It was Easter Sunday. We attended a traditional church in a mainline tradition. It was the traditional service, one of 3 main services on a Sunday morning. Full robes were worn by the hand bell team and the full choir. The pastor wore a suit and tie. We sang the awesome hymns of Easter accompanied …
Recently, I was asked the following question via Ask The EvangelismCoach. I’ve posted this to the community Facebook Page, but wanted to give you all a chance to help pitch in. I hope to do this on a more regular basis. Ask EvangelismCoach Question from Ed: “How do we greet late comers? Do we need …
Over at http://www.ChurchHospitalityTraining.com, I’ve released video Number 3. In today’s video, I address one of the biggest barriers that churches put up to visitors who do come back for several weeks in a row. I once attended a local fellowship for nearly 6 months and still had no friends. It was a fellowship with about 100 …
Earlier this year, a church hospitality committee leader called me up to have chat about how to restart their hospitality ministries. Perhaps you have the same challenge they had: People come for the first time, but they don’t come back. What can we do to fix that? This church began looking for solutions by evaluating …
The Institute For American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?” Their replies were: I had a special need – 3% I just walked in – 3% I liked the minister – 6% I visited there – 1% I liked the Bible classes – …
I am a church strengthening consultant for the Montana Baptist Convention. Our analysis of several churches showed that the “friendship” factor was low and was costing them the retention and assimilation of first time guests who were passing through their churches without a second visit. I used your book to teach these churches how to …
I recently spoke with a pastor of a medium size church of 300. He has often heard from people after 6-10 weeks this statement that broke his heart: “I have been here x number of weeks and no one has said hello.” (After a recent workshop on hospitality, one couple said “We’ve been in this …
In the picture to the right, this lady with the child was visiting the church for the first time. When the service was over she came up to the pastor and I (I was the guest preacher, and pastor is to my right). She began to talk with us. She had been walking by the …
As the final installment in our series on church nametags, here is a list I found from a church that chose to do this ministry. #10 A name tag is cheaper than a tattoo. #9 Wearing a name tag makes for a friendlier church. #8 You will be more approachable if you wear a name …
In response to a recent phone conversation about church greeter training, I compiled a list of books on church hospitality. The first two are mine, the rest are available from Amazon. How to Welcome Church Visitors, instantly downloadable. My first book on Creating better first impressions. Church Greeters 101, instantly downloadable. Takes the small chapter …
We had a great webinar this afternoon. Registrations from 10 different countries, covering 31 different states and churches from a wide variety of denominations and traditions. Perhaps you’re wondering How to improve your first impressions ministry for first time church visitors What to say to a first time visitor. How to train church greeters. Do …
The short answer: Personal Invitation from a Trusted friend. Charles Arn has surveyed thousands of people: (Source: 3 Questions for Charles Arn) In your research, have you found that there’s one specific reason that visitors come to church? The friendship factor. We’ve asked more than 50,000 people over the last 10 years why they came …
The wow factor can play a role in helping a church visitor come back for a second visit. That is one of the first steps to church visitor assimilation. Sharing a small gift as a token of appreciation after a first visit can be a way to stand out and demonstrate extra care. What are …
On a human level, first time church visitors will come to your church because they have Been invited by a friend. Seen your building in their commuting patterns. Been referred by a friend in their social grape-vine (network). Heard about your church through your marketing (direct mail, website, door hangers, business cards, radio, TV, phone …
One of the features here is “Ask EvangelismCoach.org“, a place where you can submit a question that’s on your mind about evangelism. I collect them for ideas for future articles, and is a great conversation starter. A recent one that came in was:
Last month, I posted an entry on Surveying 1st Time Church Visitors to help improve your church’s welcoming. I contacted each church mentioned and discovered the effect of such an online first time visitor survey was a zero. One church visitor survey was a broken link. The second church visitor survey for first time visitors …
Update: Read my review here: Fusion Visitor Assimilation. I think this is the best assimilation book available right now. I’ve not read Sticky Church, but that is next on the list. A new book has been released about turning Visitors into Members, also known as church visitor assimilation. Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members …
A church that took over an abandoned post-office turned the exterior into a nice presentable building. It looked sharp, clean, and with fresh paint and landscaping. Since the church was in my normal commuting patterns, I would drive by at least 3-4 times a day. The facilities renovation attracted my attention. What time are your …
