Contents
Every church has its own language. Members speak it fluently. Visitors don't, and they won't ask what it means. They'll just quietly feel like outsiders.
This translator covers two mistakes from 10 Ways Churches Accidentally Make It Hard to Visit: building a website for people who already attend, and using ministry names that require an interpreter. You don't have to stop using these words. Just pair them with what they mean the first time they show up on a page.
The translator
Adjust the plain versions to match what's actually true at your church.
Sunday and service words
| Church word | What a visitor might think | Try this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Worship service | Formal ceremony? | Our Sunday gathering, about 75 minutes of music, prayer, and teaching |
| Worship (the singing part) | Isn't the whole thing worship? | Singing together |
| Message / sermon | A lecture? How long? | A 30-minute talk from the Bible |
| Liturgy | No idea | The prayers and readings we say together, printed in the bulletin |
| Communion / the Lord's Supper / Eucharist | Am I supposed to take that? | A short ritual with bread and juice or wine. Here's who takes part, and it's fine to pass |
| Offering / tithes | Will they ask me for money? | A time when regular attenders give. Guests aren't expected to give |
| Altar call / response time | Will I be put on the spot? | A quiet moment at the end for anyone who wants prayer. Nobody is called out |
| Bulletin | ? | Printed handout with the schedule and announcements |
| Sanctuary / worship center | Which room is that? | The main auditorium, straight through the front doors |
| Narthex / foyer | ? | Lobby |
Ministry and program words
| Church word | What a visitor might think | Try this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Small groups / life groups / community groups | Group therapy? | Groups of 8 to 12 people who meet in homes during the week to talk and pray |
| Fellowship | A movie with hobbits? | Hanging out, usually with food |
| Fellowship hall | ? | The large room next to the kitchen, through the side door off the parking lot |
| Youth group | What ages? | Middle school and high school students, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. |
| Children's church / kids ministry | Where do my kids go? | A program for ages 3 to 10 during the service, with Bible stories, games, and snacks |
| Nursery | Safe? Staffed? | Childcare for babies and toddlers, with background-checked volunteers |
| Discipleship | ? | Classes and mentoring to help you grow in faith |
| Outreach | ? | Ways we serve our neighborhood, like the food pantry and school supply drive |
| Missions | Do I have to travel? | Supporting and serving with partners locally and around the world |
| VBS | ? | Vacation Bible School: a free summer day camp for kids |
Belief words
| Church word | What a visitor might think | Try this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel | A music genre? | The good news about Jesus |
| Saved / salvation | Saved from what? | Explain it in a sentence on your beliefs page |
| Baptism | Will I get dunked? | A public step of faith using water. Here's how it works and how to ask about it |
| Born again | Sounds intense | Say what you mean in plain words, or link to a page that explains it |
| Grace | A name? | God's love that we don't earn |
| Testimony | Like in court? | A personal story about faith |
| Prayer requests | What do I say? | Tell us what's going on, and we'll pray for you. Share as much or as little as you want |
| Statement of faith | ? | What we believe |
| Denomination names | Is that a cult? | Name it, then explain it: "We're part of the [X] family of churches, which means..." |
| Ministry partner / member | Do I have to join? | Explain membership plainly, and say you don't need to be a member to attend |
Insider words
| Church word | What a visitor might think | Try this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Branded names (Ignite, Rooted, The Gathering) | ? | Always pair with a plain description: "Rooted: our women's Bible study, Tuesdays at 9 a.m." |
| Campus | Is this a college? | Location |
| Connect card / guest card | Will they call me? | An optional card if you want to hear from us |
| Serve team / dream team | ? | Volunteers |
| Next steps | Steps toward what? | Ways to get more involved, whenever you're ready |
| Membership class | A sales pitch? | A class about how our church works and what we believe. Optional |
| Elders / deacons / session / vestry | ? | Our leadership team of church members who help guide the church |
| Series | A TV show? | A few weeks of talks on one topic |
| Midweek | ? | Our Wednesday evening programs |
| Church family | Sounds a little clingy | Our church community |
Before and after: a homepage written for members vs. visitors
Here's the top of a typical church homepage, and the same space rewritten for someone who's never been.
Before (written for members)
Welcome Home! Join us for our new series, Unshakable. Don't forget to sign up for Rooted and the Dream Team. Fellowship lunch after second service! [Give] [Watch Live] [Events]
After (written for visitors)
A church in North Park for people who are curious, skeptical, or ready to come back. Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m. at 3900 30th Street, San Diego. Services last about 75 minutes, kids have their own program, and jeans are normal. [Plan Your Visit] [Watch a Service First]
The "after" version still welcomes people. It just also tells them who you are, where you are, when to come, and what it's like. The member stuff (the series, the sign-ups, giving) moves one scroll down or to its own page.
A quick test: read your homepage out loud to someone who isn't a Christian. Every time they say "what's that?", you found a word to translate.
The ministry name formula
Branded ministry names are fine. They build identity for the people inside. But on your website, every branded name needs a plain-language sidekick.
The formula: Name: who it's for, what happens, when and where.
- "Ignite: high school youth group. Games, worship, and small group talks. Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the youth room."
- "Rooted: women's Bible study. Coffee, discussion, and childcare provided. Tuesdays at 9 a.m."
- "The Gathering: a monthly dinner for adults 60 and up. Second Thursday of each month at noon."
This helps SEO too. Nobody searches Google for "Ignite." Parents search for "youth group in [city]." Use the words people actually search for in your page titles and headings.
FAQ
Should churches stop using church language? No. Just explain it the first time it appears on a page. Visitors should be able to understand your website without a guide.
What church words confuse visitors the most? Commonly: fellowship, small groups, communion, offering, altar call, and branded ministry names that don't say what the ministry is.
How do I find the jargon on my own website? Ask someone who doesn't attend church to read your homepage and Plan Your Visit page out loud and stop at every word they don't understand.
Keep going
This translator covers mistakes 1 and 5 from 10 Ways Churches Accidentally Make It Hard to Visit. Put your new plain language to work on How to Build a Church Plan Your Visit Page.
Keep reading
10 Ways Churches Accidentally Make It Hard to Visit (and How to Fix Each One)
Ten common church website and visitor mistakes, what churches overlook, and how to fix each one. Includes a free 10-minute test and visitor scorecard.
Read articleHow to Build a Church Plan Your Visit Page (with a Free Template)
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Read articleThe Church Google Business Profile and AI Search Guide
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