• Thank You for Being Here

Chapter 1

Thank you.

We know. Those two words can seem trivial. We say them so often we can take them for granted.

But we really do want to thank you for being a guest at our church. We do not take your visit lightly. You have given of your time and energy to come to our church.

So, thank you again. We really mean it.

You may have some questions about our church. You may have some questions about your experience when you visited.

We get it.

Anytime you go to a new place, there may be uncertainty, and there may be questions. Our staff and church leaders are available to help you. We want to be as transparent as possible. We want to tell you about our church. We want to hear from you. And we want to answer your questions. Please let us know how we can help.

We want you to know something else: We really want you here!

Okay, that may sound absurd on the surface. How can we really want you here unless we know you well? Let us share five key reasons and you may get a better idea of our excitement about your visit.

Reason #1: We want you to experience the love of Christ.

We believe in Jesus Christ.

We believe he is the Savior of the world.

That is why we gather and worship at this church. Quite frankly, that is why we do what we do.

There are many good organizations out there. And many of them are doing a great job serving others and helping others. We are grateful for those organizations.

But churches are different. We do all we do because we love Christ. We know his love. We have experienced his love. We have given our lives to him.

You may already be a Christian. That is great. We hope that you can continue to experience the love of Christ at this church. Serving and loving Christ was never meant to be a solo effort. It was meant to be shared with fellow believers.

Maybe you aren’t a Christian. Or maybe you have questions or doubts about being a Christian. We will explore this matter further in chapters 5 and 7. But please understand you are welcome here regardless. We want you to experience the love of Christ.

It is transforming.

It is forgiving.

It is life-changing.

Perhaps this reason is the greatest reason we are glad you are here. We really hope you experience the love of Christ at our church.

Nothing could be more important.

Reason #2: We want to serve you.

Everyone has needs. Everyone has hurts at points in his or her life. Everyone has questions too.

We really love serving people and meeting needs. We would really love to serve you.

What is your need? Do you have questions about marriage, children, and family? Have you experienced the pain of loss in recent months? Do you feel lonely at times?

We want to serve you.

You will find at our church a number of people who find it a great joy to serve others. Many of them may have walked in your shoes. Someone in this church had experiences amazingly close to yours.

You may feel like you don’t want to bother us. Hear us clearly. We take great joy in serving others, in serving you. So please, don’t hesitate to tell one of us how we can help you. Please let us know. Don’t think for a moment you are alone. We are with you and for you.

But you may not be experiencing some tough moments at this point in your life. We know that life has peaks and valleys. You may not be experiencing those lower moments right now. Instead, you came to this church to see if it is a place where you can connect and where you can make a difference.

That is another reason we really want you here.

Reason #3: We want you to make a difference.

Frances Mason was her name. She lived to be almost ninety years old, and she made every day count. She loved her church. And she loved people.

Frances had this never-ending desire to make a difference for God. And she had two primary passions. First, she had the passion to pray. Rarely will you see someone so committed to prayer. Second, she had this crazy notion that God designed everyone to make a difference.

Okay, it’s not such a crazy notion.

Frances knew that, in the heart of everyone, there is a desire to make a difference and to be different. That is how God designed us.

Yes, we want to serve you at our church, but we want you to make a difference as well. In chapter 6 we will talk more about this idea of making a difference.

Big adventures for God often begin with small steps. You came to our church for a reason. Perhaps God sent you here so you could make a difference.

You see, we are really glad you are here because you may be here to make a difference beyond any expectations you’ve ever had.

Reason #4: We want to get to know you.

There is really something special when people get to know one another. They learn about their families, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, and their hurts.

You have been a welcomed guest, and you brought your unique self to our church.

Thank you.

But we know there is so much more to learn about you. We know you have stories and insights that will make our congregation a better place. So we hope to get to know you.

Jim was a recent divorcee when he was a guest at church. He obviously was wounded and hurting. He never planned for his marriage to fall apart.

At first, he was hesitant to get involved in the church. He just wasn’t sure he was ready to develop relationships at any level. But he got involved, and he started getting to know people. He developed relationships and friendships he never could have anticipated. He loved the people in the church.

But the love was not a one-way street. The people in the church began to know Jim better. And the more they knew about him, the more they liked him. No, Jim was not perfect. Neither were the others in the church. But the more they got to know each other, the more they appreciated each other. They accepted each other just as they were.

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Table of contents

• Chapter 1 We Really Want You Here
• Chapter 2 Not a Place for Perfect People
• Chapter 3 We Would Like to Get to Know You
• Chapter 4 Where Families Grow Strong
• Chapter 5 Getting to Know the One Who Made Us
• Chapter 6 Come Make a Difference with Us
• Chapter 7 Thank You for Being Here