The Ushers, Protocols And Greeters That Every Church Needs

I started writing this book in 1994. That was the year the LORD graciously commissioned me to raise for Him Quality leaders. I started with Ministers' and Pastors' workshop. Training for ushers was the second assignment I handled among the three fold mandates the LORD gave me in 1994. But, no book was written by me back then, neither did I come across any specialized book on Ushers, Greeters and Protocols in one volume, 20 years ago.

I have been privileged to conduct Training courses across the length and breadth of Nigeria on Ushering ministry for 20 years. I have interacted with over 400 churches from over 280 denominations in conferences and seminars but I never wrote a book on this topic. Our outfit, Christian Leadership Skills, have been involved in mass training for ushers in churches that counted 120,000 on Sundays with Ushers' workforce of about 4,000. I have written 36 books todate, but none on Ushers, Protocol and Greeters until now.

A particular mega church invited us to deliver training for ushers and crowd controllers twice within three months in their headquarters church. Their invitation came a bit late I could not be there physically. I didn't have a book on Ushers or crowd control. Only a manual.

Churches get confused on the role of ushers as different from protocol officers. I have witnessed ushers and protocols fight for territories in churches. A particular church head usher insists that he must stay side by side with the protocol officer by the altar, very close to the anointed. There was no book to show where each belong.

A particular ministry scrapped the word "Ushers" from the list of ministries. The General Overseer banned the entire ushers from officiating in the length and breadth of the church. His reason? Brethren have the Holy Spirit to direct them. No need for Ushers and the church went on "smoothly thereafter". I had no book to give to the man of God. No book I could give, until 20 years later!

Who are Ushers? Who are Protocol officers? Who are Greeters? Who are Traffic Controllers? I didn't write any book to explain. I only explain during workshop session. Now the explanation has become handy.

THE USHERS, PROTOCOLS AND GREETERS THAT EVERY CHURCH NEEDS is twenty years old in writing. But the facts are over 4,000 years old. 1 found vivid description of eight categories of Ushers, Protocols and Greeters ministry in first and second Chronicles. Queen of Sheba remarked on King Solomon's PAS', Protocol officers and aid-de camp in II Chron. 9:7.

Surveillance officers and Security Ushers were fully operational in Solomon era in Song of Solomon 3:3. It took me twenty years to bring 4,000 years of ancient practices into today's Facebook congregation.

I have taught Customer Relations in corporate setting. I have instructed Personal Assistants, Company Secretaries in high profile client management. I have lectured on Public Relations in established government institutions as a management consultant for over twenty years. When God called me in1994 "to take the same thing you are giving the business world, package it and give it to My church, beginning from the Bible", I understood the mandate of my calling.

An Usher slapped a newcomer in a regional church during worship service. His reason? The newcomer refused the seat he was offered. Ushers, Protocols and Greeters are in leadership roles essentially. Churches don't see them as such. Church leaders often see them as beginning or stating points of ministry.