Are You Monday Ready? The True Test of Church Hospitality
- Gabrielle B. Mills
- Oct 24
- 4 min read
A personal story that every church leader needs to hear
When Sunday Preparation Isn't Enough
Picture this: It's a Monday afternoon, and someone walks through your church doors. Not for a scheduled appointment, not for a program, but simply because they're genuinely interested in your church community. How would they be received?
I recently found myself in exactly this situation, and what I discovered was both eye-opening and concerning for the state of church hospitality in America today.
My Monday Church Visit: A Reality Check
A few months ago, I came across a church online that had impressive content – great videos, engaging social media presence, and a website that genuinely made me want to visit. So I did what any curious person might do: I drove to their location to check them out in person.
The only problem? It was a Monday.
When I arrived, I found staff members present and the building obviously occupied. However, when I approached the front desk and explained that I was interested in learning more about the church, I was met with something I didn't expect: I was asked to wait outside in the hot sun while someone tried to figure out what to do with me.
There I stood, a potential new member, a genuine visitor with sincere interest, being treated like an interruption rather than an opportunity.
The Unintentional Message We Send
As I waited in that parking lot, I couldn't help but think about the message this experience was communicating:
"Don't come here unless you follow our systems"
"We don't value you unless you show up at the 'right' time"
"I'm too busy doing church work to actually serve people"
"Our hospitality is reserved for Sundays only"
Now, I want to be clear – I don't believe this was intentional. The staff wasn't trying to be unwelcoming. But impact matters more than intent, and the impact was clear: this wasn't a place that was prepared to welcome unexpected visitors.
The Social Media Generation Challenge
Here's what every church leader needs to understand: we're living in the YouTube generation. People are discovering churches online, getting curious about faith through social media, and coming to Christ through all different types of channels.
We don't get to control when spiritual curiosity strikes someone.
Sure, we prefer when people show up on Sunday because that's when we're prepared. We've got our greeting teams in place, our hospitality systems running, and our best foot forward. But what happens when someone shows up on your doorstep on a Tuesday? Or a Wednesday? Or a Monday afternoon like I did?
The Real Test: Unexpected Moments
I've come to believe that the true test of a church's hospitality isn't how they treat people on Sunday morning – it's how they treat unexpected visitors on ordinary weekdays.
Think about it:
Sunday hospitality is prepared hospitality – you've got teams, systems, and expectations in place.
Weekday hospitality is authentic hospitality – it reveals your true culture when nobody's watching
A Challenge for Church Leaders
If you're a church leader reading this, I want to challenge you with a few questions:
Are you Monday ready? Not just Sunday ready, but truly prepared to welcome someone any day of the week?
What's your weekday visitor experience like? When was the last time you sent someone to visit your church unannounced on a random Tuesday?
Is your church welcoming every day? Or are you essentially "closed for business" Monday through Saturday?
The Secret Shopper Suggestion
Here's what I recommend to every church leader: Send a friend to visit your church on an off day. Not someone the staff will recognize, but a genuine "secret shopper" who can give you honest feedback about the weekday visitor experience.
You might be surprised by what they discover. While you always get the royal treatment when you show up at your own church, what's the experience like for a complete stranger?
Creating a Culture of Everyday Hospitality
Building true hospitality culture means:
Training for the unexpected: Your staff should know how to handle unscheduled visitors with grace and warmth.
Empowering your team: Give your weekday staff the authority and resources to welcome visitors properly.
Preparing your space: Even on non-Sunday days, is your building welcoming and accessible?
Shifting your mindset: View unexpected visitors as opportunities, not interruptions.
The Stakes Are Higher Than We Think
In today's world, that Monday visitor might be:
Someone whose friend invited them but they were too nervous to come on Sunday
A person researching churches online who wants to see the "real" version
Someone going through a crisis who needs help right now, not next Sunday
A family considering relocating who's checking out the community
Every interaction matters. Every visitor is an opportunity.
My Challenge to You
Before you dismiss this as an isolated incident or an unrealistic expectation, ask yourself: If Jesus showed up at your church on a Monday afternoon, how would He be received?
I know that sounds dramatic, but isn't that essentially what we're talking about? In Matthew 25:35, Jesus said, "I was a stranger and you invited me in." He didn't specify that this only applied on Sunday mornings.
The Bottom Line Question
So here's the question every church needs to answer honestly: Are you Monday ready?
Because in God's kingdom, hospitality isn't a program – it's a posture. And that posture should be consistent whether it's 11 AM on Sunday or 2 PM on a Monday.
The next time someone shows up at your church unexpectedly, will they leave feeling welcomed into God's family, or will they leave feeling like they showed up at the wrong time to the wrong place?
Only you can answer that question. But I encourage you to find out – before it's too late.
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All the Best,
What's your church's "Monday experience" like? Have you ever visited a church unexpectedly? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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