ABCs of Greeting Newcomers

This is an original composition. Enjoy.

A – Accept that you may become their friend.

B – Believe that what they are saying is true.

C – Confess that you forgot their name.

D – Don’t let them leave without being greeted.

E – Eye-to-eye contact is great.

F – Firmly shake their hand.

G – Get their email, phone number, or something.

H – Highlight their interests.

I – Invite them to join you –in church, on another day, in another church meeting, etc.

J – Jostle their funny bones.

K – Keep eye-to-eye contact.

L – Laugh with them…not at them…(yet).

M – Match them up with other potential friends and/or contacts.

N – Never day dream while the new person is speaking to you.

O – Offer to show them around the church and/or the town.

P – Pause; see what they would like to say.

Q – Questions: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams

R – Remember the information you have been asking them about; particularly their name.

S – Smile at them and with them.

T – Take them where their needs can be met.

U – Uphold God’s Word, the fellowship of the Body, and Jesus.

V – Value them as a potential friend.

W – Walk up to them first.

X – Xenophobia*; don’t fall prey to its devices!

Y – Yak in moderation.

Z – Zealously befriend one another; remembering we represent Christ.

*"Xenophobia" is the fear of foreigners -- people who are different from you.