"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Matthew 22:37-39
Our Mission
Our mission is to develop a welcoming culture to solve the challenges that churches and Christian organizations face when developing Christ-centered – personal relationships with visitors, guests, attendees, members and people in the community.
This biblical ministry provides proven training gained from 27 years of welcoming experience and leadership.
The results are increased retention, growth and lives touched for Christ.
Welcoming Ministries actually began as a ministry at Trinity Baptist Church in Reedsburg, Wisconsin in 1999. I was asked by Mike Lopp, the Senior Pastor to create a corporate church ministry that would welcome visitors and create meaningful Christ-centered relationships. After a time of prayer, the welcoming program was founded upon the key Bible verses (Matthew 22:37-39, John 13:34-35 & Philippians 2:3-5). Through my travels across the United States, I gained valuable experience visiting many churches. At a few churches, people asked my name, initiated conversation and made it easy to begin a relationship. Because of the reception, I relaxed and enjoyed the service as well as the sincere fellowship. I wanted to share these encouraging and uplifting experiences with people visiting Trinity Baptist Church. This resulted in a new Welcoming Ministry with a written manual and unanimous approval by the church leadership.
If you are truly committed to making people feel welcome, then we would highly recommend that you invite Welcoming Ministries, Inc. and C. Ward Utterback to do a presentation [Welcoming Seminar] for those who are serving on your welcoming team. You will be blessed!
-read more-~Nancy Van Maren
To learn more about Welcoming Ministries, please listen to the video below.
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An Unannounced Visit
An unknown visitor shall attend your church service and experience how a visitor is received. A comprehensive report is written and reviewed which identifies strengths, improvement areas and offers proven solutions.
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Welcoming Seminar
Strengthens and energizes an existing Welcomer, Greeter or Usher ministry; or is the turnkey solution for launching a new church welcoming ministry.
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Preach a Sermon
Titled: A Welcoming Church Culture. Instructs and encourages the congregation to reach out and develop Christ centered relationships with visitors, guests and unknown people.
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Welcoming Ministry Manual
Create a custom manual defining your church strategy and expectations for joyously welcoming people.
Ward’s ministry to churches is exceptional. He has a heart for people and he showed that through the whole time that he worked with our church to [provide an Unannounced Visitor Service with an evaluation report] and then develop a Welcoming Ministry Manual. He spent hours meticulously going over the needs of our church. He counseled our leadership to help us develop a more welcoming church culture. -read more-
~Pastor Scott Shaw
I recommend this God-ordained ministry with much enthusiasm. This presentation is well-suited for congregations of all sizes, backgrounds, denominational affiliations, who affirm Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation. -read more-
~Dr. T. Vaughn Walker
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13:34-35