This week, we’ve been thinking about how you can work with the natural surge that God has built into the Christmas season to influence those who don’t yet know Jesus. We started by making sure we are outwardly-focused this season. Then, we talked about how to increase the number of guests at our Christmas services. Yesterday, we learned how to … Read More
Are You Reaching Non-Christians This Christmas? (Part 3)
Yesterday, we learned how you can have more first-time guests than usual at your Christmas service. But what do you do with your guests once they arrive? How can you make them feel comfortable? Is there anything you can do now to make sure they’ll want to keep coming back to your church in the new year? Turning first-time guests … Read More
What Keeps People in Church?
My friend John Donahue from Stone Point Church had a great post recently that really challenged me. Check it out: ————- Numerous books, magazine articles, and blog posts have been written to address the theories behind why people stay or leave a church. And while each church has its own unique flavors which influence people’s decisions, I believe that there … Read More
Communication Card Download
You asked for it…here’s the latest version of the Communication Card we use at The Journey. We call it a Connection Card (I stole that term from my good friend Jimmy Britt a few years ago) because it seems a little softer. Two versions for you to download (just right click and choose Save As – includes both front and … Read More
Fusion In Motion
Since its debut back in January, God has been using Fusion: Turning First-Times Guests Into Fully-Engaged Members Of Your Church to help churches of every shape and size from all over the country – and even all over the world! I am humbled by the reception the book has received and thrilled that it is truly helping to change lives. … Read More
God Is In The Details
Earlier this week, I came across a quote by Og Mandino that really struck me: “Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best you can do.” When I read this quote, I immediately thought about the Raving Fans principle of … Read More
First Time Guests Want Information
First Time Guests want to get information about your church when they are ready to receive it – not when you want to give it to them. So the question to ask yourself is: Are you making information about your church readily available to your guests? Examples of this include: – Putting out easy to find brochures about key areas … Read More
First Time Guests Want to “Fit In” With Everyone Else
On Tuesday I said that an unchurched first time guest wants at least three things… 1. To fit in with everyone else attending 2. To be anonymous 3. To get more information as they are ready Let’s talk about #1 today. A first time guest wants to fit in with everyone else attending. This means that you want to: Avoid … Read More
“Hey, Are You A First Time Guest?!”
Is anyone at your church asking attenders if they are first time guests? If so, could I kindly encourage you to have them stop asap? In my Assimilation Seminar, I encourage you to have a Guest Table where you offer first time guests a free gift. For example, we currently offer first-timers a free copy of the book One Month … Read More
Members Reception Today
Today I’m hosting a brief reception for members after each of our services. It will be a 30 minute reception where I cast vision for the fall and provide key updates to our members. The basic purpose for this is similar to the Newcomers Reception (which I wrote about here) but the focus is on members. Since last year I’ve … Read More