The foreigner

Most of my life I've been 'a local', more or less. Now the tables have turned and I'm the foreigner. So, with my newly-won experience, what can churches do to make foreigners welcome? Some of this will go for any newcomer.

• Sit next to them in church. Chances are they feel like a loser sitting on their own.
• If it's not too much trouble, it helps to have things in writing (song lyrics, liturgy, announcements, sermon outlines).
• If you see them standing by themselves, invite them to join your conversation. (It's really hard to break into a conversation when you don't know the language or the social norms.)
• Let them know what you're talking about (but don't ruin the conversation by explaining every detail)...
• Or find out a bit about them (try to ask simple - even yes/no - questions).
• Talk a little slower than normal (and a little more simply if you can), but don't talk more loudly.
• Keep your cool if they don't understand you or the other way round. Try for a bit, then give up and move on. It's no big deal.
• Invite them to your place for lunch.
• Help them with the practicalities of getting involved in church. Check they know what's going on, that they're welcome, where and when it is, and that they have a way of getting there.
• For new events, let them know of any cultural traditions (eg how the church does family lunch).
• Ask them to be on a roster (one that doesn't require much talking).
• Greet them enthusiastically when you see them each week (by name if you can).
• And church leaders should keep an eye on how they're doing, if they're getting along to stuff, if they're starting to make friends.

Some of these things are easy to do and others call for sacrifice. They mightn't seem very glamorous but I tell you that simple things like these will transform the foreigner's experience. And perhaps the foreigner may be like me - a super-interesting and fun person - the sort of person you will be delighted you took the trouble to get to know ;).