(SLIDE 1) "How to Attract More First Time Guest and Keep Them" (SLIDE 2) Definition: Assimilate means to incorporate into the body. Assimilation is the process used to moving people from a 1 st time visitor, into a committed relationship with Christ and the church. ON THE CONCENTRIC CIRCLE: moving people from the community to the core. (SLIDE 3) (Picture of a circle) Source: Purpose Driven "... that you may become mature Christians and may fulfill God's will for you. Colossians 4:12b How many people are within a ten mile radius of your church? Go home and Study the demographics of your town. Assimilation is the process used to moving people from a 1 st time visitor, into a committed relationship with Christ and the church. My Goals for this class: 1. Impart creative ideas to better attract, and assimilate all first time visitor into your church. 2. Nail down our assimilation process so it is air tight and functioning seamlessly. Help the process to become systematic. 3. Further close our back door, not as a prison but by creating a sense of family. 4. To help move people from the crowd to the core. Class focuses on:
1. Retaining first time guests. average church spends $169 to get each person to visit for the first time. 2. Helping guests take the next steps. 3. Church transformation Why do we need systems? (SLIDE 4)Saves, You, Stress, Time, Energy and Money (S.Y.S.T.E.M.) (SLIDE 5) The assimilation process should: 1. Move people from being first time guests to becoming second time guests. 2. Move people from being second time guests to becoming regular attendees. 3. Move people from being regular attendees to becoming members. ACTIONS THAT TAKE NEED TO TAKE PLACE IN BETWEEN STEPS: 1 st time (return) 2 nd time (develop relationship) regular attendees (responsibility in the church) membership For every 100 people you have, you should have 5 first time guests to grow, 3 to survive. Rapid growth would be 7 per 100. The national attrition rate for a church is 10-15%. In some more volatile areas, it s much higher. When people visit your church, there are six areas that must make a good first impression. Some or all of these can, and will, determine whether or not your visitors will return. (SLIDE 6) First Impression Hot Spots (SLIDE 6 CONT) 1. Friendliness (SLIDE 7) 2. Nice facilities (SLIDE 8) 3. Adequate parking (SLIDE 9) 4. Nursery/preschool and children s area (SLIDE 10) 5. Organization versus chaos (SLIDE 11) 6. Greeters and welcome center These are all areas of hospitality (serving others) ministry. We must be intentional in our effort to make people feel welcome. The first impression is really the lasting impression. Focus on 3 areas to encourage people to return for a second visit. (SLIDE 12)1. The First Look (SLIDE 13) Pre-service: FIRST CONTACT a. (SLIDE 14 A,B,C)The first impression a person develops of a church and of the people who make up the church is the most important impression. It s very difficult to shake a first impression.
b. A person makes a decision on whether or not to come back within the first 7 minutes. Your Excellence honors God. c. If a person has a good experience, they will tell 3 people. If a person has a bad experience, they will tell 7 people. (SLIDE 15) Three questions asked by first time visitors 1. Will my children enjoy it here? 2. Can I make a friend here? 3. Can I find a place to get connected here? 4 AREAS OF FIRST CONTACT 1. Greeted(SLIDE 16) a. (SLIDE 17) A first time guests wants to be greeted with a smile in a friendly and welcoming way without being bombarded or made to feel uncomfortable. (Hand Pick Greeters) Wrong personality=wrong church perception. b. (SLIDE 18) Greeters should be easily found with name badges and at the entrance of the building. c. (SLIDE 19) Everyone thinks they have a friendly church because they are friendly with each other. We have to create a culture that is open and embracing of all people. Especially first time guest. d. (SLIDE 20) The message begins in the parking lot. A person s heart is either softening or hardened towards the message based on their experience on the way in to your church. 2. Directed (SLIDE 21) 1. A 1 st time guest wants to be directed to where he or she needs to go in a simple and polite way. Having no direction adds anxiety and greatly reduces the positive impact of a church s first impression. With signage (SLIDE 22) When we think there s too much signage, there s probably just enough. (SLIDE 23) a. People need signage in the parking lot. Main Entrance, Gym, Handi-cap signs First time Visitors. b. Recruit Parking lot attendants. c. People mostly want signage for children s check-in and restrooms. d. Re: kids signage (market to the parents: top 3 safety, cleanliness, and God s love) e. A Welcome Center for guest. f. Disney is the masters of directing.
