This manual will help you build a great ushering, security, protocol, sanctuary keepers, hospitality and catering team. Your ushers can make or break your worship service. The difference between a grumpy, distracted, and untrained usher compared to a cheerful, engaged, and “serve you with a smile” usher is huge and the conversion from weak to a strong team will be made easier using this manual. I’ve always loved the ushering team; it has always been one of my favorite ministries to lead. The usher’s role is so important but often undervalued, under trained, and less than organized. Your ushers are a tremendous force in setting the tone for worship and helping to prepare the people to hear and respond to the Word of God. This manual will equip your team to serve with the right attitude, passion, love, wisdom, understanding, skills, revelation and spirit of excellence.

2. THE ART
OF
EFFECTIVE CHURCH USHERING
Building a cheerful, engaged, and “serve you
with a smile” church ushering team.
AMB. STEVE MBUGUA

3. DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to all brothers and sisters in
the body of Christ who have joyfully responded to
the call of service in the Ushering Departments in
the Different church assemblies and Gospel
meetings worldwide.
You run, you sweat, you clean, you smile, you
greet, you direct… all this just to create an
atmosphere conducive enough for communal
worship.
Like John, you are forerunners, making crooked
paths straight for the Lord to come and minister to
His People.
You usher people to the courts of the Lord and you
make them comfortable in the sanctuary, you
handle them as they are ministered to in prayer as
well as helping them as they minister to the Lord in
Giving….You are PECULIAR CO-WORKERS WITH
CHRIST!!
I value you, and celebrate you in the Lord. Be
encouraged. Keep on with the Good work for Your
Reward is at Hand even as we see the Day of our
Lord soon approaching!!!
I

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
TO GOD ALMIGHTY:
What can I do without the Lord? What wisdom can I give
apart from the Lord! I acknowledge with uttermost gratitude,
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, from whom has come the
Revelation and Inspiration that I am graced today to channel
though this book.
TO MY WIFE:
It’s not practically possible to concentrate and write without
the peace of Mind. Thank you my dear for your support and
encouragement throughout the journey of writing this book.
You have been a GOOD USHER to me even as I minister to
many in writing about effective church ushering.
II

5. TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION…………………………… I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………… II
1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………..…….… 1
2. WHO IS AN USHER……………………………………………….....4
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD USHER……………….…..10
4. QUALIFICATIONS OF AN EFFECTIVE USHER…………..…15
5. SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS OF AN USHER……….…....16
6. THE 5T’S OF EFFECTIVE USHERING……………………...….20
7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN USHER…………………….…….…22
8. CHIEF/HEAD USHER RESPONSIBILITIES…………….………24
9. USHERS SCOPE OF OPERATION………………………….…….26
10. GENERAL DUTIES OF AN USHER …………………………..…32
11. GENERAL GUIDELINES TO USHERING IN CHURCH……. 34
12. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES………………………………………39
13. LATEST TRENDS………………………………………………………..44
14. CONCLUSION………………………………………………………….…46

6. INTRODUCTION
Praise the Lord Jesus!
It is a blessed opportunity granted to me by our God and
Heavenly Father to come to you through this book.
For more than a decade I have been serving as a Church
Usher; First at the Moi University Christian Union then at
different worship assemblies.
By divine providence in my career I have worked as an
emergency first responder and in most cases heading the
protocol teams during different occasions.
Whether in church or at work, my slogan has always been
‘First In, Last Out’
Having attended and served in church for quite some time I
have been heavily concerned about people who comfortably
Belong to church but they don’t Participate in any acts of
service in that church. Statistics show that believers who
don’t do anything in church have a greater risk of not just
dropping out of church but falling out of the faith.
1

7. Dear friends our commitment to Christ must be
demonstrated through our service to him and to his church.
According to 1 peter 4:10… “Each of you should use
whatever gift you have received to serve others, as
faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
This is to say that every Christian has been given at least one
gift to use in their service to the body of Christ.
Some people think serving God is in preaching alone! That’s
not true!
There are many ways we can advance the gospel and
enhance the welfare of the body of Christ.
You may not necessarily be a pastor of a local church or an
evangelist to the nations but you can serve in the choir, you
can work as a Website administrator or social media
coordinator, you can serve as a sound technician, you can
serve in the media department, you can give your finances
and resources, you can work in the kitchen, you may be led
to teach a Sunday school class and more so you can choose
to serve in the USHERING DEPARTMENT!
2

8. In this book am persuaded to give a singular attention to
CHURCH USHERING which is one way we can serve God.
Having served in this department for many years I have
collected some experiences and information that I strongly
believe can help those who are already in the ushering
departments in our churches and those who will join later.
God does no just want us to serve him; He wants us to do it
well.
We therefore must always ask ourselves, what can I do, what
can I add, what can I change in order to please the Lord in
the area of assignment he has gifted me to serve, this applies
to preachers and to ushers and to all other church workers as
well.
I believe this book will help enhance the effectiveness of our
ministry as ushers thus growing the impact of our local
churches in our accomplishing our Kingdom mandate.
3

