This Sunday afternoon I was speaking with my pastor on the phone about first-time visitors—those people who walk through the doors of our churches for the very first time. As we reflected on this, one thought kept returning to my mind: we often fail to notice the very people God has graciously brought to us.
I’ve observed this over the years in many conservative evangelical churches in South Africa. I’m not suggesting that every church is like this. In fact, I’ve seen churches where visitors are welcomed exceptionally well. But I’ve seen this weakness often enough to believe it deserves some attention.
God’s Work Precedes Ours
Every Lord’s Day, people leave their homes and walk into our churches. Pause and think about that. We usually don’t know why they came. Perhaps a Christian friend invited them, Maybe they noticed the church while driving past. Perhaps they recently lost a loved one, their marriage is falling apart, or they are carrying burdens that no one else knows about. In some cases they’ve begun reading the Bible for the first time. Or maybe they simply woke up with a desire to hear about God. Whatever brought them there, one thing is certain: they didn’t arrive outside God’s providence.
If someone walks through your church doors, they haven’t arrived by accident.
We don’t know their story. But we do know this: if someone walks through your church doors, they haven’t arrived by accident. In God’s sovereign providence, he has brought them into your congregation and placed them among his people; and if your church faithfully proclaims Christ they’ve also been brought within hearing of the good news. We know that no one seeks Christ apart from the Father’s gracious work (John 6:44). We know that God often uses ordinary means to draw people to himself. Therefore whatever means he’s used, God has kindly led them to a place where Christ will be proclaimed.
Evangelistic Opportunities We Often Miss
Throughout scripture, we see God in his providence bringing people together at just the right time. He sent Philip to meet the Ethiopian official on a lonely desert road (Acts 8:26-40). He prepared Peter to visit Cornelius, a Gentile who had been seeking God (Acts 10). In both cases, God was already at work long before his servants arrived. Every Lord’s Day, God continues to work in the same way. For in his providence he brings visitors into our churches. That alone should make us pause. Shouldn’t we receive them as gifts that he has entrusted to our care?
We pray for evangelistic opportunities while overlooking the people God has already brought.
We rightly encourage Christians to share the gospel throughout the week. We encourage personal evangelism, conversations with neighbours and colleagues, inviting friends to church, and supporting evangelistic outreaches. These are all good and biblical. Yet if we’re honest many of us are not as faithful in personal evangelism as we ought to be. We often miss opportunities through fear, busyness, or simply because we aren’t paying attention. And still, despite our weakness, God continues to bring visitors into our churches. Isn’t that a remarkable display of his mercy? Sometimes we pray for evangelistic opportunities while overlooking the very people God has already brought to us.
Ironically, some of the most accessible evangelistic opportunities are found not outside the church building but inside it. Someone has already crossed a considerable barrier. They’ve entered a Christian gathering, sung with God’s people, listened to the scriptures being read and heard the gospel preached. Now what happens? Too often, very little. The visitor stands alone while familiar conversations begin among friends. Members catch up with people they’ve known for years. Within a few minutes the visitor quietly walks away. Sometimes they never return. I have seen this happen more times than I would like to admit. Perhaps you have too.
“Isn’t That the Pastor’s Job?”
At this point someone may object. “Isn’t welcoming church visitors the pastor’s responsibility.” Of course, pastors have an important role to play here. And good pastors will usually notice visitors. They introduce themselves, answer questions, and arrange to meet for coffee during the week. They genuinely want to know those whom God has brought.
The New Testament never presents hospitality as the responsibility of one man.
But pastors are also human. As soon as the service ends, they are in demand. Someone needs prayer. A member wants pastoral counsel. Another visitor has theological questions. There may be a leadership meeting, a counselling appointment, or another urgent matter requiring attention. And while all of this is happening, we still expect the pastor to notice every unfamiliar face. That is neither realistic nor biblical. The New Testament never presents hospitality as the responsibility of one man. It is part of the life of the whole church.
Visitors Are the Church’s Ministry
The scriptures repeatedly call ordinary believers to show hospitality (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9). Welcoming others isn’t simply good manners; it is an expression of Christian love. Imagine if every church member came to church praying, ‘Lord, if you bring someone today who needs encouragement, help me to notice them.’ Imagine if every family intentionally looked for someone they’d never met. What if every small group welcomed newcomers? Imagine if every member invited a visitor to stay for tea or coffee after the service. How different would many of our churches feel?
Welcoming others isn’t simply good manners; it is an expression of Christian love.
Welcoming a visitor doesn’t require a special gift or particular personality. Although some believers may be especially gifted in hospitality, every church member can take simple steps to welcome someone. Introduce yourself. Learn their name. Ask where they are from. Listen to their story. Introduce them to another member before you leave. Invite them back next Sunday. These may seem like small acts, but God often uses ordinary acts of kindness to open doors for gospel conversations.
One reason this matters so much is because we never know what is happening behind someone’s smile. The young man sitting quietly at the back may be wrestling with despair. The elderly widow may have buried her husband only weeks ago. The university student may be searching for purpose. The family may have spent years looking for a faithful church. The businessman may be carrying guilt that no one else knows. We don’t know. But God does. Perhaps in his providence he’s brought them to your church on that particular Sunday because he intends to use his people to show them the love of Christ. That should humble us.
More Than Friendly Churches
Our goal isn’t simply to create friendlier churches. Many organisations are friendly. Our goal is far greater. We want people to know Christ. A warm welcome isn’t the gospel. Coffee isn’t the gospel. Friendly conversations aren’t the gospel. But these things often become the bridge over which the gospel travels. They communicate that people matter. More importantly, they point beyond us to the Saviour who welcomes sinners. Jesus welcomed those whom others ignored. He sought the lost. He received sinners. Jesus invites the weary to come to him. Shouldn’t his church reflect something of his heart?
Many organisations are friendly. Our goal is far greater.
As I write, I don’t want to sound as though I’ve mastered this. I haven’t. There have been Sundays when I’ve walked straight past visitors to our church. There have been times when I was so busy talking to people I already knew that I completely missed someone standing alone. I’ve failed here too. This article is first a reminder and encouragement for all of us.
A Prayer for Our Churches
What if we began seeing visitors differently? Instead of thinking, ‘someone else will greet them,’ what if we asked, ‘could this be someone whom God has graciously brought for me to meet today?’ The Lord is still building his church. He’s still drawing people to himself. Sometimes he does so through faithful evangelism during the week. Sometimes, in his wonderful providence, he simply brings people through the doors of our churches. May we never take that for granted.
The Lord is still building his church. He’s still drawing people to himself.
The person standing alone after the service isn’t an interruption to your fellowship. They may be God’s providential appointment for your obedience. They may become your closest brother or sister in Christ. One day, they may teach children, serve as a missionary, shepherd God’s people, or simply become another redeemed sinner who will spend eternity worshipping the Lamb. The Chief Shepherd is still gathering his flock. May he find us watching for those whom he graciously brings.
