Did you have any first-time guests at your church this past Easter weekend? How many guests have you had in the last month? Over the last year? Each of those guests was a gift to you from God. Did your response show your appreciation? Did you have a plan in place to integrate them into the life of your church? … Read More
Is your church family prepared for new guests this Easter?
As the old saying goes: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. With Easter approaching — one of our biggest days of the year — I’d like to spin that a little and say: If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. Preparation is key to success in any endeavor. To leave your house in the morning, … Read More
Drop “us vs. them” mentality
Here is an engaging article written by RNS columnist Jonathan Merrit about his interview with the innovative James Emery White, senior pastor and author of the new book “Rise of the Nones: Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated”. When it comes to navigating the interface between faith and culture, there aren’t a lot of pastors I look to. Most … Read More
Treat First-Time Guests with “Raving Fan” Service
A first-time guest wants to feel respected and welcomed. He wants to know that you are happy he’s there, and that you are serious about making sure he has a good experience. The way you, your team, and your regular attenders treat him and his family will tell him most of what he needs to know. Sadly, a large majority … Read More
10 Things Church Guests Never Want to Hear
As we gear up for summer first-time guests, here is a great reminder on what NOT to do in welcoming them, from Ben Reed, the small groups pastor at Long Hollow, a multi-site church in the Nashville, TN area. Our pastor isn’t normally this ________. We’re full. Sorry. What are you doing here? You can’t serve now … you’ve got … Read More
Knowing Your Process – A Saturday Quote
“If you cant describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” – W. Edwards Deming
Everything Speaks to a First-Time Guest … Everything
Memorize the next sentence and make it your mantra: Everything speaks to a first-time guest…. Everything. From the moment a guest sets foot on your property, he tunes in to receive the message your church is sending. You have an obligation to strive for excellence. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to do the very best you can with … Read More
How to Make a Great First Impression This Sunday Before the First Song is Even Sung
The pre-service is your first opportunity to interact with everyone who sets foot on your church’s property – from first-time guests to long-time members – but its purpose and influence is particularly important for first-timers. Think of it this way: Your pre-service mission, if you choose to accept it, is to do everything you can to take your guest’s guard down (and even … Read More
No Second Chances- Making a Great Impression on First-Time Guests
You won’t get a second chance. Seven minutes is all the time you have to make a positive first impression on the first-time guests who walk through your doors. In the first seven minutes of their experience with your church, your guests will decide whether or not they’re going to come back. That’s before a single worship song is sung and before a … Read More
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 … Read More