Don't Expect People to Know The Culture of Your Church
Talking through the theology, strategy and practice of a church's Welcoming culture
Continuing our mini-series on Soul Revival’s Service Teams, Jai McMordie joins
and I on the couch to discuss the next in our lineup of service teams: Welcoming.
The episode begins with stories of first impressions — from the childhood joys of Asterix and Tintin, to Jai’s memory of the Apple Store opening in Sydney. Whether it’s a retail space or a church gathering, those first encounters matter. A welcoming experience gives dignity to newcomers, communicates that we’re glad they’re here, and removes the unknowns that often make walking into church for the first time so daunting. Crucially, we can’t expect people to already know the culture of our church when they arrive.
Hospitality isn’t just greeting at the door — it’s creating a space where strangers can become family, where people feel they belong, and where discipleship can take root.
From there, we unpack the theology of welcoming, grounding it in Hebrews 13, Romans 12, and 1 Peter 4. Hospitality isn’t just greeting at the door — it’s creating a space where strangers can become family, where people feel they belong, and where discipleship can take root. Welcoming is not the task of a rostered team alone, but the responsibility of the whole body of Christ. Are we guests in church, or do we take ownership as hosts?
Our conversation then turns to the practice and strategy of welcoming at Soul Revival. We chat about how meals move people beyond small talk, why the Come – Stay – Grow approach is central to embedding newcomers, and how practices like “New-ish” nights with the Senior Pastor help people understand the church’s convictions and culture.
On a practical level, we discuss the difference between collecting information and building trust, why recognising faces and names matters more than getting details on a form, and how follow-up and consistency compound over time to draw people deeper into community. We also reflect on how the practice of welcoming has changed over the years — from outdoor gatherings to training younger members of the team — always with the goal of creating a homely, hospitable environment that reflects the welcome of Christ himself.
Welcoming, in the end, is about much more than first impressions. It’s about embodying the gospel in how we treat people, from the first handshake to long-term discipleship in the body of Christ.
Listen along on your favourite podcasting app, or click through on one of the links below.