Walking into a church for the first time can be a very scary experience for newcomers. Sometimes it feels just as scary for us to approach and invite them into our circle. Pastor’s wife, author, and podcaster Jen Oshman shares her practical tips for creating a culture of welcome within the church. Jen tells us how welcome helped draw her to Christ, reminds us who Jesus says our primary family truly is, and encourages us to embrace the awkward in welcome culture.
SHOW NOTES“Welcome is so much more than a greeting. I need to genuinely go toward people and welcome them not just to Sunday morning, but maybe to my home after church, maybe to another small group leader’s home, maybe to a women’s Bible study. How can I take that extra step to go beyond Sunday morning and welcome them at least initially somehow into my life and into my circle?”
-Jen Oshman
“I think we have lost a vision for our primary family being the family of God, our primary eternal siblings, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles. It’s not actually our biological family or our nuclear family, but HIS primary family. Our primary family is those who walk with Jesus, those who follow him.”
-Jen Oshman
“It’s just going to be awkward, and that’s okay.”
-Jen Oshman
LINKS FROM THE SHOWWelcome: Loving Your Church by Making Space for Everyone
CONNECTConnect with Jen
Facebook // Instagram // Website // Podcast
Connect with Christine
Facebook // Instagram // Books
Visit How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife to access Christine’s resources for ministry wives like you!
Connect with NAMB
Facebook // Instagram
Q & A With Christine and Kyle Hoover
Practical Wisdom for Serving with Brothers in the Church (an interview with Amy Petersen)
The Life of a Lay Elder’s Wife (an interview with Caroline Cobb)
Embracing Biblical Lament (an interview with Danielle Kelly)
An Interview With Christine and Kyle Hoover (special guests Lynley and Ben Mandrell)
Motivations for Ministry (an interview with Krissie Inserra)
Serving in Small Churches (an interview with Wendy Ortiz)
Seasons of Spiritual Dryness (an interview with Kristen Wetherell)
From Pastor’s Wife to Pastor’s Widow (an interview with Melissa Swain)
Unmet Expectations in Ministry (an interview with Lisa Hughes)
Serving in Camp Ministry (an interview with Rachel Shelton)
The Joy of Raising Missionary Kids (an interview with Keri Folmar)
A Church Planting Couple’s Legacy (an interview with Jennifer Clifton)
Finding Your Place in Ministry (an interview with Angie Brown Elkins)
Expectations in Ministry (an interview with Jeanine Sanchez)
In Her Shoes: A Pastor’s Wife (an interview with Caroline Saunders)
Ministry After Covid (an interview with Kimberley McGibbon)
The Basics of Women’s Ministry (an interview with Kelly King)
Friendship Between Brothers and Sisters in the Church (an interview with Jen Wilkin and JT English)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)