How To Make Your Church Guest Friendly How To Make Your Church Guest Friendly

Things to be Covered in this Seminar Things to be Covered in this Seminar 1.Principles to help you create an inviting environment for first-time guests 2.How to ''wow'' first-time guests into wanting to come back 3.How to turn first-time guests into second- time guests 4.How to turn second-time guests into regular attenders and then fully-engaged members 5.How to drastically increase the number of guests who give you their contact information 6.How to get people to turn in a Connection Card

Hebrews 13:1 Hebrews 13:1 “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them— those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”

IS 99.9% GOOD ENOUGH? What is an Acceptable Level of Quality Performance? If 99.9% is the Goal Then… IS 99.9% GOOD ENOUGH? What is an Acceptable Level of Quality Performance? If 99.9% is the Goal Then… Twelve babies will be given to the wrong parents each day in every major city. Twelve babies will be given to the wrong parents each day in every major city. 200,000 drug prescriptions will be filled incorrectly in the next 12 months. 200,000 drug prescriptions will be filled incorrectly in the next 12 months. 107 incorrect medical procedures will be performed by the end of the day today. 107 incorrect medical procedures will be performed by the end of the day today. –Since 99.9 % is not good enough for parents, pharmacists and doctors, it is not good enough for churches either.

FACT #1: Your church cannot grow without Guest. Your church cannot grow without Guest. FACT #2: Your church cannot grow if your Guest don’t come back. Your church cannot grow if your Guest don’t come back.

THE QUESTION: THE QUESTION: What are you doing every Sunday to make sure your Guest return? What are you doing every Sunday to make sure your Guest return?

Archbishop William Temple said, “ The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members.”

Getting Ready for Company Getting Ready for Company

What is the difference between a visitor and a guest? What is the difference between a visitor and a guest?

It is the difference between never missing another Sunday or never coming back.

Getting Ready for Company A. ON THE OUTSIDE

Did you know? Did you know? Researchers say that church guests decide whether or not to return to the church they are visiting in the first ten to twelve minutes upon entering the church campus.

So, what happens in the first twelve minutes? They see your facilitiesThey see your facilities They meet your peopleThey meet your people They decide whether or not you can meet their needsThey decide whether or not you can meet their needs They decide whether or not to come backThey decide whether or not to come back  Before they have heard the music or sermon

A. Your church campus must: Have directional signage in parking areas and outside of buildings Have directional signage in parking areas and outside of buildings Be well landscaped Be well landscaped Be clean, and well maintained Be clean, and well maintained Be inviting cosmetically Be inviting cosmetically

B. Parking Lot/Guest Parking Adequate number (about 5%) of guest parking spaces Adequate number (about 5%) of guest parking spaces Easy to identify and locate Easy to identify and locate Must be your best parking spaces Must be your best parking spaces Must have greeters Must have greeters

C. Your Greeters… Should wear name tags Should be friendly Should understand the value of this ministry Should escort guests to the welcome/information center Should introduce guests by name

The Value of a Smile The Value of a Smile Holiday Inn interviewed 5,000 people to fill 500 positions that were needed to open a new facility. When the hotel managers interviewed these candidates, they excluded anybody who smiled fewer than four times during the course of their interview. This standard was applied to every available job and to every prospective employee. How many of your church members would qualify for a job at Holiday Inn?

Transitioning Our Guests Transitioning Our Guests Parking Lot Greeters should escort all guests from the parking lot to the Welcome/Information Center. This time is extremely valuable and should be used to discover the interests and needs of the guests which the church can meet. This time is extremely valuable and should be used to discover the interests and needs of the guests which the church can meet.

Getting Ready for Guests B. ON THE INSIDE

The Welcome/Information Center The Welcome/Information Center At the Welcome/Information Center, all guests must be welcomed and receive information.

What type of information? What type of information? Church newsletter Church newsletter Information on upcoming events for all ages Information on upcoming events for all ages Information on all ministries Information on all ministries Information about discipleship/Sunday School classes Information about discipleship/Sunday School classes Information on recreational opportunities Information on recreational opportunities Information on the staff and who to call for what Information on the staff and who to call for what Campus Map Campus Map

Parking Lot Greeters then escort the guests to a Sunday School class, nursery, youth area or to the Worship Center. There, the guest must be introduced to the class greeters, teacher or usher by name.

The Nursery The Nursery The Nursery area must be clean, bright, cheerful, and secure.

Acknowledging Guests Acknowledging Guests During Worship During Worship How we acknowledge our guests during a worship service can either make them feel welcomed or embarrassed.

How to make your guests feel valued Include – do not exclude. Act like every person is a first time guest. Include – do not exclude. Act like every person is a first time guest. Everyone who gives an announcement, sings, speaks, etc. must be introduced or introduce themselves. Everyone who gives an announcement, sings, speaks, etc. must be introduced or introduce themselves. When you acknowledge your guests, allow them some anonymity. When you acknowledge your guests, allow them some anonymity. Teach your people to value their guests. Teach your people to value their guests. Ask your guest to fill out as much information on the communication card as they feel comfortable giving Ask your guest to fill out as much information on the communication card as they feel comfortable giving

Following Up and Following Through Herb Miller gives the following statistics for following up: 85% of guests return if visited in 36 hours 60% of guests return if visited in 72 hours 15% of guests return if visited in 7 days. If the pastor makes the first visit instead of a lay person the percentage is cut in half.

Following Up and Following Through Immediate Follow-Up Idea: Doorstep Visit Print a directional map from the church to First time Guest homes. Print a directional map from the church to First time Guest homes. Deliver a Gift Bag as a “Thank You for visiting” gesture. Deliver a Gift Bag as a “Thank You for visiting” gesture. Make it a Doorstep Visit. Say something like this “My name is Steve Pearson and this is Sam Smith from First Baptist Church and we’re not coming in but we wanted to come by and say thank you for visiting FBC and here is a small gift from the Church.” Make it a Doorstep Visit. Say something like this “My name is Steve Pearson and this is Sam Smith from First Baptist Church and we’re not coming in but we wanted to come by and say thank you for visiting FBC and here is a small gift from the Church.”

Following Up and Following Through Immediate Follow-Up Idea: Gift Bag at WC Entice first time guest to fill out the communication card by telling them to turn in the Communication card to the Welcome Center for a free gift. Entice first time guest to fill out the communication card by telling them to turn in the Communication card to the Welcome Center for a free gift. The free gift could be a gift bag, Music CD or a book. The free gift could be a gift bag, Music CD or a book. Thank them for visiting and invite them back for something specific. (Age group Event) Thank them for visiting and invite them back for something specific. (Age group Event)

Most Churches consider themselves to be very friendly. The truth is they are, but usually to themselves. It is important for all Churches to do their best to make sure that every guest feels loved and welcomed. As you incorporate these and your own ideas into the life and ministry of your church you will be well on your way to becoming a Guest Friendly Church.