歡迎就是聖工 (Greeting as Ministry) By Charles Arn
How the usher/greeter’s role fits into the ministry of the church
http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/downloads/orientationguides/ushergreeter/og07-b.html (English version)
如何將司事員的任務吻合成為教會聖工
曾經設計多幢惹人注目的建築物, 包括加洲「水晶大教堂」的美國著名建築師菲力. 莊遜 (Phillip Johnson) 認為, 一個結構上最重要的位置就是那「納入點」(goes -into)。一幢建築物的「納入點」就是一處可以讓個人去吸納和體驗該項建設的地方。
一幢建築物的「納入點」就相等如：
高爾夫球賽開始的第一棍
一篇演講詞的開場白
一首交響曲的前奏
一段嶄新關係在第一次會面時所留下的印象
司事員的崗位就是參與教會和認識耶穌基督的「納入點」。
人際間的溝通以最初的四分鐘最具關鍵性。在這短促的一刻, 我們通常都能夠斷定和對方是否投契。 如果話不投機, 橫豎是萍水相 逢, 倒不如以後各行各路。假如印象良好, 不妨考慮做個普通朋友, 再慢慢建立友情。同樣地, 每一個踏入教會大門的人都可能會抱著類似的心態, 負責歡迎的司事員就得把握著機會和接受挑戰。因為每一個進來的都是上帝請來的貴賓, 司事員要立即掌握著先前提及到的關鍵時刻, 給貴賓留下一個良好的印象, 使他們決定再回來參加聚會。
『無論作什麼, 或說話, 或行事, 都要奉主耶穌的名, 藉著他感謝父上帝』(歌 3:17) 。 作為基督徒, 特別是司事員, 我們是基督的代表。
『所以我們作基督的使者, 就好像上帝藉我們勸你們一般, 我們替基督求你們與上帝和好。』(哥後 5:20) 。「使者」英文譯作 “Ambassador”, 是現代的大使, 古代的欽差大臣, 地位尊崇, 用來形容今日的司事員毫不過份, 因為他們是代表耶穌基督向眾貴賓建立那歷史性的第一次接觸。
我在第一期的司事訓練班中向參加者提出以下的問題：
〝作為司事員, 我們想為賓客帶來什麼的感受? 〞, 〝什麼是我們主要的責任? 〞
,
〝我們為什麼要做司事員? 〞,〝我們想做到些什麼? 〞。以下是所得的部份答案:
迎合別人的需要
使人安心
使人領略到我們的真心真意
令人感到賓至如歸, 感到舒適
結識新朋友
使人覺得被愛, 被需要
使人感覺到真誠
使已經留下來的感到高興
使人覺得自己重要
為傳福音舖路
這一份清單委實不錯, 你的清單可能會略有加減。這些評語令我想起美國心理學之父 威廉. 詹姆士 (William James) 的說話,〝人性中最強烈的一個意向就是渴望受到賞識 〞。 約翰. 杜威 (John Dewey)解釋, 〝人性的架構當中有一般強烈的驅策力量, 就是一份人望高處, 自我增值的意願〞。 你知道囚犯入獄第一個要求是什麼? 如果你說是新聞報紙那你就答對了。 因為他們要著看關於他們自已的新聞, 他們需要覺得自已重要。
如果大家都同意司事員的主要目標就是令人感覺到被愛護, 被賞識; 我就會跟著問, 怎樣才可以做得到? 我在第一期的司事員訓練班亦問過類似的問題,〝我們怎樣才可以向人顯示出真心? 〞, 〝怎樣去向人表示關懷? 〞
他們的回應是:
溫情的握手
一個微笑
聆聽
話題著重在他們的興趣
記得他們的姓名
保持目光接觸
洽當的碰觸
這是很好的回應, 或者大家還可以再加下去。
有人曾經說,〝世上只有兩類人, 是「東道主」和「客人」〞。你大概會認識一些終生作客的人, 他們永遠不願意承擔東道主的責任, 去款待去關顧別人的需要, 感受和關注。 他們存在不是為著去服侍人, 乃是要被人服侍。 他們一踏進大門, 並不是先說句, 〝各位好, 今天真高興能夠見到你們! 〞, 反而他們混身都會發散出這個訊息,〝嗨! 我來了, 你們今天會怎樣討好我? 〞
當我們成為基督徒, 我們就不再是客人, 因為我們已經與上帝合夥成為東道主, 去關顧 別人的生命。究竟東道主要做些什麼? 他們要歡迎客人進入他們的生命; 首先要令客人感 到開心,令他們覺得受歡迎, 被接納和被愛。還記得誰是你生命中出色的東道主嗎? 在上帝的家裡, 作為一個優良的東道主並非憑地位或靠任務, 因為有諸內而形諸外, 優良的質素會溢揚自一個人的心態, 生活方式和自我的形像
歡迎應該是每一個基督徒要作的聖工。坦白說, 在教堂大門口的一切焦點事工都不過是 皮毛功夫, 我們這一群學效基督, 還掛著作為祂欽差大臣印記的, 歡迎的真義一定要溶入 我們生命的每一個角落。 如果我們能夠留心聆聽他人細訴心曲, 明理又富同情心, 自然流露亳不矯揉造作的脆弱, 互相交流經驗, 又體貼他們的需要及興趣, 他們必定樂意親近我們。更重要的, 他們就會親近耶穌。
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Thank you for your sharing Raymond, great translation! The last paragraph in particular draws my attention: "If our conversation involves patient listening, empathy, understanding, willingness to be vulnerable, sharing our experiences, and being sensitive to areas of need and interest with our guests, we will become people that others truly cannot resist. Without a doubt, they will want to be in our company and, more importantly, in the company of Jesus." Yes, wouldn't that be wonderful! Speaking subjectively from some previous experience solely of myself and some others I know, I truly wish and sincerely pray that this can be done to ALL people and not selectively nor with judgemental pre-screening tainted glasses. Is this asking too much?
