TFH Guest Services
Guest Services: What is it?
Guest services is the first and the last team seen by anyone that enters our church.
It is often said that first impressions shape a person's experiences... well that's us, we are the first impression. From the parking lot team to the ushers, we cover a myriad of roles, but each role has one thing in common, serving people.
Why is serving so important and why does it matter?
Most of us have experienced bad service at some point in our lives. I won't even go into details here because you have surely experienced this at some point. On the other side of the spectrum, and unfortunately more rare, you have hopefully experienced great service.
You walk in they already know your name, you don't even stop at the front desk, they just take you straight back to your table. When you arrive at the table, your beverage of choice is already there. You sit down, the chair feels lighter than it should as you scoot... oh they were helping you move it. You look down and a fresh pressed napkin is already on your lap. As you go through the meal you finally notice your glass has never been empty. Every time you get up from the table you don't just have your napkin neatly folded... it's a new napkin each time.
We could go on and on about this experience. But this is exceptional even unreasonable. This is above what most of us are even willing to accept. It is so good we don't know how to handle it. But at the same time you think, "I could get used to this." When we serve people here at The Father's House we have the opportunity to make someone feel as special as possible and to feel taken care of.
Guest Services is really a place where we get to help people make connections with God through a smile, wave, or being helped in the rain from their car to the front door. Let me tell you, when it starts raining... I can't wait to get out and serve, meeting people with that TFH umbrella and getting drenched myself as I help them in.
Guest Services has many roles that we cover.
Parking team
Greeters
Ushers
Each of these positions has very specific needs. And each are needed to run a successful weekend service or large event. We will speak on that later.
The Why: Serve Like Jesus
To keep this as simple as possible here is what we focus on as a team. This is our WHY, our common purpose and our one thing. The thing that each of us can relate to.
"Serve like Jesus"
How do we serve like Jesus? First we need to love like He did.
Jesus wants us to love even those that are not like us (Luke 6:32-35). He wants us to love sacrificially (John 3:16), or with an open hand (Matthew 25:14-30).
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, his brothers. He even washed the feet of the very man that would turn his back on him, knowing that he would betray Him (John 13:4-5).
While he was in the flesh Jesus' love was rich, it was vast, and it wasn't selective. It is our greatest desire as the Guest Services team to LOVE those around us in the same way that Jesus commanded us to and was the perfect example of.
Through loving people like Jesus, we will make new friends, we will serve those who normally serve others, we will be able to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Please join us in blessing people with the love and care that only Jesus can provide.
If TFH's mission is,
"THE FATHER's HOUSE EXISTS SO THAT PEOPLE FAR FROM GOD WILL FIND LIFE IN CHRIST."
then our role in that goes directly back to the guest services WHY.
Why are you serving?
The heart is the most important here. We need to serve without the expectation that any man, pastor, or child will ever thank us for what we do. If we lean into serving because God calls us to, our hearts and minds will open up to the beauty that is our church. Just serve.
Why do we serve then? We serve at our church because "The Father's House exists so that people far from God will find life in Christ." Bringing it to our team specifically, "We exist so that all people around the world would experience the love and care that only Jesus can provide." To put it plainly, we simply "SERVE like JESUS"
If I were going to give an elevator pitch to someone I would say,
"We serve like Jesus so that people far from God would find life in Christ. Do you want to impact people like that too?"
That's it. That’s our main focus.
The Why: Just Cause
Have you wondered what is next? Has it ever been hard for you to understand why you are doing something?
A just cause is something that helps us understand the overarching reason behind something.
A just cause is
Inclusive: Anyone can join in
Service Oriented: It isn't about me
Idealistic: big, bold and ultimately unachievable
Resilient: able to endure change and becoming stronger
An example of a just cause
"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS."
- Declaration of Independence
When we think this way, it changes our outlook on life. We move in a way that allows us to see a better future.
An example of a great thing that was not a just cause. Going to the moon. Amazing, unifying and a huge task, but we were able to do it. It wasn't a big enough task.
I think it is amazing that so large of a goal wouldn't be considered a just cause.
We need to push for far more than we ever thought possible. When that goal is impossible to accomplish, it almost becomes its own thing that lives outside of the very people that started calling it their own. Others pick it up and continue on without us.
"WE EXIST SO THAT ALL PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WOULD EXPERIENCE THE LOVE AND CARE THAT ONLY JESUS CAN PROVIDE"
Is it big enough? Is it focused on others? Can it live on after us? The answer to all of those things is a resounding yes. The next question is can you take on that cause?
What would it look like practically? Living this just cause out in the real world is simple.
When its raining outside, we should be excited to bring an umbrella to someone who just got their hair done. Checking the bathrooms every time a big wave of people comes through and wiping the counters down, or asking facilities team to help is always the goal. Simply smiling and saying hi, even to the person that looks like they don't want one. We lead with love like Jesus and the Holy Spirit shows up for His people.
