Ushering Ministry

The Vision and Values of the Ushering Department of RCCG Everlasting Father’s Assembly, Leeds.

The primary objective of an Ushering Team is to ensure the smooth running of any event. As a result, the Ushers are usually the first people you would meet upon arrival at an event, and throughout the event, they perform such responsibilities as welcoming guests, traffic and crowd control, seating arrangements, etc. Therefore, the Ushering Department of RCCG Everlasting Father’s Assembly (EFA) has been an integral part of the church since it was established 10 years ago.

The Vision of the ushering department is based on service to God through service to others. Colossians 3: 23 – 24 (NKJV) states: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” The EFA Ushering Department provides an invaluable service to the church. In many ways, the ushers are the “face” of the church, the first ones that people see when they arrive and the last ones they see as they leave. It is important that an usher be friendly, honest, and willing to serve. It is an honourable position in the church which requires integrity, cordiality, and wisdom. The ushers wear name tags for easy identification.

The vision of the Ushering Department has impacted the church through the different services rendered by the Ushers at different church events over the years. The impression that an usher makes on members and first timers go a long way to determine an individual’s willingness to continue to worship in the church. Therefore, ushers are expected to be cheerful and welcoming at all times. The specific responsibilities of the Ushering Department in service to others are carried out before, during and after church service. Before the church service starts, the Ushers prepare the bulletins for distribution, ensure that the temperature in the building is conducive, and check that seats are properly arranged. During the service, they would welcome worshippers at each entrance, acting as doorkeepers; greet people with a smile while handing out bulletins, help people find a seat, collect the offering and tithe, provide assistance to the congregation whenever needed, maintain orderliness by minimising distraction during the service, headcount of worshippers and attendance during service, etc. At the end of the service, the Ushers are responsible for distributing any church publications to the congregation and the sale of CDs and other published materials by invited guest ministers. The Ushering Department also acts as the “information desk” for upcoming church programs.

An experience with an Usher during a church service can impact on a worshipper’s decision whether or not to return to the church. In order to adequately carry out their responsibilities, every Usher is encouraged to demonstrate core values which include spiritual strength, cheerfulness, politeness, submissiveness, organisational skills, excellence in service, patience, punctuality and uniformity in dress code. They are also encouraged to be aware of spiritual attacks during church services which could come in form of distractions through small chats, cell phones, constant movement during sermon and many more. A quick silent prayer by an Usher can silence the camp of the enemy.

In service to people in the house of God, an Usher should find encouragement in Psalm 84:10 (NKJV) which states: “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”