Here is an engaging article written by RNS columnist Jonathan Merrit about his interview with the innovative James Emery White, senior pastor and author of the new book “Rise of the Nones: Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated”. When it comes to navigating the interface between faith and culture, there aren’t a lot of pastors I look to. Most … Read More
Treat First-Time Guests with “Raving Fan” Service
A first-time guest wants to feel respected and welcomed. He wants to know that you are happy he’s there, and that you are serious about making sure he has a good experience. The way you, your team, and your regular attenders treat him and his family will tell him most of what he needs to know. Sadly, a large majority … Read More
10 Things Church Guests Never Want to Hear
As we gear up for summer first-time guests, here is a great reminder on what NOT to do in welcoming them, from Ben Reed, the small groups pastor at Long Hollow, a multi-site church in the Nashville, TN area. Our pastor isn’t normally this ________. We’re full. Sorry. What are you doing here? You can’t serve now … you’ve got … Read More
Your church can grow this summer – Keep summer guests coming back!
Summer is a popular time of the year for people to move and these folks are going to be looking for a home church in their new community. You’ll be seeing many more people in transition coming to your church for the very first time this summer! The pre-service is your first opportunity to interact with everyone who sets foot on your church’s … Read More
Celebrating an amazing Easter! Now what?
Easter Sunday is always such an amazing day. I hope you had as wonderful of an Easter service as The Journey did in all of our locations. God truly blessed us with so many gifts. The gifts are the people that walked through our doors for the first time yesterday. Now we get to show our faithfulness by following up … Read More
Keep your new Easter guests coming back! Free Webinar
With Easter fast approaching (Sunday, April 20), I want to stress the importance of your church’s assimilation system. In other words, I want to help you keep more of your first-time Easter guests this year. In the first seven minutes of contact with your church, your first-time guests will know whether or not they are coming back. Think about that: … Read More
Starting a Sermon Series on Easter
Since Easter Sunday’s date varies, April 20th this year, it can sneak up on you – and on the unchurched people in your community – if you aren’t careful. But with a little forward thinking and strategic planning on your part, you can work with God as he uses this singular day to draw people to himself in much larger numbers than any other time … Read More
Knowing Your Process – A Saturday Quote
“If you cant describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” – W. Edwards Deming
Everything Speaks to a First-Time Guest … Everything
Memorize the next sentence and make it your mantra: Everything speaks to a first-time guest…. Everything. From the moment a guest sets foot on your property, he tunes in to receive the message your church is sending. You have an obligation to strive for excellence. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to do the very best you can with … Read More
How to Make a Great First Impression This Sunday Before the First Song is Even Sung
The pre-service is your first opportunity to interact with everyone who sets foot on your church’s property – from first-time guests to long-time members – but its purpose and influence is particularly important for first-timers. Think of it this way: Your pre-service mission, if you choose to accept it, is to do everything you can to take your guest’s guard down (and even … Read More