Although some churches simply have a few famous people like myself and Andy Pettitte on hand to provide guests with their first impression, you may need a different strategy.
This is the first of five chapters in a 25 part blog series titled: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy, published over a five week period. Everything I have posted here is the result of my own personal experiences, from serving on church staffs, volunteering as a lay leader, and being brought in as a paid consultant. It is my hope that these posts will help you and your church get better at connecting with guests, not simply to increase your attendance and membership, but ultimately to grow the body of Christ. Implementing a Connections strategy (or “Assimilation” strategy) is a long term process, and one that relies on a culture of continual improvement. This chapter has four entries, which will all be linked below the post as they are published.
1.1 First Impressions.
Your church gets one shot at a first impression. Want to know what that first impression is like? Ask yourself what you want a guest family to see and experience as they drive in, park, and visit your church for the first time. We’ll talk about your actual greeter team later. For now, consider the overall experience for a new person or family.
Here’s a partial checklist for some self-evaluation:
- Is the campus clean or is it a mess?
- Are there pleasant people outside in the parking lot welcoming guests and directing traffic?
- Are there signs outside letting people know where to park and where to enter?
- Can a guest easily get from their parking spot to the entrance without walking through mud, around a wall, or jumping a fence?
- When guests arrive at the door, who is there to greet them?
- Who is opening the door for families and welcoming new faces?
- How well is your team greeting guests as they walk into your front foyer or Atrium area?
- Once they get inside the building, how do they figure out what to do next?
Element One: First Impressions
Main Series Page: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy