13 Ways to Recognize the Overlooked People in Your Church

1. Nametags

Often, we hesitate to approach people we don’t know, or maybe we’ve met but can’t remember their names. To avoid embarrassment, we avoid them. My husband and I once attended a church that tackled this problem by setting up greeter stations at entrances to the building, and everyone, including the pastor, filled out a nametag and wore it during service. At first, it seemed a little awkward, but then everyone adjusted, and it became normal and useful. You’re much more likely to talk to someone when you know their name.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 ESV

2. Greeters and Welcoming Teams

Greeters are usually the first to meet people arriving at church. It’s essential that they are smiling, friendly, knowledgeable to answer questions and give directions, and eager to extend a handshake or even a hug if you’re a hugging church. 

Train a welcoming committee to look for people who are new, seem to be alone, or sit by themselves. Encourage the welcoming team to sit near these people during church and introduce them to people sitting nearby. They can also inform these newcomers of church activities and social functions and invite them to attend. Maybe even offer to go with them or provide a ride.

A monthly church calendar of events and meetings included in the bulletin handout is an excellent resource for information about activities that might be of interest.

Shake hands warmly with each other. Romans 16:16 (TLB)

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3. Introduce Guests or Visitors

Whoever presents the announcements on Sunday morning can ask if any guests or visitors would be willing to stand up and introduce themselves. Volunteers pass out roving microphones to the guest so everyone can hear the person’s name. The congregation is then encouraged to greet these newcomers after church.  In a larger church, the guests might only be able to raise their hand or just stand up so people sitting by them can extend a welcome, and others can see who they are.

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:1-2 ESV

4. Greet Your Neighbor

Most churches have time during the service to turn and shake hands or hug those who are sitting near you. It’s also a good opportunity to spot someone who might be overlooked and greet them instead of only talking to your friends or acquaintances. People you purposely and intentionally greet will feel honored you made a special effort to say hello and convey, “Glad you’re here.”

...whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9b

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5. Vary Where You Sit in Church

Sometimes, we intentionally or even unconsciously sit in the same section or maybe even the same seats in church every Sunday. When you do that regularly, you only see the people who typically sit near you. Just last Sunday, I looked over to where a friend always sat and was surprised to find she was sitting in a different area. She later said she decided she needed to meet people on the other side of the church. I applauded her and told her that was exactly what I was writing about in this article.

My husband and I used to sit in random areas of the church on Sundays until he started having knee surgeries and wanted to sit near the front since he’s in the worship team and also leads prayer at the podium once a month. So now, during greeting time, I get out of my seat and head over to another church section to greet a few people not sitting around us. 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thess. 5:11 ESV

6. Provide Coffee and Refreshments

Our church used to empty out quickly after service until we initiated a coffee and cookie bar in the lobby with volunteers providing cookies each week. Now, everyone stays and fellowships after service, and that’s a good time to greet a new attendee or someone quietly standing alone. 

Some of our closest friends are couples we started talking to over coffee and cookies when they were new to the church and invited out to lunch to get to know them better. Now we’re all dear friends. Make it a practice to invite new people or people you’ve never met before to join you and other friends after church for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on the time your service ends. 

What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. Psalm 55:14 NLT

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7. Provide Opportunities to Serve

Every church needs volunteers in a variety of areas. As the body of Christ, we need each other. Just like in our family, everyone pitches in to keep the family and the church body running smoothly. Announcing opportunities to serve from the pulpit and/or printing in the church bulletin or using flyers and signup sheets informs those who may not know who to ask where and how they can get involved. 

Sometimes, seniors in the church begin to feel overlooked and possibly unappreciated as the focus may shift to a younger, more energetic generation. That’s a big mistake and not biblical. All generations are important, actually vital, to a healthy church congregation. Older folks can meet many church needs, especially prayer, mentoring, or even folding and stuffing bulletins. 

Likewise, include the younger people in helping around the church. They have the energy and stamina to do tasks requiring both, and the more they feel needed and valued, the better chance they’ll stay connected with the church as they mature. They’re usually also very technically competent to help with audio-visual or computer tasks.

Recently, a Women’s Ministry Director from another state was recruiting women to join her team, but her email was mistakenly sent to me. When I replied to let her know I had received the email, she said her church had grown to a size where she didn’t know everyone attending anymore. I commended her for intentionally reaching out to offer women she didn’t know personally an opportunity to consider serving. 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 ESV

8. Have a Church Attendee’s Picture Wall

One opportunity to serve could be a church photographer who looks for new attendees and asks if they can take their pictures to put on a picture board along with their names. This might not be as easy in a larger church, but a larger church will actually have more wall space. The advantage of a picture wall with names is that it lets people put a face with a name when approaching someone they don’t know. 