3. Treated (SLIDE 24) 1. A first time guest wants to be treated with respect and in a way that makes him or her feel like the church is glad that they are there. (SLIDE 25) a. People love food and coffee. (Set up a coffee shop with pastries) 4. Seated (SLIDE 26) 1. Ushers are very important to making a first time guest feel comfortable and to helping visitors form a positive first impression of the church. They are more than people who receive the offering. (SLIDE 27) a. Ushers should be well marked by name badges. Etc. b. Ushers should know where all classrooms and restrooms are in the building. (SLIDE 28) 2. During the service: 1 st Time Visitor Cards (in the bulletin or in the pew) must be available. a. EVERY New Visitor FILLS OUT A CARD EACH WEEK. b. EVERYONE PLACES THE CARD IN THE OFFERING PLATE EACH WEEK. c. Every seat/pew has a card and a pencil in it. d. Pastor welcomes 1 st time visitors and tells them of a free gift that is available for them at the welcome center. e. Every card is turned into the guest follow-up team leader. (Each Sunday) (SLIDE 29) 3. Post Service Gift: Free Gift a. Books b. Mugs c. Starbucks cards d. Packet with info about church. (SLIDE 30) 4. Post Service Information: WELCOME/GUEST TABLE a. At the guest table in the lobby, a 1st time guest can pick up their gift and receive more information on other church ministries, can buy CD s, DVD s, etc. (SLIDE 31) 5. Post weekend: Follow-up. a. The Monday following the service present the best time to follow-up with those who attended the church for the very first time that weekend. Process 1. Guest Follow-up Team this team meets on Monday afternoon to complete Sunday service follow-up as outlined below. 2. 36 hour response by email or (form) letter response. 3. 72 hour response a personal phone call is made.(ask if they would like a visit) 4. By Friday a personal visit is made if requested by a pastoral staff member or deacon.
5. Three week letter is sent out (inviting them to other special events and smaller group connections, new believer s discipleship class, calendar, etc.) 6. One month response via mail (form letter). Approximately one month following a person s first visit to the church, we send a letter from the pastors thanking them for visiting the church for the first time last month, letting them know about ways to get plugged in and giving them an opportunity to attend an introduction class to the church with the Pastor. (SLIDE 32) 2. The Next Step a. During Service: It is important that Second Time visitor fill out a communication card so that you know they have returned to your church. Also, 2 nd time guests can take a step to get plugged in or take a next step on the back of the communication card. b. Post Weekend: Follow-up a. 36 hour response email or letter (Third week letter) b. Call by a Pastor c. Post Weekend: Engagement Opportunities. 2 nd time attendance indicates an interest in getting more deeply connected. Be sure to offer second time guests opportunities to get plugged into the church beyond Sunday Service. a. Small Groups b. Fun Events (task it to the life groups once per semester and announce it in the church widely) c. Service Teams (task each life group with a service project once per semester and open it widely to the church). (SLIDE 33) Why should I ask a 2 nd time visitors to serve? -it makes people feel alive. -it provides a sense of ownership in the church. -it provides and opportunity to build relationships with other people in the church. (SLIDE 34) 3. Get Plugged-In Step A member is a person who has developed ownership, pride, and identification with the church and chooses to become a part of a spiritual family. This requires the creation of relationships and responsibilities within the church. (SLIDE 35) A regular attendee says: This is the church I go to. A member says: This is my church. (SLIDE 36) 1. Develop a Membership Class and conduct it every quarter. a. Make sure it is well announced at your introduction class, bulletins, email, website. 2. DURING THE SERVICE Promote: a. Service Opportunities. Serving at the church provides a sense of ownership and pride in the church.
