Want to skip to a particular church visitor folder question? Follow these quick links:
- When do I hand out church welcome folders?
- Should I put my church name and logo on welcome packs?
- What do I put in welcome packets for church visitors?
At Easy Pocket Folders, we work with churches from all denominations, from all over the USA, from small churches to big, multi-location churches.
So why do so many churches—of varying sizes and paths—all want to add church welcome folders to their visitor package?
The answer is really quite simple. Visitor folders are a practical way to give church guests information they can browse on their own time.
They can spend Sunday morning (or whatever day and time you worship) getting to know your members and seeing your church. All the information in the church welcome packet—letters from the pastor, visitor cards, denominational pamphlets, ministry info sheets—can be read at their leisure.
Let them enjoy your service without being inundated with information, or leaving the service without fully understanding your church.
Here’s why are church welcome folders are so important
Have you ever been to a concert, a ball game, or a community festival, and you left feeling like you were refreshed, energized, or that you just had a really good time? How long does that feeling last? Without pictures, or perhaps a small souvenir, that feeling can subside—or even be forgotten.
The same concept applies with church guest folders. Your visitors enjoy the service and Sunday message, or perhaps they feel something they haven’t felt in a while: joy. Church often has that effect on people, right?
That being said, why would you not give your visitors something? Sometimes, it’s the tangible things that help us hold onto our memories, or help us relive what brought us joy. That’s why many women keep their grandmother’s jewelry, but never wear it. It’s why men keep toys from their childhood.
Church welcome packets are that reminder of what brought them joy. It’s a reminder that there are others they can share their faith with.
Yes, there is a lot of information in those welcome packets—some really good information.
But keeping those welcome folders might just serve as a reminder of the joy they felt when visiting your church.
So you want folders. But now what? How do you choose the right folder for your church?
If your church has never handed out visitor welcome packs before, you might have some questions. We’ve had a lot of conversations with pastors and church leaders, and have been able to get some really helpful tips from them.
When do I hand out church welcome folders?
It’s common practice to hand out welcome packets before the service begins. These church folders are placed in a variety of locations, depending on the church layout:
- By the doors to the sanctuary
- On a table by the front doors
- At the information center
- Handed out personally by a welcome ministry member
By handing out welcome folders before the service begins, this gives your visitors a few options:
- Visitors can sit, read, and reflect on what is in the welcome packet. They can sit down before the service, either in the sanctuary or some other quiet place, and look over the materials you’ve provided in the folder. This is a nice option because, let’s face it, visiting an unknown church is just that: unknown. Reading that information will give them a some insight about your congregation and place of worship before the service begins. Sometimes, that helps put things in perspective. For example, in a UCC church, this would give the visitor a better understanding as to why the message is heavily focused on social justice issues.
- Visitors can take the church welcome kit home and read it later. Some visitors will want to jump in and join the social activity right away. This usually happens when they are invited by friends or family, so they have someone there to talk to right away. For these people, the welcome folders are still very helpful, because they can take the folder home to read and reflect on the info throughout the week.
Should I put my church name and logo on the welcome packs?
Personalized church presentation folders can play a role in your church’s image. It might seem a stretch, but custom church folders can play a role in your church’s branding.
If your branding matters, or if you just want personalized visitor folders, then yes, add your logo. We have 11 designs to choose from, or you could design your own 6″ x 9″ church folder.
We know what you might be thinking: What about the cost?
Remember, we talk to pastors and leaders from churches of all sizes, so we know that sometimes personalized pocket folders aren’t in the budget.
Which is why we offer low quantity welcome folders, available in letter-sized welcome folders with a low 25-piece minimum, or mini folders with a 100-piece minimum.
What do I put in my welcome packets for visitors?
- Welcome letter from the pastor, youth minister, and church president. Need help writing your visitor welcome letters? Check out these church welcome letter templates.
- Church and denomination information pamphlets
- USB, CD, or DVD with a collection of sermons
- Visitor cards to fill out and return
- Church member directory for your parish, temple, or house of worship
- Current church newsletter
- Flyers for church outings, picnics, overnighters, dances, trips, and more
- Prayer cards and inspirational materials
- Photos of special services, trips, and events
- Member information forms
- Map of church building or campus
For a more comprehensive explanation of what goes in a church welcome folder—and why it goes in there—read this brief article on what to put in your church visitor welcome packet.
And if you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to browse our free, printable church letterhead templates.
I need cheap welcome folders for my church. Can Easy Pocket Folders help?
Of course! We work with all denominations Browse from these church visitor folder options:
- 6″ x 9″ Personalized Welcome Folders
- 6″ x 9″ Stock Welcome Folders (no personalization available)
- 9″ x 12″ Letter-Sized Stock Welcome Folders (no personalization available)
- Custom 6″ x 9″ Church Folders
Not sure which folder will work best for your church or welcome ministry team? Contact us on our website, or call us at (800) 346-3063.