"Master Greeter" Sees Churches Grow by Reaching Out to Visitors
"The visitor is sent to you by God and they want friendship...they want to find out about a friendly God. It's about changing a stranger to a friend. Being a friend to new people opens them up to hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
(Vancouver, Washington)—Rich Liedtke is a master "greeter" who believes greeting people coming to church is much more than shaking someone's hand and saying "hello."
"It's about making people feel important and feel at home," said Liedtke, who is the founder of Master Greeter ministry and author of the book, How to be a Master Greeter. (File Photo)
"The visitor is sent to you by God and they want friendship," he adds. "Most importantly, they want to find out about a friendly God, and the more friendly they feel you are, the more likely they will come back."
His book has sold 13,500 copies and has reportedly been sent out to nearly 3,000 churches worldwide. He holds seminars on the subject and has a website by the same name.
According to a report in Christian News Northwest (CNNW) the way Liedtke establishes a friendship with the person is to learn their name, not just for that Sunday, but every time that person comes back.
Liedtke is quoted as saying the most meaningful part of the Master Greeter ministry has been watching how churches have changed after using his greeting methods.
"It's about changing a stranger to a friend," he concludes. "Being a friend to new people opens them up to hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
