Today I’m continuing a series of posts about the importance of the first few minutes of a newcomer’s experience at your church (click here for Part 1 and Part 2). In fact, a First-Time Guest knows whether or not they’ll return to your church in the first seven minutes of their initial experience at your church. That’s before they hear … Read More
The Power of a First Impression – Part 2 of 4 (Assimilation and Easter)
Last week I started a new series of posts about the importance of the first few minutes of a newcomer’s experience at your church (click here for Part 1). In fact, a First-Time Guest knows whether or not they’ll return to your church in the first seven minutes of their initial experience at your church. That’s why the Pre-Service time … Read More
How to Challenge Your People to Take Next Steps Every Week
Having helped thousands of churches over the last few years with their assimilation system (through the Fusion book and training events, The Assimilation Seminar and The Assimilation Intensive), you might imagine that I get a lot of questions about the different aspects of Assimilation. One of the most high impact Assimilation techniques that I recommend is the Connection Card (you … Read More
The Power of “Because” in Leading Change at Your Church
“Given a big enough why people can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche Obviously, Nietzsche and I don’t agree on everything, but on this statement we do. And as a church leader, you need to learn this lesson well and repeatedly… The most powerful word for leading change in your church is BECAUSE. I brought this up in my … Read More
Is Assimilation too Expensive for You?
Last Thursday, I led The Fusion Webinar and have received a great deal of positive feedback and questions – I wanted to address one more of these questions today. Any time I start outlining the Assimilation process that I teach and use at The Journey (including weekly Connection Cards, pens on every bulletin, handwritten notes for newcomers, etc.), inevitably I’m … Read More
Who’s Writing Your Notes to First Time Guests?
We had a great crowd for The Fusion Webinar last Thursday and I wanted to follow up with a couple of the more frequently asked questions from participants. Probably the most asked question any time I lead an Assimilation training has to do with the handwritten notes that you should be sending to all of your First Time Guests. And … Read More
One Month Later Follow-Up Letter to Newcomers (Free Download)
If you’re a regular reader, you know I believe that First Time Guests who attend your church are gifts from God. As such, I’m a stickler for following up with these “gifts” as thoroughly as possible to invite them to come back, get plugged in and ultimately become fully committed members of your church. One of the pieces of the … Read More
Absolute Last Call for Assimilation Coaching
I am pumped about the start of my brand new Assimilation Tele-Coaching Network this coming Tuesday! We’ve got a great group confirmed and ready to begin on Tuesday, but I wanted to give you one FINAL CHANCE to apply. Here’s why: This network has the potential to help your church grow by keeping more guests. Nothing adds faster growth to … Read More
How to “LINE-UP” to Make Newcomers Feel Welcome
Welcoming new people to your church is one of the pillars of a solid Assimilation System (not to mention a demonstration of Christian hospitality). But whether we like it or not, many of the people greeting newcomers at our churches aren’t sure how to make others feel welcome. First impressions are so important that I recommend having a brief training … Read More
How to Keep More First Time Guests at Your Church (one pastor’s tips)
I received an email recently from Jeff Rogers, a member of my Tele-Coaching Network and Pastor of Canastota (NY) Church of the Nazarene. He took the time to share some great news about their Assimilation System – In just a few months, they’ve increased their Retention Rate (the number of guests they keep) from 1 out of 16 to an … Read More