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I can’t
understand why a church will invest so many of its
resources into getting people to visit their church and
then not follow up on those guests.
It takes commitment!
You need to establish a multi-phase program over the
course of a few weeks time and it has to include
consistent but polite invitations to return. Treat
setting up the program as an opportunity to improve your
guest relations. When you do talk with these people look
at it as a sales opportunity. You need your best people
on it, and they need to have some rehearsal sessions so
that they know exactly what to say. You are selling
yourself, your church, and in many cases the idea of
eternal life. Ask basic questions about your church
first. What brought you to our church? What have you
heard about us? What did you like the best? Will you
tell me honestly from a first impression, what did you
think we could do better? Use this information to make
improvements or enforce things you are already doing
right. Then if you feel they are comfortable enough, try
to find out what they are looking for specifically. Of
course, if you got good answers earlier you should have
some idea where to go with this.
One of my favorite follow-up strategies is used by a
large church, but size is not the issue – commitment is!
If a guest comes to the early service, registers as a
guest, and stays for Sunday School, by the time they get
home there is a guest package hanging on their doorknob.
The package is a flat plastic bag which contains a
brochure about the church with information about
programs and areas of involvement such as youth, choir,
etc. It contains contact information for all the people
they could contact for any reason whatsoever. It
contains their immediate contact, that is, the person or
team that brought them the package. It contains simple
gifts like chapstick, a pen, and a refrigerator magnet
with church information on it, a bookmark and a few
mints. They also include the latest newsletter and that
day’s bulletin.
Then, send them a note for the next couple of weeks
inviting them back. Try to contact them by phone and ask
if you can visit their home. Take no for an answer. Do
not scare them with too much pressure. Do not intrude
and or be overly aggressive, but let them know that they
are welcome back.
This works because it is consistent, immediate and
gentle. The main thing to take to heart here is that you
CAN NOT let these contacts lie around unattended and
then expect to get results. You CAN NOT have a monthly
Saturday visitation and try to catch these people at
home unexpectedly. You CAN NOT just drop in unannounced.
And don’t be overly aggressive with your message. It is
not the right time to try and convert them or win them
to your point of view. Keep an open mind because there
are so many points of view. And when it’s all over,
everyone will know if there is a good fit or not. Also
remember, even though you want them in your church, the
overall goal is to get them into A CHURCH, so don’t
hesitate to recommend another congregation for them to
try if you honestly can.
Build a relationship and gain a friend. Maybe you’ll get
a member, maybe not, but at least you will have someone
thinking favorably of you and your church.
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