Signposts on the Eurasian Road #4 Hans Växby

Signposts on the Eurasian Road #4 Hans Växby

Visitor friendly

The first week after my move to Moscow, the missionary Ev Erbele offered to show how the public transportation system functioned. She taught me how to buy a bus ticket and get it stamped. She showed me in detail how to use the metro. I was very grateful. And still it took me 2 hours to get from Arbat Street to Universitet the first time I did it on my own, because I did not understand the text on the signs.

It is not easy to come to a place for the first time. There are many people today who are as disoriented when they come for the first time to a United Methodist Church as I was in the Metro. Here a few things that can make your church visitor friendly, and help people to feel welcome:

- A sign outside that says that there will be worship service at a certain time her. If you rent the premises only for the time of worship, it is enough if you put up the sign 30-45 minutes beforehand

- A person inside who greats everybody, and shows the visitor where to put the coat and where to proceed to the sanctuary

- A sign on important doors, for example “Sanctuary,” “Toilet,” and “Pastor’s Office.”

- A brochure with text short enough to read in one minute standing or on the way into the sanctuary. It only needs to say that this is a United Methodist Church, and tell what other activities it offers and a whom to contact for further information.