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Crisis at the Welcome Center

In some churches, there is a little booth called, “The Welcome Center.” It’s a place where people can get information about church activities and get to know church members and staff.

Well of course, when I first heard the term, I wondered what would happen if you placed someone there that wasn’t very welcoming. Maybe a volunteer had a rough start to the morning. Or perhaps there is one guest that is a little annoying like this cartoon and the host just wasn’t in the mood to handle it.

There are ways to make a welcoming center more welcoming. As this post suggests, staffing it well is important. It mentions four mistakes in staffing a welcome center. Is having no one at the welcome center better than having Ms. Grumpy? I’m sure some churches have to face that dilemma on some Sundays.

Cartoon of a guy coming up to an annoyed woman at a welcome center. The woman says, "You again?"

I drew this cartoon for the November 2022 CHOGNews.

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CHOG News church cartoons Newsletters

Frozen Church Greeter | Cartoon

Cartoon of a man saying to a snowman, "You're doing great, but I don't see you on the greeter volunteer list."

The best volunteers show up in the most unexpected places. I am not saying snowmen make the best greeters. After all, their verbal skills leave a lot to be desired. But they do have two attributes every greeter needs; be present and smile. 

When I came up with this idea, I thought of all the hard working greeters that brave the elements over the winter. They do their best to make a visitor feel welcome. They make us feel warm on the inside even though they are freezing in the doorway. 

Let’s give credit to all the church greeters who brave the winter elements to make everyone feel welcomed.

I drew this cartoon for the “January 2017 Church of God Newsletter.”

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church cartoons webcomic

The great church seating controversy

cartoon of a big man talking to an intimidated, seated man. He says, "Welcome to First Church. Now get out of my seat!"

It has always fascinated me how good people can get caught up in petty things like saving their seat at church. In extreme cases, it can even lead to violence like this example.

At one of the churches I attended, there was a legend about an elderly lady that would hiss at people if they were in her seat. One Sunday, a friend’s family was about to sit nearby. The dear old sister looked up, then commented, “It’s okay if you sit there. It’s Brother So and So’s seat, but he passed away this week.”

It runs contradictory to what Jesus himself taught:

“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.” Luke 14:10 NIV

So you can have my seat. But I can’t guarantee a dear old sister won’t hiss at you.

I created this cartoon for the September 2016 CHOGNews.