9. WHO IS AN USHER
The dictionary generally describes an usher as an officer or
servant who has the care of the door of a court, hall, or
chamber or an officer who walks before a person of rank or
one who escorts persons to their seats.
To usher is to show someone where they should go, or to
make someone go where you want them to go.
An usher is a DOOR KEEPER, he or she is a guide, and an
escort.
However, when we come to church; the definition of an
usher goes beyond being a doorkeeper.
Due to the diverse and unique needs in our churches the
ushers are looked upon to provide services that go beyond
what the dictionary describes.
Each usher has the opportunity to impact the lives of new
and existing people in the church and should be viewed as an
extension of the pastor’s hand. In most cases, they provide
the first impressions of church and ministry of the pastor.
The ministry of ushering is a crucial part of worship because
it is one of the most visible ministries in the Church.
4

10. In Christ, you have received God’s unconditional love, and,
in Christ, you are called to extend that same unconditional
love to others.
Although an usher’s love is no stronger than the love found
in the whole congregation of the body of Christ, nevertheless
the usher performs a major role in ensuring that people see
and experience that love.
An usher is a spiritual ambassador for the local church –
God’s ordained and organized body of believers. The usher
serves as a “first representative” of Jesus Christ for a
worship service.
Ushers are a tremendous force in setting the tone for worship
and helping to prepare the people to hear and respond to the
Word of God.
The purpose of ushering in church is not merely to serve
people, as in a theater or restaurant. Its purpose is to serve
God!!
When the ushers see to it that an atmosphere of reverence
and order is maintained before, during, and after the service,
they do it for God. When they usher the worshippers to their
seats, they do it for God.
5

11. When they gather the offerings, they serve God. What they
do, they do not "as unto men, but unto God." They are a part
of the total congregation which presents itself before God to
worship Him.
While ushering is important, and its importance must be
emphasized, the ushers themselves must not have or
convey a feeling of personal importance and pride.
The ushers must memorize and apply the Third Beatitude,
"Blessed are the meek." In addition, they should learn from
our Lord Jesus to be "meek and lowly in heart."
An usher is a servant of God.
The work of an usher is important in its relationship to God
and the worship of God, but personally the usher must not
feel proud and over-important.
The Bible tells us that….
"Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as unto the Lord (as
working for the Lord), and not unto men; since you know that you
will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a Reward: It is the
Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians3: 23- 24.
6

12. The role of a church usher is to help the first time guests,
repeat visitors, and members experience the sacredness and
joy of a worship service.
I believe that an usher’s performance can make or break the
outcome of the service as well as bring a true reflection of
how friendly and loving the church really is.
Ushers set the spiritual climate of the service by presenting a
joyful attitude, making others feel welcome and comfortable,
and making sure that everything is flowing in a proper order
so that everyone is free to worship without interruption.
David in the Bible desired just to be a Doorkeeper (AN
USHER) in the house of God than to spend time elsewhere.
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than
dwell in the tents of the wicked.” PSALM 84: 10.
It is a good and desirable thing to be an usher in the house of
God!
An usher in the church is not just a VOLUNTEER but a
SERVANT OF GOD!
7

13. The ministry of Jesus would not be orderly without the
service of the disciples who on many occasions served as
USHERS! Ushers are instruments of orderliness in the place
of worship. Remember on the occasion in Mathew 14:13-21,
when Jesus fed over 5000 people.
Jesus provided the miracle Bread and Fish but it was the
duty of the disciples to organize the people in to groups and
to distribute the food and then to collect the remains.
Ushers are organizers!!!
In Acts 6: 1-4, “A complaint arose from the Grecian Jews
against the Hebrews because the Grecian widows were being
neglected in the daily ministry. The twelve summoned the
multitude of the disciples and said, 'It's not appropriate for us
to forsake the word of God and serve tables. Therefore
brethren, select from among you seven men of good
reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. Then we can
appoint those men over this business, and we apostles will
continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of
the word.”
8

14. Ushers ought to be responsible people, people of good
reputation and wisdom and full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
People who oil the operations of ministry and lessen the
burden from the point men and women of the local
assemblies!!!
It should excite every usher to know that the first MARTYR;
the first man to die for his belief in the Gospel, STEPHEN
was an USHER…. !!!
Ushers are men and women, brothers and sisters so much in
love with Christ, that they can do anything, even getting
dirty just to put a smile on the face of Christ by bringing and
maintaining order in the church.
9

15. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD USHER
Dear friends from the onset, I wish to suggest to you some
irreducible minimums of attributes that every good usher
must possess. There certain aspects that any person serving
or aspiring to serve as an usher must consider! If you are
going to find a good usher then you will notice the
following:…
1. A GOOD USHER MUST BE A GOOD
COMMUNICATOR
Ushering entails talking to people.
A good usher needs to be a keen listener.
He or she must be kind yet clear in their words.
An usher must be willing to consult then inform the
concerned people instead of misleading people with personal
assumptions… For example, if a new member asks.. what
time is the mid week service…. If the usher is not very sure,
he or she should not say… I THINK ITS 5PM
WEDNESDAY…They should instead consult then tell the
new brother….I HAVE JUST CONFIRMED ITS 5.30PM
WEDNESDAY!
Every usher must learn how to address people
appropriately….
10

16. For instance, don’t address a 60 or 70 year old woman with
her first name, or even as “sister Jane”. Address her … Dear
mum welcome….
It is not kind to address a mid-age woman …you woman, we
mama, huyu msichana.
One wrong word used to address a person can put them off
from the church or even hinder them from being blessed in
the service.
Use words such us; Hello sir, Welcome mum, Go well
brother.
Be quick to learn people’s names and how they prefer to be
addressed!
If the church is in a town environment, don’t assume that the
visitors talk the local language, unless otherwise, stick to the
official languages.
Every usher must grow their communication skills.
Good ushers don’t shout at people; they talk to people!
2. A GOOD USHER BE MUST WELL GROOMED!
We already said that the appearance and conduct of ushers
shape part of the first impression a visitor makes of any
church.
It is therefore imperative that the usher be well groomed.
The ushers must be smart! Not to mean that they must
always have new clothes but that their clothes, hair, shoes
etc must be done well.
11

17. An usher must not only spend time on the knees but also time
in the mirror before coming to church.
If the church has some dress code for ushers, that needs to be
adhered to.
If there are some name-tags or badges they should be properly
worn.
It is improper to walk around with unkempt hair or hanging
shirt or stinking mouth. It is uncharacteristic of a good usher to
be untidy!
3. A GOOD USHER MUST BE CONFIDENT!
People tend to respect and Respond to Confident people.
If you are going to direct people you need to know exactly
where you are taking them.
You can’t be a walking question mark while people should
be coming to you for answers!!
Do your homework well! Read the bulletins in advance!
Have the necessary details and answers that people are likely
to ask from you.
Know where for instance people with special needs should
seat. Be ready to gently yet firmly stop people from
occupying reserved seats.
An usher is a HOST!!! It is wrong to behave like a visitor
then expect to serve other visitors well.
12

18. 4. A GOOD USHER EXCEL IN MULTI-TASKING!
Due to the multiplicity of needs and the difference of the nature
of people in our congregations, its paramount that every usher
must be prepared to handle many tasks at ago.
It’s possible that within 5 minutes, you can get 7 questions
from different people…
One is asking….Where is the Sunday school, another one asks
for direction to the washrooms, the other asks when the second
service begins, another inquiring of the procedure or envelope
for tithing or development project and yet another asking if
they can see the senior pastor!
A serious usher must build the mental fortitude to handle such
pressure!
In addition, its advisable for the usher to carry a notebook so
that some of the things that require later inquiry or reporting
are noted!
The ushers must build the capacity to understand fast and
respond swiftly yet with a lot of grace and never loosing the
smile!!
You can’t be good at multitasking if you are poor in time
management. Every effective usher is very much time
conscious.
13

19. 5. A GOOD USHER MUST BE PATIENT AND HAVE A BIG
HEART!
Serving people requires a lot of patience!
People even the church going and the born-again believers
are not easy.
It is very easy to pick up offense and get angry and bitter
when serving people.
Some people are rude, others are ignorant, some are slow
learners, others are biased, some are new to the faith and are
still stuck in unregenerate mindset; all these will come to
church and the ushers will need to handle them.
The ushers have a unique responsibility to identify and try to
settle all the “guests of the Lord” in a way that The Lord can
minister to them.
People may come very dirty or even drunk? How do you
handle them?
They may come dressed improperly, how do you help them
without making them look like devils?
The usher, being an extension of the pastor must have a big
heart… A heart large enough to welcome, accommodate and
help shape the worst of men as they come in to become the
saints of Christ!!
14

20. QUALIFICATIONS OF AN
EFFECTIVE USHER
Not just anyone can be an usher, in the same way that not
just anyone can be in the worship team, work in children’s
ministry or lead a small group. The right gifts, passion, and
ability make a big difference.
1. The usher's spiritual relationship with the Lord must be
continually growing such that his relationship with his
fellowmen becomes exemplary.
2. An usher must attend meetings regularly.
3. An usher must constantly desire to develop a team spirit
among the members of the ministry.
4. Friendliness is a very important characteristic of a good
usher.
5. Other attributes of a good usher are: punctuality, humility,
graciousness, kindness, submissiveness, flexibility, cleanness,
sensitiveness (alert), faithfulness (dependable), availability,
dedicated, poised and most of all, prayerful.
6. An usher should be knowledgeable particularly about the
church - its faith, worship gathering schedules, workers,
outreaches, ministries and facilities.
15

21. SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS
OF AN USHER
When the First church in Jerusalem set to choose 7 ushers,
they did not just look at outward attributes. This is in Acts 6:
1-4. They went for men WHO WERE FULL OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND WISDOM.
From this we learn that a good usher must be spirit filled
and seek to walk in the manifest fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 is a solid guideline for a good usher. This
is not about perfection, but a heartfelt motive and desire to
live a life of a spirit-filled believer.
Here are the spiritual disciplines that every effective usher
must nurture and walk in always in his or her line of faith
and service…..
• Love – In 1 Corinthians 13:13 the apostle Paul says,
of faith, hope and love, that love is the greatest of
these things. If you choose to genuinely love the
people you serve as an usher, God will bless your
actions.
16

22. • Joy – Take God seriously, but don’t take yourself too
seriously. Lighten up and enjoy the moment. Your
spirit will be contagious to others. If you are cold,
aloof, and don’t smile (basically, if you are a grumpy
usher) you will discourage others around you.
• Peace – You can add peace, calm, and order to what
might otherwise be an overwhelming and hectic
experience.
• Patience – This is a great quality of a good usher.
Most of us are impatient by nature. Many of the
people will have waited in line to park, waited in line
to give offering, and waited in line for meals. Their
patience will be running thin. You can set a good
example with your patience toward them.
• Kindness – This is the attitude that makes you
approachable as an usher. Going the extra mile can
make all the difference in the world! Be imaginative.
Think of all the ways you could show kindness to
someone as they come to worship.
17

23. • Goodness – The inner quality of goodness is a gift
that results from the Holy Spirit’s power working
within us. This state of being will naturally spill over
into your service and bring an intangible but powerful
presence into the worship experience.
• Faithfulness – Faithfulness as a Christian bleeds over
into your faithfulness as an usher. Showing up, being
responsible and doing your ministry well matters to
everyone. It matters to God, and it matters to all those
who call your church home.
• Gentleness – A mature usher never throws around his
or her authority. The best usher is a humble one who
seeks to put others first no matter how much pressure
may be present in the moment.
• Self-Control – It is impossible to control a large
crowd if we cannot control ourselves. In calm
moments self-control is easy, it’s under the pressure
of hectic moments and last minute changes that your
grace and self-control will shine.
18

24. Other Qualifications of an Usher
• You must understand the vital role of the usher
ministry.
• You must enjoy and care about people.
• You should possess a servant’s heart.
• You need to be committed to the vision of your
church.
• You must be supportive of the leadership at your
church.
• Though you may probably not be required to usher
every Sunday, but when you are on the schedule, you
must always give it 100%.
19

25. THE 5T’S OF EFFECTIVE USHERING
Over the time I have been involved in the ushering ministry I
think there are five cardinal principles for effective ushering.
A good usher must embody and embrace these values.
1. Teachable. Ushers should have the right spirit and heart
that is easy to serve people and church well. Every usher
should be willing to be taught and learn ways to improve.
Read the bulletin – get informed, stay informed. Ushers
who are ever-learning can greatly enhance the service.
2. Thoughtfulness. Ushers should be looking for ways to
serve and help others. Opening doors, assisting visitors,
being courteous, and looking for ways to help others
along with their other duties can bring a positive
reflection for the church.
3. Tactfulness. Ushers should present themselves in being
able to communicate well and have a keen sense of
knowing what to say, what to do, and where to direct
others as a way to maintain good relations and prevent
distractions in the service.
20

26. 4. Timeliness. Ushers should be on time and also timely in
bringing assistance to others. An effective usher does
not wait to be asked or wait for others to help but is
keenly aware of what is going on in the church and
allows the flow of the service to continue without
distractions.
5. Teamwork. Ushers should work as a team, each one
working together as a whole. Ushers should work
uniformly in receiving offerings, communion, bringing
order to the service in as many ways as possible. If you
are on the schedule and can’t make it, be sure to call
and let your team leader know. Don’t just fail to show
up. Know how to find a replacement if you're not able
to usher when scheduled. People are counting on you.
Be a team player. Cover for your fellow usher when
needed.
21

27. RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN USHER
1. Faithfully attend church, whether or not you have
ushering responsibilities that day.
2. Arrive at the church 30 minutes prior to the start of the
service.
3. Dress should be appropriate, descent, clean, and neat.
4. Work and receive instructions from the Chief/Head
Usher.
5. Get the bulletins and take them to the assigned
positions.
6. Maintain supplies at the Altar, make sure pews have
adequate hymnals, Bibles, and offering envelopes if
provided. In most churches, these are not provided so
your responsibility will be to make sure pews are well
organized and neat.
7. Welcome arriving congregants with a warm, friendly smile.
8. Be alert for issues that may need your attention.
9. Provide directions to the nursing mothers, Sunday
school children, etc.
10.Assist the elderly and handicapped out of their cars and
into the church.
22

28. 11.Be available for offering, special offerings, and other
duties as directed by the Pastor.
12.In some churches, several ushers and church deacons
count the offerings and place the offering in the safe.
13.After the offering, at least one usher must remain in the
lobby area to offer assistance when needed. They can
monitor the hallways for unexpected guests.
14.Be aware of the temperature in the sanctuary.
15.Some churches require an usher to count attendance.
16.Be available around the Altar.
17.After the service has ended, have a designated usher go
through the church building to make sure doors and
windows are locked and no one else is in the building;
And that all left-behind materials or possessions by the
congregants are collected and kept safely.
18.Turn off the lights, lock all doors and windows, and
ensure all power sources are switched off.
19.Provide Emergency help when needed in an orderly
fashion.
20.During rainy months, provide rails for the
congregation to scrub away mud and wipe their
shoes.
23

29. CHIEF/HEAD USHER
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Receive special instructions from the Pastor.
2. Oversee and direct operations of the ushers during the
assigned time frame.
3. Make sure special instructions from Pastor is
followed through.
4. Contact usher crewmembers prior to the start of the
service to make sure there will be an ample number of
ushers available. Make usher substitutions when
necessary.
5. Conduct pre-service prayer.
6. Provide or organize for teaching and training for all
ushers which includes, greeting others, how to handle
emergencies, how to assist congregational needs,
offering duties, and provide courteous and thoughtful
attitude in their role.
7. Maintain open communication with all ushers.
8. Rotate ushers to avoid usher-burnout and allow others
to be involved in providing services to the church.
24

30. 9. Make sure to evaluate the offering procedures to have
an air-tight system of removing offerings from the
sanctuary to the time it is placed in the church safe for
security purposes.
10.Develop and train ushers how to handle overflow
seating situations.
11.Maintain church attendance recorded, list of visitor’s
details and people with special needs.
25

31. USHERS SCOPE OF OPERATION
Take initiative
The cardinal sin of an usher is not to pay attention. At all
times watch what is going on in your section and jump in to
handle it. If you aren’t sure what to do, ask your team leader.
The only wrong choice is to do nothing. Never assume
“someone” else is taking care of the need. Pay attention,
take the initiative, and make it happen!!
Pre-Briefing and Postmortem Meeting
Have regular meetings of the ushers for the purpose of
instruction, exchange of ideas, suggestions, and discussion
of experiences and problems. In some churches the ushers
meet for fifteen minutes before every worship service.
Fill First Pews First
It is always important to get the front pews filled as early as
possible. That is the secret of getting the people to the front. If
you allow the rear and center of the hall to be filled first, it will
be very difficult to persuade anyone to sit in the front. The
reason for this is psycho logical.
26

32. It creates the impression that the front pews are undesirable,
since others have avoided them. It also makes some people
self-conscious. Their timid natures rebel against the idea
of going down the aisle past a lot of other people. It fills them
with fear.
In large churches it might be well to have ushers stationed at
various sections of pews, and to direct the people from one
usher to another.
Don't try to force anyone to sit where he does not want to sit.
Ushers must not express surprise or resentment if anyone does
not follow to the place where they want to seat him. They must
try to act as though nothing unusual had happened, return to
such a person, and kindly give him a bulletin. No matter how
provoking a situation may be, the ushers should always
graciously give in to the wishes of the worshippers. If
a reserved section is involved, simply state that it is reserved,
and suggest another place. Don't argue. Don't try to prove to
people that they are on the wrong. Ushers should always know
where the empty places are, and never hunt for seats. They
should never run after anyone down the aisle.
27

33. Be Professional in your Appearance
Conduct your work in a dignified and reverent manner. Ushers
should be dressed neatly and appropriately for the worship
of God. They should be courteous, pleasant, and kind. They
should always “be on the job”. When their duties require them
to be on their feet, they should be erect and tending to
business. When they do not have to be up, they should be
seated so as to be absorbed in the congregation and actively
engaged in worship.
Always learn to absorb the pressure when
it comes
Most of the ministry of an usher is pure joy. Seriously, it’s a lot
of fun. But on occasion, there are moments of pressure when
someone is upset, or something isn’t working right. In these
moments never transfer the pressure to the person entering into
their worship experience. You are the leader. You absorb the
pressure. Get help if you need it, but never make the issue their
problem. You help deliver a solution.
28

34. Own your section, lead your section,
shepherd your section.
Seat the worshippers as much as possible where they want to sit.
Ushers should study the congregation, learn the favorite places of
the members, especially those that are hard of hearing, the near-
sighted, the mothers with babies, and those who are ill. Visitors
and people who come early are entitled to the best seats, if they
want them. But no one ought to insist on his rights contrary to the
law of Christian charity. Parents with small children should be
seated in the rear, so that they will not disturb the whole
congregation if they have to leave, and will feel they can go out
without difficulty in case of necessity.
In an average environment with average ushers, once the seats are
filled the ushers relax and mentally check out. As leaders, the
ushers are empowered to take ownership of the section of seats
they serve in and give leadership where needed.
Each usher should do everything in their power to ensure that the
people have the best opportunity possible to connect with and
hear from God. Each usher can shepherd the people by getting to
know them, praying for them, learning their names, and meeting
appropriate needs.
29

35. Follow the direction of your Chief/Head usher.
All good leaders are good followers. It is important that each
usher follows the leadership of the team leader. Be
supportive and encouraging. Offer suggestions if you have
good ideas, but don’t be overly sensitive if your ideas aren’t
used. Your chief usher will do his or her best to serve and
lead you and the rest of their team well.
Meet the people with a smile and
confidence.
The usher’s job is to move toward and engage people
quickly and with the confidence to help them know what to
do. Don’t leave people hanging. Let them know that you can
handle anything they need and that you are the one that can
make this a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Don’t make them come to you and ask. You approach them
with confidence and a smile. Take charge with grace and poise.
Be Flexible
The service depends on your flexibility. Don’t get flustered
when last minute changes are made. That will happen. Just
keep positive, stay flexible and know that creativity is at
work to help people connect with and hear from God.
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36. Know and Be Known
An usher must be able to know all members of the church.
This will enable the usher to know first timers and be able to
possibly detect visitors and people with varying motives.
Not being a member of the Church makes it difficult. Make
an attempt to know the names of the church members, their
family members, where they come from, what they do, how
they like to be served including parking slot and sitting position
in church. Always have a habit of introducing yourself or
putting on a name tag to let people know your names.
Get an accurate people count.
Why does this matter? Why must these numbers be so
accurate? Why can’t we just make a good estimate? The
answer is that every number represents a person. We want to be
good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, and therefore
it matters that we know how well we are reaching people. Just
like in the book of Acts, they counted, recorded, and celebrated
how many people were saved. Your church counts too.
Reset and clean up the auditorium.
People will leave papers, cups and “stuff” behind. The
glamorous part of an usher’s ministry is cleaning up after each
service. Also, rearranging of the seats and collecting litter even
outside the church.
Remember, many hands make light work. If all ushers jump in
and help, it takes just a few minutes.
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37. GENERAL DUTIES OF THE USHER
Arrival and Departure
1. The usher should arrive at the duty site at least thirty (30)
minutes early to pray, to be sure all are ready and early
arrivals are made comfortable.
2. Conduct brief orientation to those who are coming for the
first time.
3. In the event of special activities, the usher must be ready to
come earlier as required.
4. The usher must leave the duty site only when fully satisfied
that no further work is needed.
Greeting
1. The usher should greet arrivals in a friendly and cordial
manner.
2. There should be no extended conversation so as to delay
movement.
3. Any special request like persons wanting to see the pastor or
any other person in the church should be attended promptly
but should be passed on to other ushers not assigned for
greeting.
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38. Seating
1. Whenever possible, arrivals should be conducted to the
seats nearest the pulpit, the front seats. This must be
done with utmost courtesy without hint of coercion.
2. The ushers should discourage if not stop movement
when prayer is being said or when worship is in
progress.
3. Conducting to seats may be done before the start of the
service, during praise time, during announcements and
while the preacher is moving to the pulpit.
4. Arrivals during the sermon should be seated at the back
whenever possible but at all times done in such a
manner that creates the least disturbance.
5. Ushers assigned to spot vacant seats should remain alert
at their post at the longest possible time or until they are
satisfied that there will be no more arrivals.
6. Ushers should assist visitors to their seats. Never leave
them looking for a place to sit. Know where available
seats are when the church is filling up.
7. People with special needs should be helped or even
carried to their seats or even wheelchairs.
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39. GENERAL GUIDELINES TO
USHERING IN CHURCH
1. Have a close relationship with God. Seek to be anointed
because, the usher is the first contact with the people.
Pray, fast and meet regularly. This is one step closer to
getting to the Lord.
2. An usher’s conduct should be above reproach and
should reflect a gentle Godly spirit to all they serve.
3. An usher must display a servant’s heart, willing to
always serve anyone, no matter how big or small the
request.
4. Greeting people in a warm way makes them feel good
about their presence in church. Be a great welcomer to
the house of God.
5. Ushers must observe proper personal hygiene;
control/elimination of bad breath and body odor.
6. Ushers should not chew gum or any otherway call
attention to themselves.
7. All strong smells are a hindrance to your guests and
members when serving as a church usher.
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40. Many people cannot tolerate strong odors due to
allergic reactions. Colognes and perfumes have to be
minimal.
• If I can smell you from 7 feet – that’s too much.
• If your smell stays with me after a hug – that’s too
much.
• If I still smell you after you have left the room, that’s
too much.
8. An usher must avoid long conversations that could
overlook providing a handshake, smile, and greeting to
everyone who is in attendance.
9. Ushers should wear their uniforms or the designated
attires. Always wear usher's name badges when on
duty.
10.An usher must never place his/her hands on the
opposite sex other than a friendly handshake or helping
someone at their request. Ask before touching.
11.Only females will place and remove modesty cloths on
women around the altar.
12.. Be courteous and tactful at all times. Never react to
discourtesy or rebuff, instead act in Christian love.
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41. 13. Avoid favoritism or partiality to anyone. Make
everyone; members and guests, all feel welcomed and
important.
14. Always straighten out any misunderstanding that might
arise in the performance of duties.
15. Notify the pastor of the presence of an important
person.
16. Keep children quiet, they are not to walk or run around
during service. Request the parents to take crying or
loud children out. Reserve seats for parents with
infants/ toddlers and elderly.
17. Know the plan of action in case of emergency or
contingency, such as overflow crowd or sudden
outburst of emotion. Ushers assigned in the evening
fellowship or night vigil must always carry a flashlight.
18. Be alert in spotting intruders particularly pickpockets
who may be posing as worshippers.
19.Ushers need to be ready at all times to respond as
directed when there is a disturbance, illness, or other
situation that requires special attention.
20. Be ready to serve Holy Communion elements and be
familiar with the proper procedures of serving the
elements.
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42. 21. Be ready to assist those who are assigned at the pulpit
or persons rendering special performance offering.
22. Be alert for opportunities to witness and share the
Good News.
23. Be alert and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Generally, the ministry of church ushers
focuses on the following areas of responsibilities
(if they occur in your church)
• Preparing the baptismal pool for baptisms
• Guide people to the currently open seating area with a
smile and open posture as they point to where seating is
open.
• Reset the church hall for the next service.
• Politely asking for the removal of hats on the men and
boys.
• Keeping those praying or dancing “under the power of
the Spirit” safe from stumbling into chairs or other
worshippers.
• Placing a cover sheet on women who “get overpowered
in the Spirit.”
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43. • Catching people who fall or start dancing “in the
Spirit.”
• Hospitality Receptions after the service
• Church ushers should be well-versed in emergency
procedures. In case of an emergency, the ushers will
take the lead in getting people to safety in an orderly
manner.
• After the service, ushers will again be at the door to
greet the congregation as they leave and provide
assistance as needed. In many churches, the ushers will
then make sure that the sanctuary is tidy.
• Remain at assigned post throughout the event unless
taking an assigned break
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44. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
In the event of an emergency, the safety of the church
members is every usher’s first responsibility. Most
emergencies are for medical attention or some kind of
disturbance with an individual. In these cases, please follow
the instructions listed below.
1. Clear the area to allow assistance.
2. Always assign one person to call the police,
ambulance or fire brigade where need be.
3. Conduct a scene survey and casualty assessment.
4. Station one person to help emergency personnel to the
person who needs help. Have another usher to make
sure the isles are clear for emergency personnel.
5. Keep either an usher or experienced medical person from
the church, next to the affected person at all times.
6. Encourage others to pray.
7. Assign one person to remain close to the family
members and friends.
8. Monitor and make sure the area is not crowded by on-
lookers.
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45. Evacuation Procedures
Ushers should maintain order to the best of their ability in the
event of any kind of evacuation. In this case, the ushers should
start with the last pew or row in the sanctuary and procedure to
usher people out to a nearby exit. If the church has front exits,
an usher will escort people from the front rows while others are
going out the back rows.
Ushers should be assigned to help others in the building at the
same time, such as Sunday school church, youth department,
checking the washrooms and kitchen, etc. to ensure an
evacuation is conducted in a safe and timely manner. It is good
for all ushers to check remaining rooms to make sure everyone
has evacuated. Once outside, the ushers can determine with
others whether anyone is missing.
It should be also emphasized that the evacuation groups should
congregate away from the church building in case of a fire or
other dangers. It is good for the ushers to have a plan to take
people to a place of safety prior to any kind of emergency.
In cases of fire, it is always best to call the fire brigade when in
doubt. The longer the delay, there is a greater risk to the
building and others.
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46. On a very small fire that can be put out with an extinguisher,
put out the fire, and monitor it. Determine whether it was an
extremely small fire to not disrupt the service but in most cases
evacuations are the best solution. Again, safety comes first and
it is always best to be safe.
In putting out a small fire, do not place your safety or the
safety of others at risk! If the fire grows too large or aggressive
to control by an extinguisher, time and safety are
compromised. Exit the building immediately.
Disturbances
Disturbances by mentally ill, distraught persons, or people who
wish to disturb the service to gain something else other than
respecting the house of God, require discernment on the part of
