In my last post, I talked about the most important 10 minutes in your church service. First-time guests at your church will usually determine whether to come back for a second visit in the first 10 minutes of arriving on your campus. They will reinforce their decision based on how friendly they find your church. That decision will come in the first 10 minutes after the service has ended. Remember, people aren’t looking for friendly churches. They’re looking for friends.
Now that we have established a couple of ground rules about people visiting your church, maybe you can do the right things to get them to return for a second visit. You will clean up the lawn and landscaping. You will have friendly people greet them in the parking lot and even inside the church. You will make sure that there are people to greet them after the service ends. Surely that will get them to return! And perhaps you’re right. Those things alone may be enough for a first-time guest to make the decision to return next week and give you a second shot. But what about a 3rd visit? What about stacking the deck so that they are still in your church in 6 months or a year? Or 5? How do you turn guests into regular attenders? Better yet, how do you turn them into involved members?
[tweetthis] How do you turn guests into regular attenders? Better yet, how do you turn them into involved members?[/tweetthis]
The short answer is that there isn’t a set of rules to determine these things. If there were, every church in America would be growing, and we know that that just isn’t true. However, we can look at successful, growing churches and examine some of the things which they have done to make them successful. There are some steps that you can take to help push your church in the direction of growth. Keep in mind that it’s not only doing these things that will help your church grow. It’s doing them well.
One of the most important systems that you can put into place is Small Groups. With the rising use of technology, I have often asked pastors the question: Why would people get out of bed on a Sunday morning and come to your church? Why not just stay at home and watch one of the mega-churches on the internet? The answer is usually: community. It isn’t the style of music or the great preaching that will bring people to your church week after week. It’s other people. Not that music and preaching don’t have anything to do with it. They do. But the main thing that will keep people coming back to your church is other people. It’s a sense of community. Of belonging. One of the best ways to promote community in your church is to have small groups. Remember – it’s not just doing small groups. It’s doing them well. Developing your leaders and making sure that they are
One of the best ways to promote community in your church is to have small groups. Remember – it’s not just doing small groups. It’s doing them well. Developing your leaders and making sure that they are facilitating the groups, not just teaching them is important. The main goal of your small groups is connection, not information. [tweetthis]The main goal of your small groups is connection, not information.[/tweetthis] According to a recent Barna survey, when asked to use one word to describe their ideal church, millennials chose the word “Community”. Small groups will also help attract and keep younger people in your church.
During the first 6 months of attending your church, people are asking themselves 3 questions:
- Can I make friends in this church?
- Is there a place in this church where I can fit in?
- Does this church really want me?
In the following 6 months, people are asking a different set of questions:
- Are my new friends as good as my old ones?
- Is attending this church worth the cost of being involved?
- Is my contribution important?
Remember that when people visit your church as first-time guests, they are usually there because of a need in their lives. They are checking to see if your church can meet that need. If it can, they will stick around. But once the need is met, they will continue to attend because of the relationships they have made in your church.
In the end, it will be relationships that keep people in your church. Raise the value and visibility of relationship and your church will grow. [tweetthis]Too many Christians are waiting for the Father to draw people to our church when Jesus told us to go and get them.[/tweetthis]
Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @RealTomRawlings for more insights into church growth and leadership.