b. Teach on baptism and membership. As a part of teaching on baptism and membership, there are three elements that can be added to a worship service to effectively share about and build excitement for membership and baptism. c. One-step Sign-ups. Promote the value of Membership to regular attendees during the services, through groups, and via email. 3. POST WEEKEND: SMALL GROUPS a. Notify regular attendees about available or upcoming small groups. b. Target the people in your small groups for membership. (SLIDE 37) Wrap it up: Questions: Guest and Regular Attendees Will Ask 1. Does this church care for me? 2. Does this church meet my heartfelt needs? 3. Does this church meet the needs of my family? 4. Am I acquainted with at least one person from this church that cares about me personally? The right answers will win your community and expand your core. Suggestions: -Host pastor luncheons monthly or quarterly -Have volunteer signup days and send out invitations to all visitors and regular attendees. -Host BIG Friend Day once your follow up team is in place. (SLIDE 38&39) CONTAIN SCRIPTURES CONCLUSION: Why do we do this work? Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18 So don t get tired of doing what is good. Don t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9 Notes: Sources:Thomas S. Rainer and Eric Geiger Simple Church copyright 2006, Dr. Bryan Cutshall Assimilation Manual copyright 2006 pathway press, Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas From first time guests to members seminar April 28, 2005.
"How to Attract More First Time Guests and Keep Them" Definition: Assimilate means to Taken From: Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas First Time Guests to Members Seminar April 28, 2005 "... that you may become mature Christians and may fulfill God's will for you. Colossians 4:12b How many people are within a ten mile radius of your church? My Goals for this Class: 1. Impart creative ideas to better attract and assimilate all first time visitors into your church.
2. Nail down our assimilation process so it is air tight and functioning seamlessly. Help the process to become systematic. 3. Further close our back door, not as a prison, but by creating a sense of family. 4. To help move people from the crowd to the core. Class Focuses On: 1. Retaining first time guests. 2. Attempt to help all guests become a part of your church. 3. Church mentality transformation. Why do we need systems? S Y S T E M The Assimilation Process Should: 1. 2. 3. First Impression Hot Spots: 1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. The First Look Pre-Service: FIRST CONTACT a. b. c. Three questions asked by first time visitors: 1. 2.
3. FOUR AREAS OF FIRST CONTACT 1. Greeted a. b. c. d. 2. Directed
With Signage When we think there is too much signage, there is probably just enough! a. b. c. d. e. f. 3. Treated a. 4. Seated a. b. During The Service a. b. c. d. e. Post Service: FREE GIFT a. b. c. d. Post Service Information: Welcome/Guest Table a.
Post Weekend Follow-Up 2. The Next Step a. Process 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. During Service: 2. Post Weekend: Follow-up a. b. 3. Post Weekend: Engagement Opportunities: Why should I ask a 2 nd time visitor to serve? a. b. c. 3. Get Plugged-In Step
A regular attendee says: A member says: 1. DEVELOP: a. Make sure it is well announced at your introduction class, bulletins, email, website. 2. DURING THE SERVICE PROMOTE: a. b. c. 3. POST WEEKEND: SMALL GROUPS a. b. Wrap it up: Questions - Guest and Regular Attendees Will Ask 1. 2. 3. 4. Suggestions: 1. _ 2. 3. CONCLUSION: Why do we do this work? 2 Peter 3:18
Galatians 6:9 Sources: Thomas S. Rainer and Eric Geiger Simple Church copyright 2006, Dr. Bryan Cutshall Assimilation Manual copyright 2006 Pathway Press, Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas First Time Guests to Members Seminar April 28, 2005. ADDITIONAL NOTES