Just like a wall of family pictures at home conveys, “we’re family,” having your picture and name on the church picture board says, “I’m a part of this church family. Even if I don’t know everyone, I still belong.” 

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal. 6:10

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9. Church Potlucks

Not all churches have kitchens today, but they usually have a fellowship room where tables and chairs can be set up for eating. Breaking bread together always breaks the ice. Church members bring potluck entrees, salads, and desserts, and the church provides paper plates, silverware, coffee, and water. People are drawn to food. Eating together enables conversation as everyone sits around the table maybe with people they haven’t met before. Again, it’s always good to be sensitive to someone sitting alone or that you’ve never met instead of sitting only with your friends. 

Churches have gotten away from traditional potlucks, but we had a woman in our church that suggested we have one monthly so people could stay around after church, eat, and get to know each other better. She’s since moved, but we continue having potlucks the 3^rd Sunday of the month where all ages eat, laugh, talk, make new friends, and fellowship.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 ESV

10. Lunch or Dinner Groups

Another way to reach out over food is to form lunch or dinner groups. Anyone can sign up, singles, couples, seniors, young adults and then the administrator of this meal ministry randomly matches six or eight people into a group, of course keeping couples together. They can go out to a restaurant or trade going to each other’s homes. It’s a way for all ages to intermingle over a universal favorite thing to do, eating! Again, the pastor or ministry team can announce from the pulpit this innovative way to meet new people of all ages and backgrounds. You can set up guidelines for the meal groups, such as once a month for three or six months. Suggest they can meet more often if they choose. Then do it again with new groups of people.  

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

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11. Bible Study, Home Groups, Classes, Support Groups, or Mentoring Ministries

Any ministry that brings people together is a way to recognize people who might be overlooked on Sundays. For example, in the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry that I founded, we publicize in church the next opportunity for women to gather at a coffee meeting to be matched with a mentor or mentee and emphasize that everyone is welcome. Often, women show up that some of us had never seen before, but they were eager to be connected. Many of the mentoring matches become lifelong friends. Women return to help with the ministry. Mentees go on to become mentors, and everyone matures spiritually.

At our current church, the men have a Saturday morning breakfast the second Saturday of the month as an outreach to the community and all men are welcome to attend. They also have a Thursday morning men’s Bible study, and the women have Bible studies during the week, special events, and an annual retreat. 

My husband and I lead a Couples Group, and we actively seek new couples to join. We’ve also led a Praying for Your Prodigal support group for parents and grandparents dealing with prodigals and often are embarrassed by their situation.

Working mothers can feel overlooked, too, because often church activities for women occur during the day. When I was a single, divorced, working mom, I did feel excluded from women’s events at church and honestly a little judged.   It’s important to offer opportunities at night and to provide childcare, or these moms will be left out. 

Other groups that can feel overlooked are couples struggling with infertility, singles, widows, widowers, grieving families, people struggling with chronic illnesses or disabilities, families with incarcerated relatives, or those dealing with addictions, family members choosing alternate lifestyles. . . the list is endless of those who could benefit from church-sponsored biblical support groups. 

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Heb. 10:25

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12. Game Nights or Afternoons

God does want us to have fun together and what better way than playing games! One that is especially conducive to everyone being recognized and involved is Bunco, not playing for money but prizes for the most Buncos, wins, even the most losses. The reason this game is so great is because you change tables and partners frequently throughout the game so everyone feels included and you meet almost everyone attending. It’s an easy friendly game, which allows for conversation and connection. A perfect outreach to invite neighbors or friends and people new to the church who might not know how to meet people. 

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. Psalm 126:2 NLT

13. Newcomers Reception

Monthly or quarterly, depending on the size of your church, on a Sunday afternoon or weeknight, publicize a welcome event for new attendees. Plan a casual fellowship ambiance with dessert and/or light refreshments where people new to the church can personally meet and interact with the pastor and his wife, the church pastoral and leadership staff, especially the women’s and men’s ministry directors, and children’s ministry directors. Allow time for questions and the sharing of opportunities to become more involved in church activities.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matt. 10:40

In Dr. David Jeremiah’s January 2024 Turning Point Magazine and Devotional, he writes a compelling thought that I think is an appropriate summary of these twelve ideas and any others your church might incorporate into not overlooking anyone in your church.

“The local church, however, is still ground zero for what the Lord is doing in seeking His lost ones. The ministries and programming of your local church can become a magnet drawing people to Christ. Every church has its own unique ministries, but if it’s a Spirit-filled, Bible-centered congregation, you’ll sense a growing burden for finding lost souls.”

“I once was lost, but now I’m found.” John Newton

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