PreacherLanny

We had a lively discussion in our Men’s Leadership Meeting last Tuesday night about attracting and keeping visitors. It is my belief that we would be significantly larger in membership if we could simply turn our one-time visitors into “repeaters.”

Many factors play into how well churches do at welcoming visitors and helping them decide to stay and be a part of the congregation. While most churches think of themselves as “friendly” it’s not actually true. We’re friendly to one another and usually cordial to strangers but that’s not the same thing as friendly.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive Group Publishing’s Study for Pastors in my email this morning discussing this very topic.

They quote the real-life experience of two recent visitors to churches:

"My wife and I visited a church and at the time I only had a Living Translation Bible. They told us "if" we came back to be sure we only brought a King James. Needless to say, we didn’t go back."
- Bob H.

"I was in the "Visitor’s Welcoming Room" and the pastor said, "Are you AG?" I had to ask what that denominational lingo meant. It felt unwelcoming."
- Lisa C.

Wow. Really?

In our discussion last night we spent some time talking about the barriers that churches erect to prevent a good first impression. It starts when people drive into the parking lot. Can they find a parking place relatively close to the building? Are the entrances clearly marked or easily understood? Is anyone available to help visitors find their way inside? Don’t assume that it’s easy to figure out.

Once inside, can visitors find the nursery or children’s area? What about the restrooms? Is there a map or a handout that shows where classes are held? What about the times of services?

Here’s Group’s “To-Do” after thinking this through:

Pretend you’re new at your church and be a visitor. What are your first 10 minutes like? If you’re can’t pull this off at your own church (remember the home blind issue from week one?), visit a nearby church that offers meeting times different from your own church and be a visitor there. What are your first 10 minutes like? Take notes and talk about this with others at your church. Challenge them to do the same thing. What can you learn from other churches that are making those first 10 minutes remarkable? And what messages can you change to make sure the first 10 minutes at your church are amazing?

Think about it!