Important Points about Welcoming and Incorporating New People

1. Distinguish between a Visitor and a Potential Member. Congregations should aim at a 50% retention rate for second time attendees. This is true whether the person returns two weeks in a row or twice in six months. A second visit demonstrates serious interest in your congregation.

2. It is more important to worry about how to track and follow up with potential members than how to advertise for first time visitors.

3. Most people decide within 5 minutes of arriving in the parking lot whether or not to return a second time. (Note that most new people are greeted during the peace, usually half way through the service.)

4. Most visitors arrive within five minutes of the advertised starting time. Avoid blocking the doors just before the service with the choir or processional lines.

5. Many churches have learned the wisdom of having the clergy present at the main entry just before the service begins. Most churches still follow the unfortunate practice of having male ushers who also function as greeters.

6. Just as at home, it is better for you and your members to introduce visitors than for them to have to do it themselves. Avoid making them stand, wear bright "visitor" tags and other such gimmicks that only make new people feel uncomfortable.

7. Ask present members who meet a newcomer during the service (at the peace for example) to take responsibility for three acts of hospitality.
First, introduce them to at least 3 other members.
Second, introduce them to the clergy.
Third, get them to the coffee/social time.

8. Place potential members on your mailing list. Invite potential members with a personal first class letter to each new event until they tell you they are not interested.

Welcoming People (2 profiles)

Low Profile
	Ushers Greet People Clergy Acknowledges New People Clergy Invite to Coffee Hour Guest Register Follow Up Letter Clergy Visit

High Profile

Adequate Signs Indicating Locations
Information Table
Greeters (some in parking lot)
User Friendly Booklet
Lay Persons Acknowledge New People
Attender Cards in Place
Letter and Call From Clergy
Lay Visit (Bread or Flowers)
Invitation to Special Dinner
Newcomers Class (the longer the better!)
Invitations to Special Events
Intake Interview (Inventory)
Placement in Ministry Area
Evaluation
Out Interview

Keeping People who Visit

I believe it takes much more effort on the part of a church to walk someone through the door for the first time than at anytime in my lifetime. I am hoping that a church is able to keep about one third of the visitors who walk through the door. Set your goal at 50% of the folks who come back a second time. Don't worry about how long between visits. A church has to plan for the arrival of guests before they get there. There are several strategies, as you know, to make people feel welcome.

Take several of the BEST parking spaces and mark them for visitors ONLY. If your parking lot is crowded, attendants could help regulars and guests to park so as to make effective use of the space. Welcoming BEGINS in the PARKING LOT.

Have parking lot greeters!! Preferably a man and a woman who enjoy meeting people. They just walk around the parking lot, greeting ALL arrivals. They offer a ready and friendly smile. They provide directions for guests. This is particularly true if the entrance door most people use is not obvious. Guests have been known to try two, three or more doors and not find one unlocked - so, they leave without ever entering.

Have an ATTENDED INFORMATION TABLE. Don't do things that make guests stand out. Only church extroverts really like that. Create a strategy to get the names and addresses (including e-mail) of first time guests. An attended guest register may work for you. A guest who chooses to attend a church is expecting to have some personal attention. Some churches pass clip boards and urges everybody to sign in, members and guests. Ushers move from aisle to aisle making sure each person has the opportunity to sign in. It provides attendance AND information on guests.

Here's an idea I doubt many of you have ever heard of or at least tried. It does a great job. Divide your sanctuary into at least four segments. Recruit a member to be responsible to go up and greet every guest in their area either before or immediately after the service. There should be NO name tag indicating those folks have a job. That defeats the purpose. I don't want anyone to visit your church without at least one person greeting them in person, in addition to those that "work" the doors. THIS CAN'T BE LEFT TO CHANCE, IT MUST BE PLANNED!

Have a small gift, a mug with the church's name and telephone number, a loaf of bread, a CD about the church, or some other item that a lay person can deliver to the home of the guests. They should express the church's appreciation for the visit and invite them to return. Also, ask the guest if there is anything they want to know about the church? And, why did they come?

Since we work so hard to get someone to visit our church, usually, shouldn't we work smart in our efforts to get them to return?