the chief usher and other ushers present. In some cases, the
pastor may deal with issues but for the most part, it will be the
responsibility of the chief usher and other ushers to carry out
the procedures.
1. Determine whether a person needs to be taken out of the
sanctuary.
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47. 2. Determine how you wish to do this. Most of the times,
it can be handled through a gentle but yet firm statement
to come with the usher. If the disturbance is overbearing
and causing further trouble, it may take a couple of
ushers, one on each side, to gently encourage the person
to another place. If they still refuse to be removed, then
contact a senior elder or senior pastor for further
assistance.
3. Determine a safe place to deal with this person and
firmly state this type of behavior is not wanted or
accepted in our services. Please distinguish between the
person and the behavior. Most churches welcome
everyone but not the disruptive behaviors.
4. Determine whether the person will stop or will have to
be asked to leave the building. If they refuse, you may
have to call the police department for help to remove
this person.
5. If an individual is distraught due to grief, please ask
them to step out and gently escort them out of the
sanctuary. Ask the grieving person, “How can we
help?” or “We have someone who will pray with you,
please come with me.”
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48. Please do this in a loving and tactful manner. Have
another usher to get senior elders to come pray with
them.
6. On disturbances of family battles where one person
attends church and another comes into the church to see
their children or spouse, please escort the troubling
person out of the sanctuary or area where the spouse or
children are. In today’s times, there are so many legal
issues of restraining orders, custody battles, etc. and
unfortunately, there are times when others will try to
take advantage of picking up a child they could not
previously see or have a setting they think they can
freely talk to their spouse.
7. Because of these and other issues that may arise in the
course of the service, a good usher comes prepared
mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
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49. LATEST TRENDS
In keeping with the changing times we must be cognizant of
new realities that did not exist many years ago. The new ways
of doing things brings with it new challenges which then puts a
demand on us to find innovative ways to tackle them. Just to
mention a few….
1. Evolvement of online church. There is a big number of
online followers through YouTube, Facebook and videos
shared by members via WhatsApp. They too need to be
considered and be informed. Almost everyone who
attends your church for the first time has already been to
your church virtually…online, or heard about it.
2. Need for bigger and spacious car Parking slots as
more believers drive to church. This creates the need to
have a designated team for the parking area to receive,
help arrange the vehicles, greet the congregation at the
parking and record the vehicle details.
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50. 3. Preference of congregation to take photos and videos
during the sermon or various presentations for future
reference. Some churches allow these while others don’t.
The ushers must be aware of these and help to enforce
the policy of the church in this regard.
4. More church members preferring to pay tithe and
offerings via mobile money transfer, bank account or
visa card rather than dropping at the offering bag. Ushers
must be well informed and able to guide congregants
who may need details of paybill numbers or specific
account numbers to use.
5. Most are people not sensitive with their dress codes
when coming to church thus causing distractions and
creating unnecessary attention
6. Kidnapping and child abduction is on the rise thus
there is need to have tight security and children control
within the sanctuary. No kid should be left to walk out of
the church compound without being accompanied by
their guardian or parents who are well known by the
ushers.
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51. 7. The need for a nursing room for breast feeding
mothers and those who want to change their young ones.
8. The children playing on the bouncing castles and
other play facilities should always be monitored by one
or more ushers to make sure that they don’t hurt
themselves
Every effective ushering team must be on the lookout to
identify emerging trends and seek to put in place necessary
systems and protocols.
Innovation is a must for us to maintain an excellent service
to God and to his people. We must be ready to think and
adjust quickly in our methods of operation when need arises.
CONCLUSION
Brethren, it’s my hope and prayer that the few words of
wisdom, instruction and encouragement on this subject of
Effective Church Ushering have been a blessing to you.
I pray with all my heart that we shall continue to equip and
enhance our ushering departments in our churches.
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52. I know and have already said to you that the conduct and
performance of ushers can make or break the outcome of the
service. People may build a negative or positive attitude
about a church just by how they are handled by an usher.
We may never have a second chance to make the first
impression thus we should endeavor to be very effective in
our ushering. In doing all this we should never think, I am
working for the church… remember always… I am serving
God. Do it so well that God will say, well done my good
and faithful servant.
I love you and pray God’s grace and blessing over you as
you serve him with all your heart, mind and strength.
I am available upon prior arrangement for speaking
engagements on this subject as well us for Ushers Training.
GOD BLESS YOU!
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53. OTHER BOOKS BY AMB.STEVE MBUGUA
For more information on speaking engagements, or
to make bookings for Trainings and seminars both
on Ushering and Safety, you can reach Amb. Steve
Mbugua through these contacts: -
✓ Email: info@ambstevembugua.co.ke
Mbuguasteve84@gmail.com
✓ Mobile: +254-724036078
✓ Facebook: Amb Steve Mbugua
✓ Twitter: Amb Steve Mbugua
✓ Linkedin: Amb Steve Mbugua
✓ Youtube: Amb Steve Mbugua
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CHECK: https://www.ambstevembugua.co.ke/blog/