ARTICLE First Contact How do you connect first-time guests to the church body? Erwin McManus, Ken Fong, Cheryl Sanders
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Erwin McManus Mosaic
Los Angeles,
California
Plug Them in, Quick!
The number one indicator that a first-time guest will be here a year from now is if we get them serving somewhere, so first contact is critical.
A lot of times trying to assimilate guests is like fishing in the rapids—they're rushing in and out. We create shallower pools, places where people slow down so we can talk to them. We have ...
ARTICLE Second Impressions Your church passed their first visit, but will they come back? Charles Arn
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First impressions are important to first-time guests at your church, but the half-hour after service can determine whether they'll come backand stay. Our research reveals three insights:
"Friendliness of the people" is the most important thing newcomers look for.
"Friendliness" is based on how many people talk to them.
The most important time for "friendly talk" is immediately following the service.
ARTICLE Helping Guests Feel at Home 5 churches' bright ideas for a warmer welcome. James Appleby, Gene Appel, Merle Mees, Wayne Ogimachi, Jim Tomberlin
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6 Ounces of Security
We employ four strategies to make our church more welcoming.
Hospitality time. We have a 20-minute segment between our two services
when we provide coffee, juice, and donuts in our lobby. Greeters and hosts
mingle and welcome people with cup in hand (one greeter remarked, "It's amazing
how a six-ounce cup provides a sense of security for a 180-pound male").
Response cards. Our worship bulletins have perforated tear-offs that
members and guests are asked to fill out and place in the offering plate.
It has spaces for all kinds of quick interaction (such as "My decision today,"
"I'd like information," "Prayer need"), which we try to respond to quickly.
Don't apply the "cheap and easy" mentality of consumerism to relationships with God and each other.
Have you ever noticed how long it takes to make microwave popcorn? "Delicious popcorn in only three minutes!" Well, that's what it says on the bag, but standing there waiting for it to get done seems like an eternity.
We live in a microwave society. We've come to expect that everything in life will take ...