New Eyes For A New Year – What Are New People Seeing At Your Church?

2012 is here, and this year’s “MUST HAVE” resource is The Assimilation Seminar!

Here’s why: Every week, God entrusts our churches with First Time Guests, and your preparation and capacity to be a good steward of those guests will largely determine how quickly your church will grow this year. Since these people and families will be attending your church at least once this year anyway, your church will experience almost immediate growth by simply keeping more of these guests.

By implementing my proven, step-by-step Assimilation System, you’re taking the step of preparing what you can so that God can bless as only He can (by sending those new people!).

That’s why The Assimilation Seminar is the MUST HAVE resource for 2012, and why I’m offering it to you today thru Thursday at HALF OFF!

Click here to secure your copy now for 50% OFF!

And here are four Assimilation keys to think about at the start of this New Year:

Now is a great time to re-examine (or examine for the first time) what a new person sees when they attend your church for the first time.

In fact, this isn’t just an exercise for you, pastor, but a great exercise for anyone on your leadership team and/or hospitality team.  Anything you can do to help the people in your church to see with new eyes is going to prove helpful in creating the most welcoming environment possible for newcomers.

Here are a few key points… How are First Time Guests at your church being:

  • GREETED – Ask yourself, “How is a guest at your church greeted?”

What is the first thing a guest hears as they walk through your door?

Here are four positive and powerful phrases to use when greeting on a Sunday morning:

It’s great to see you today! (everyone wants to be seen)

I am glad you are here today! (everyone wants to feel like others are glad when they are around)

– Good morning! (even if it hasn’t been up until now, you can give them hope that it’s about to be good)

–  Welcome to [your church name]! (it’s basic but sincere, and communicates that they are welcome here)

Here’s one of the most common used greeting phrases that I suggest you avoid:

How are you doing today? 

You should avoid this greeting for at least two reasons:

1) You don’t have time when greeting someone at the door to hear how they are really doing.  So they feel compelled to simply reply “Fine” or “Good,” even if they’re not doing well at all.

2) If they are not doing well, asking that question brings all of the negative emotions and experiences that they’ve been facing to the surface. They may very well be at church today to get away from all that.

Be mindful of the words you and your greeters use when welcoming people – words matter!

Now that you’re getting started… ask yourself the next 3 questions.  How are First Time Guests at your church being:

  • DIRECTED – Take a look at your signage with fresh eyes. What upgrades or improvements could be made?
  • TREATED – What can you do to “treat” your guests? To make them feel more welcome? Free Coffee? Free Candy or Mints? Donuts?
  • SEATED – Are your guests being ushered to their seats in a friendly, courteous and comfortable manner?

Over the next 12 months, think about the hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of first time guests that will walk through your doors. Take just a few moments today to get ready for them by looking at your church with new eyes for this New Year!

PS – If you’re ready to pick up the MUST HAVE resource of 2012 – The Assimilation Seminar – and put your church on the fast track to growth in 2012, go right now and secure your copy for HALF OFF (just $49) by CLICKING THIS LINK NOW.

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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.

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