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Relocating always brings with it a lot of finding \u201cnew\u201d everything. You have to find new doctors, new dentists, new veterinarians, new hair stylists, and on and on. It can be a tedious process. The one new thing that\u2019s always a huge challenge for me is finding a new church.<\/p>\n
Stimulation overload<\/strong><\/p>\n Churches do their best to be welcoming but it can be a mixed bag. While some barely acknowledge newcomers, others go a little overboard. There are people waving at you as you pull into the parking lot. People holding the church door open for you and saying hello all at once. And still more inside waiting to guide you through the greeting gauntlet.<\/p>\n For an introvert, so many interactions before even making it into the sanctuary can be overwhelming. Especially when some of the greeters are exceedingly extroverted. These are the ones who want to hug you, pepper you with questions, while simultaneously greeting their friends coming in, handing you literature about the church, and providing directions to the bathrooms, coffee, and sanctuary, all with an early-morning, over-caffeinated\u00a0 perkiness.<\/p>\n But wait! There\u2019s more!<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes the greeter at the door tips off the roaming greeters that newbies are here. They spot you, follow you to your seat, and stand hovering over you, with more questions, chatting, and giving information about the church.<\/p>\n We introverts are thinking, \u201cCan we please just lower the lights and focus on the worship now!\u201d But then the music starts, the smoke rolls, and the volume comes on strong. With all the stimulation you struggle to remember why you\u2019re at church to begin with.<\/p>\n Then comes the dreaded meet-and-greet time. This is time when you are expected to look around you, say hello to all nearby, shake their hands, and then, often, step out of your row and continue to greet and be greeted by others for what seems like an eternity.<\/p>\n \u201cWill the madness never stop?\u201d we introverts wonder.<\/p>\n As a newcomer or visitor, these kinds of interactions wear me down. I\u2019m truly glad when it all ends and the sermon starts. I know that now, for several minutes, I don\u2019t have to interact with anyone, can focus on the message, and do a sort of mini-recharge.<\/p>\n A few tips for welcoming introverts<\/strong><\/p>\n Introverts love being quietly acknowledged when visiting a new church. Here are some tips for doing just that:<\/p>\n Churches love when new people show up. The tendency is to go all out to acknowledge them and make them feel appreciated. With introverts, less is more. Say hello to us, let us know you\u2019re available if we have questions, then wait for us to come to you later. A quiet greeting will make us feel very warmly welcomed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Agree? Disagree? Have a question about this column? Email Stephen at <\/em>cnjintrovert@gmail.com<\/em><\/a>. Share your thoughts about being a Christian introvert!<\/em><\/p>\n Stephen R. Clark is a writer who lives in Lansdale, PA with his wife, BethAnn, where they are members of Immanuel Church. His website is www.StephenRayClark.com<\/a>. He is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and managing editor of the Christian Freelance Writers Network<\/a> blog. He is also a news writer for The Baptist Paper<\/a> and contributor to the Englewood Review of Books<\/a>. His writing has appeared in several publications. The content of this column is copyright \u00a9 by Stephen R. Clark.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n