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 incredible 1 out of 3!

That’s amazing!

I’ve seen at The Journey, in Coaching and in thousands of churches that improving your Assimilation System is the fastest way to grow your church.

So I asked Jeff to share a couple of the biggest changes they made to see such a dramatic improvement in their Assimilation.  Here’s what he had to say:

1. We use a connection card every Sunday and the information on the card serves as a point of contact for all follow-up.  I ask all visitors to kindly complete it and drop it in the offering plate which is handed around later in the service.  Most people are willing to do this.
2. The other big component is that I have coached a team of people to assist me in the assimilation process.  Each person is clear about their role.  We adhere very closely to the process we have established. In addition, I share with them news about the people getting connected, especially the feedback (mostly positive) visitors provide to encourage them.

This is a great example of how just a few tweaks to how you interact with and follow up with guests can have a tremendous impact on how many of them will actively plug into your church.

Keep up the great work Jeff!

P.S. If you’re ready to grow your church by keeping more of the guests that God is sending your way, check out my bestselling resource, “The Assimilation Seminar” – Click Here to read more or to secure your copy now.

© 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.