Umbrellas first: step 1 in rainy day church hospitality

Bob Whitesel June 16, 2025

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In this video, church foresight strategist Bob Whitesel explains why rain or shine, hospitality starts in the parking lot.

Action 1 on a rainy day is not hard to figure out: it helps people negotiate the rain from the parking lot to the church facility. While many churches offer umbrellas by the entrance doors, this forces attendees to first negotiate the rainy walk from the parking lot to the building.

Many churches already have parking hosts in the parking lot. And while these hosts offer a friendly smile and a welcome, on rainy days an umbrella is often required. Many times people come with their families and the lone umbrella they bring along is not big enough to cover everyone in their party.

An easy improvement to this strategy is to purchase umbrellas with the church name and/or website printed on them. Then have greeters in the parking lot (under a pop-up canopy or large umbrella) offering umbrellas to people as they drive into the parking lot. Put up a sign that says, "Need an umbrella? We've got you covered."

Encourage people to carry the umbrellas to the church entrance where a sign should say, "Leave church umbrellas here and pick it up after church to return to your car."

This initial act of hospitality offers unearned favor to attendees and guests as they drive on the church property. Such an act inaugurates a visit with need-meeting (Luke 6:38) and gift-giving (2 Cor. 9:11).

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Bob Whitesel (D.Min., Ph.D.) is a foresight coach, professor, and award-winning author of 14 books. For over 30 years, he has guided leaders and churches to pivot and engage what’s next. He holds two earned doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches on leadership foresight, church health, and organizational change. His website is www.ChurchForesight.com. Learn More »

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