This morning as I had breakfast in the hotel dining room, a tall blonde lady entered the room and called out, "Good morning, everyone."

I figured she had to be the manager. She was.

Terri told me later–as I sketched her–she had been on the job just two weeks. "Before, I managed a hotel in Opelika," a few miles down the interstate. I complimented her on the way she greeted people. And I told her something.

I work with pastors. And I have to remind some that they are the manager of this enterprise. They are the chief greeter. The mood-setter. The actual worship leader.

They are the host.

A Word to Pastors

You have a unique opportunity as the under-shepherd of the Lord's flock. You are the overseer (Acts 20:28).

You are in charge.

Get out there and greet people. Be confident. You are the daddy in the room. Act like it. Make sure needs are being met, that your staff is on the job and carrying out their assignments, and that visitors are greeted and assisted in finding their way.

I am not suggesting you act like a boss, but rather, that you show yourself as the chief servant, here to bless everyone, make sure each person is feeling welcome in the house of the Lord and see to any questions or difficulties.

A visiting evangelist pointed something out to me some years back.

We were having a youth gathering with pizza, after which our guest would speak.

"Look there," the preacher said. He was indicating our youth minister.

I had to search to find him. He was in the kitchen, standing around, looking bored and doing nothing. Meanwhile, a hundred teenagers were milling about in the church hall. These were his kids, his assignment. He should have been everywhere greeting them, welcoming them, introducing himself to newcomers.

Instead, he was hiding. (He soon found another line of work.)

I completely get it that some ministers are introverts. Taking over a meeting and becoming the host does not come naturally to them.

Nevertheless, it's an essential part of the calling and a huge part of the assignment.

If it's your meeting, you are in charge. Act like it.

Some years ago while pastoring my last church, I was given a six weeks' break to study what other churches around the country were doing. That's when I saw something I'd been doing wrong.

Wishing to elevate our various ministers before the congregation, I had been involving them in the worship services. One would do announcements, another the welcome, and another the invocation and benediction.

Often, the first time I rose in the service was to bring the sermon.

While calling on other churches, I saw the mistake I was making.

In the great churches, those highly effective in reaching people and involving everyone in worship, the pastor filled the role of the host. He came out early and set the direction for the service, made everyone feel welcome (no one can do it better than he) and prepared us for worship. Later, when he began to preach, everyone felt they knew him and quickly connected with the sermon.

The pastor sets the mood for everything that takes place today. And whoever does that has the most powerful spot on the program.

Pastors give it away all too easily.

During my church visitation period, twice I saw pastors doing what I'd been doing: involving staffers in all the earlier parts of the service. When the preacher walked to the pulpit to begin the sermon, I had the strange sensation that this person was an intruder. Who is he? Yet, he started right into the message as though everyone knew him.

When I returned home, I told our staff, "You can sit with your families in the service. From time to time, you will have a role to play in the service, but not as a regular thing."

In truth, they were relieved.

Three Questions Arise

1. "My minister of music is entrenched in that position as the one opening the service. How can I make this change without upsetting him?"

Answer: Well, you could let him read this article, then say, "I'd like to experiment with this." Or you could simply say, "I'd like to make some changes in the way we do worship," and involve several people in the discussion. Just make sure one of the things coming out of this session is that you are the worship leader from now on.

What you should not do is ask him for permission. (Never, ever put yourself in the position of asking your team members for permission to do anything.) You're either the leader or you aren't. If you are, then lead. If you are not, you have more problems than we can address here.

2. "How can I learn the most effective way to do this?"

Answer: Go online and watch worship services from a number of great churches.  Not all will do this, of course, but take notes on those who do. Or you can simply ask pastor friends who are effective in serving as hosts in the congregation. Either way, you will experiment until you find the way that works best for you.

3. "Doesn't playing the host involve more than what I do at the pulpit?"

Answer: It certainly does. Get out there before the service begins and greet people.  Walk up to strangers and introduce yourself. Be the friendliest person in the room. Then, when you speak from the pulpit, those you have greeted will already feel an identification with you.

A Few Suggestions on How to Do This Well

• Smile. Smile some more. Be happy. Act like you are glad to see people.
• Call them by name if you are able. Ask about them. And be prepared to listen. Often, you will do more great counseling in 10 minutes before and after a worship service than you'll do all week.
• Give each one your undivided attention, and do not be looking around to see who else may have entered the room. No one is grading you on how many people you greet before a service. The fact that you are doing this at all elevates you in the eyes of most.

Some pastors mistakenly believe they should go straight from their study into the pulpit while they're still on a high from their private time with the Lord. This is a mistake. It's far better to spend 15 minutes prior to the service milling among the congregation, greeting, learning names, listening to stories and frequently praying with someone in need.

Then, when you rise to preach, your congregation is ready to hear anything you have to say.

After five years as director of missions for the 100 Southern Baptist churches of metro New Orleans, Joe McKeever retired on June 1, 2009. These days, he has an office at the First Baptist Church of Kenner, where he's working on three books, and he's trying to accept every speaking/preaching invitation that comes his way.

For the original article, visit joemckeever.com.

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