ReplyDeleteIrene
The Ministry Of Greeting in the Local Church(...Cont'd)
ReplyDeleteSubconsciously, they are asking questions like these: "I wonder if the people there will accept me? I wonder if that church is friendly? Hope the seating is comfortable! What kind
of church is it, anyhow? I wonder if I'll have to sit all by myself until the service starts? I hope they don't embarrass me." So making someone feel warm, welcome, and special before the service starts goes a long way towards helping them enjoy the service and receive from God!
The ideal greeting team for any given Sunday morning is a team of greeters to cover every entrance, some in the parking lot, and maybe even some designated to mingle to with people once they are seated and waiting for the service to begin.
Greeters and Minglers are asked to arrive no later than 30 minutes before church service starts! Please take your ministry seriously. Greeting isn't an afterthought. It isn't an unnecessary ministry. It isn't inferior
ministry. It is CENTRAL to sharing the love of Christ! God welcomes us and He expects us to welcome one another! If a person feels LOVE when they come to church, then they have already received something from God even if the sermon goes over their head or the music is unfamiliar to them.
Please report to the Chief Greeter when you arrive. This person will also be in charge of any greeting team rotation lists and answering any questions that may arise from time to time. If you are designated to greet on a certain Sunday and it conflicts with your own schedule, you should swap with another greeter and/or
tell the Chief Greeter... IN ADVANCE!
Here are some pointers on greeting church-comers at the door:
1. Dress neatly. Make sure your clothing does not smell of smoke or offensive odors.
2. Groom neatly. Be freshly showered.
3. Arm yourself with breath mints!
4. As you greet, feel free to hug those of the same sex, but refrain from hugging those of the opposite sex unless you know them well or are confident that their spouse wouldn't mind. You can offer a handshake to any gender
and it is acceptable in our culture.
5. Greet the children as well.
6. Especially greet those that seem to shy away from you!
7. As much as possible greet people by their first name.
8. As you greet people whom you don't know, tell them your name, and ask them theirs if you wish.
9. If you discover that this is someone's first time at Life Church, offer to answer any questions they might have
or to assist them in any way.
10. Give them a church brochure if they are new (stored in a container near the doorways).
11. SMILE! SMILE! SMILE! SMILE IS YOUR STYLE! Amen!
12. Having said all the above, JUST BE YOURSELF! ENJOY PEOPLE! HAVE FUN AS YOU GREET!
DON'T GET HYPER OVER THE DETAILS!
(to be cont'd)
The Ministry Of Greeting in the Local Church(...Cont'd)
ReplyDeleteHere are some pointers on mingling with people once they are seated:
1. Understand that people can feel very lonely.
2. Understand that everyone wants to carry on conversation, but some are shy. Don't take it personal if a person
doesn't warm to you very fast.
3. Asking questions is the way to a person's heart! When you ask questions about a person, and let them do most
of the talking, they will walk away thinking you are the most interesting person they've ever met!... even though
they did most the talking.
4. You can always use the formula taught to businessmen to get a conversation going: F.O.R.M. FORM! F.amily? O.ccupation? R.ecreation? M.essage! You can ask family questions like: "Where are you from originally? Do you have any brothers or sisters? Where do they live? Are you new to the Tullahoma area? Etc., etc., etc." You can ask occupational questions like: "Where do you work? What is your trade or profession?
How long have you worked there? Do you like the company? Where do you go to school? Etc., etc., etc." You can then ask recreational questions like: "Do you have a hobby? What are your favorite pastimes? What’s your favorite sport? What’s your favorite food? Etc., etc., etc." You can then interject a M.essage like: "Really? You know we have several other nurses in our congregation. Let me introduce one of them to you. Etc., etc., etc."
You'd be surprised how small the world really is. Answers to questions like these will spark natural conversation that shows you have a genuine interest in them as a person. Think F.O.R.M. Family? Occupation? Recreation? Message!
5. If you are greeting team member designated as MINGLER for that service, try to spot people who are seated and no one is talking to them. Go to them and initiate some conversation.
6. If there are more people than one that seem to be seated alone and talking to no one, spend genuine time with each group of people, but preferably don't get stuck with only one person or family. You can always gracefully close a conversation with something like this: "Hey, it has been great talking with you! Excuse me as I greet these other people."
7. Having said all the above, JUST BE YOURSELF! ENJOY PEOPLE! HAVE FUN AS YOU MINGLE!
DON'T GET HYPER OVER THE DETAILS!
Irene
P.S. Not posting this to teach. Just sharing a piece of interest to me.
Note to Raymond: Hope you don't mind my echoing your sharing with my copycat sharing. Your masterful translated sharing inspired me to dig up the net to learn more about this interesting and helpful topic. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIrene
Hi Irene,
DeleteThank you for your thoughtful comments and introducton of another article on the topic that is close to our hearts and essential to our Christian experiences. Dr. Cheathan's article has more hand on tips and practical recommendations (that covers almost everything except for the hand sanitizer, haha!). It is encouraging to have more responses on the RHG site. I think this is what its creator (note the small letter c), PETER (note all the capital letters - yes, PETER, you are important to all of us) hopes for.
Right?
Raymond
Thank you Raymond, and PETER !
ReplyDelete