Today’s guest blog comes to us from Greg Atkinson for ChristianityToday.com.

I recently had lunch with a local senior pastor for whom I was doing some coaching and consulting. He asked, “Greg, what are the most common things you see as a church secret shopper?” I’ve heard this question often enough to know what he was really asking: “Where do most churches miss the mark? How can I avoid those problem areas?” Instead of focusing on the negative, I decided to share the things that make me grin ear to ear when I visit churches for the first time. Here are six markers of especially welcoming churches.

1. They place the right people in hospitality.
2. They communicate intentionally and strategically.
3. They take security seriously.
4. They have an efficient children’s check-in process.
5. They think through the response after the sermon.
6. They are intentional about following up with guests.

I know you love Jesus. I know you love your church. If you’re anything like most leaders, you are not anti-growth. But until you consider making strategic changes to your typical Sunday service—including your online presence and your assimilation process—growth may always elude you.

Click here to read the full article.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

P.S. –  Click here to learn more about strengthening your assimilation process with my resource The New Assimilation Seminar.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.