Portable churches face a variety of challenges due to not having their own permanent facility. Most churches have some form of Welcome Center or Guest Services area where volunteers are available to answer questions about the church, provide information about various ministry areas, and more. At a traditional facility, this could be a permanent booth in the lobby area. For portable churches, a Welcome Center can still exude an excellent appearance and provide practical information for church visitors. It just requires a bit of ingenuity and planning to make it happen.

Here are seven tips on how to create an instant welcome center at portable churches:

Tip #1 - Place the Welcome Center in a central location

No matter what type of building your congregation meets in each week, there should be a main area where everyone walks through to get to the sanctuary (or main seating area). Whether it’s a lobby or a hallway, make sure you put the Welcome Center in a location that everyone will see on their way to services.

Tip #2 - Make the Welcome Area obvious

If you’re using a standard folding table for your Welcome Center, you’ll need a way to make it stand out. Use a customized table throw to dress up the table and make it easy for people to see the purpose of that station. You might also consider using a retractable banner behind or next to the table to draw attention to that area.

Tip #3 - Make it easy to find the information needed

Print brochures or flyers that include information about the church, the church’s history, church leadership, statement of faith, and more. Additionally, you may need to have other flyers with details about the following areas:

• Children’s Ministry
• Any programs or ministries the church offers
• Upcoming events
• How to become a member
• Information about Sunday school class
• How to sign up to volunteer
• A list of small groups and how to sign up for one

You might create packets with these brochures along with a small notepad and pen to offer to visitors. The Welcome Center is also a great place for people to provide their name and email address so they can receive regular updates about church services, special events, and other announcements.

Tip #4 - Equip volunteers with FAQs

It’s best to have a couple of volunteers at the welcome area before and after each service. Don’t just throw your volunteers at this assignment without equipping them with the information they’ll need to be successful. Create a binder with a list of FAQs along with answers to each.

Some questions they may receive could include:

• What is the screening process for children’s ministry staff and volunteers?
• Where can I find the church’s statement of faith?
• What denomination (if any) is the church affiliated with?
• How is the church’s leadership structured?
• Who are the elders?
• How do I become a member?
• How can I sign up for (insert the latest event here)?
• What volunteer roles do you need more people to fill?
• Is the church hiring right now?
• How can I receive financial assistance from the church (benevolence requests)?
• How can I meet the pastor?
• Does the church offer premarital, marital, or other counseling? If so, how can I receive that counseling?

Tip #5 - Include snacks and water

When you invite someone into our homes, we usually offer them something to drink and perhaps a snack or meal. As first-time visitors arrive at your church, consider using the Welcome Center to offer them a bottle of water, a cup of coffee, and a small snack.

The sights and smells will draw attention to the Welcome Center and will show your hospitality to newcomers.

Tip # 6 - Choose welcome team volunteers wisely

Some people are natural at hospitality and at welcoming guests. They’re warm, friendly, and empathetic to anyone who seems to feel out of place or unsure. These are the folks you want at your church’s Welcome Center. They should be knowledgeable about the church, great connectors of people, compassionate, and outgoing.

Train these volunteers so they know how you want them to fulfill this role but make sure you choose people with the right personality and innate talents to serve in this area.

Tip #7 - Offer prayer and ministry

Consider having an elder, pastor, or prayer team available to the Welcome Center as much as possible. You may run into a situation where an individual wants counseling and really needs prayer right now. Another individual might have a concern about the church’s statement of faith or with something mentioned during a recent sermon.

These questions are best handled by someone in church leadership who you know is spiritually mature and discerning. Don’t expect volunteers to handle sensitive conversations or doctrinal issues at the Welcome Center. Have a vetted individual at-the-ready to engage in these conversations.

Creating an area that attracts new people, helps visitors feel welcomed, and offers comprehensive details about the church is possible for mobile churches too. Invest the time to plan out this space for your portable church and train your welcome team well. This combination will help visitors learn about the church and discover how they can get involved.