Overview of roles
Parking team:
The parking team are the first and last faces seen by people on our campus. Parking team safely, efficiently and gladly directs drivers into our lot and sometimes directly to spaces as well as helping with the overall flow of traffic in and out of our lot. Around building D they will help with the flow of traffic as well.
Greeter team:
Greeters are often the first voice heard on campus. There are countless testimonies of people saying that, "if not for a smile and a 'welcome home' from someone with a sign I would have never come back."
Usher team:
Ushers are the backbone of our team. They have the most interaction with people in the auditorium. Every seat, every communion cup, every crying baby is their dominion. They provide a distraction free, safe and comfortable environment
So here we have the face, voice and backbone of this wonderful team. Where do you fit in all of this?
1 Corinthians 12:27 is the perfect verse for this part of our journey.
We are here because we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So which one of these roles stood out to you the most? Where do your talents and gifts most activate? Ask the Holy Spirit to place you where He wants, and it may surprise you what is revealed.
We had a Captain that told us at one point he was very introverted and could never see himself serving in a face to face ministry. Well he was asked to join the team as an usher and then eventually became a Captain and is now face to face every time he serves, with the biggest smile.
God might put you in the very spot you thought he never would just to show you what He is capable of doing in your life.
Your Team: Overview
Your Team: Roles
Parking Team
You are the first AND last person seen. You are the face of TFH. You represent the church in a way unlike anyone else. No pressure. The feelings that people have toward the flow of traffic and how they enter and exit the parking lot fall under your charge. Your countenance is important. Waving to each car that goes by could potentially be the reason someone decides to come back next weekend.
In this team you are responsible for:
Safely guiding cars from the street to the parking lot and back out at the end of service.
Safely communicating with other parking team members to ensure that flow of traffic remains as continuous as possible.
Maintaining a positive attitude and demeanor, rain, snow or shine. This team typically has the most grit because of the nature of how little creature comforts are present in the parking lot.
Driving our guest and volunteer team in our shuttle from the overflow parking lot at the State Fund Building
On the parking team we choose safety, communication and joy in every situation.
Usher Team
The backbone of our team, ushers are here to invite people to their seats, maintain a distraction free environment and contribute to an efficient flow of people before, during and after service.
Your responsibilities include:
Setting the environment. Through monitoring the cleanliness of the space, seats and handouts.
Finding seats for guests including being able to move chairs for people in wheelchairs or with walkers.
Providing guests with the best possible interaction with baptisms, communion, connect cards and so much more.
Greeter Team
The voice of TFH. Greeters can create a lasting impression on people. One of the sad facts in today's society is that people can go entire days without giving or receiving a smile.
Your responsibilities include:
Making people feel welcome with a smile, hello, high five... The list goes on. Your goal should be to make everyone feel seen.
Being one of the first voices people hear on campus, so making sure it is a loving and caring one full of excitement to see them.
A select few volunteer as our family room hosts. This is a position where you facilitate a space made especially for the families of the church to enjoy service together.
Your Team: Schedule
We are one team serving the same goal
We run our team on an A,B,C schedule, meaning we ask that you serve once every three weeks. Some people will be able to serve more often but that isn't required or expected.
We also run a serve 1 attend 1 model because Pastor Dave, Joseph and Tosha's hearts are that our teams would be able to be in service each and every weekend. Once again, some may want to serve 2 services each weekend they serve. In some positions we are short people in certain spots so some team members end up serving at all 3. We greatly appreciate that. However this is not our goal and we are always trying to get more people on team to avoid weekends like that from occurring. If you know anyone that needs a place to serve, let them know we have a spot for them.
In order for us to have the best chance of getting the scheduling done well, we ask that you use PCO (Planning Center) to blockout your schedule online as well as filling out our survey (or scrolling to the bottom of this page) to help our wonderful admin, Karyssa, know when you can and can't serve.
These two things will help our efficiency much, so please keep the communication coming.
If you have friends or family members that are already serving even if they are on a different ministry team, then let us know and we will get you on the same weeks.
You know what guest services is about. You know where you want to serve. Your schedule is set and ready for us to put you on a team. Let's talk final details.
Remember that our team is about "Serving Like Jesus". That means we are willing to do what most other people are not willing to do. We make friends with the friendless. We are wiling to stop the important thing we are doing to make another person feel special. It means we look for the opportunity to do the smallest of things to make that person's experience that much more significant. It even means that we are willing to jump into an area we don't normally serve, just to help.
We are the team that is seen the most, and we are often the ones seen first and last on campus, which means the impression we give has the power to bring someone closer to God or push them away. It also means we have the ability to impact lives for the Kingdom of God.
I know those are some high pressure words but it helps put it into perspective why we are serving. It has always been about two things. Serving Jesus and Serving His People.
So set the table, put on your favorite outfit, open the doors, hand out the ear plugs and invite people into your "home". Come serve with us. Come Serve Like Jesus!