BurkeDaniel
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • RSS
Make Disciples. Engage Culture. Love People.
  • Home
  • About
    • My Story
    • My Resume
  • Blog
    • Make Disciples
    • Engage Culture
    • Love People
    • Archives
  • Booking Requests
    • Public Speaking
    • Ministry Consulting
    • Testimonials
    • Booking Request Form
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Make Disciples
  • Assimilation
  • Connections Ministry 2.3 Guest Services: Printed Materials

Connections Ministry 2.3 Guest Services: Printed Materials

0

This is the second 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 five entries, which will all be linked below the post as they are published.

The Connection Corner at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrolton, TX. (changes periodically)

The Connection Corner at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrolton, TX. (changes periodically)

2.3 Guest Services: Printed Materials

When it comes to printed materials at the guest services location, keep it simple, and keep it clean. Here’s what I mean:

Keep it simple: As in, create these materials and have them at your central location

  • your beliefs and values
  • core ministries
  • next steps to connect, serve in community
  • discipleship/membership process

Keep It Clean:

Put someone in charge of this area with the authority to say “no” to non-essential advertisements.

  • no political stuff
  • no business cards
  • no fundraisers
  • avoid anything that doesn’t involve the entire church

Common Challenges

  • “Everyone should have the opportunity to promote their stuff” A real quote from a staff member at a large church. Just imagine a display area with disorganized piles of printed materials left unmanaged for several months. That’s what one church had.
  • Unbranded Materials: It doesn’t cost a lot of money and gives guests the impression you know what you’re doing. Also makes it easier to promote what is essential and keep thinks simple. Some of you think branding is only for soulless corporations. If so, see above (and below).
  • Confusion. One church had a wall full of various promotional materials, many of with out of date information and some even promoting ministry programs that hadn’t existed in years. The guest services team did not know what roughly half of the materials were, and when guests had questions, they admitted they weren’t sure why the materials were there, blamed it on their senior pastor, and rolled their eyes. All of this with first time guests! First impressions…
  • NOTE: Your best leaders will always want to promote their favorite causes, events, etc. When you encounter resistance (you will), consider it a matter of building the right culture, and not a sign of disrespect from your people.

Some Suggestions For Printed Materials

  • Less words, less paper. Less mess provides a clear strategy to communicate exactly who your church is and where the guests fit in.
  • Prioritize Guests. Don’t flood them with too much information. Remember, each guest has a story. We want to connect Jesus to their story more than we want to connect them to our programs. Never forget that.
  • You don’t need a lot. Stacks and rows or oddly matched papers full of clip art, different fonts, and out of date information is embarrassing. And confusing. Keep it simple!
  • Clarity. Don’t print anything with terminology that someone who is new to your church will find difficult to understand.

Next: 2.4 Guest Services: The Guest Packet

Main Series Page: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy

Element Two: Guest Services

2.1 Your Greeters

2.2 Guest Services: Central Location

2.3 Guest Services: Your Materials

2.4 Guest Services: The Guest Packet

2.5 Guest Signage: Smart Signage

You Should Share This:

  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
assimilation process, church announcements, church guest services, church parking lot volunteers, church serving opportunities, church signs, church visitor packet, first impressions at church, good church signage, group connect events, group link events, guest packet, how to fail at social media, how to follow up with guests at church, how to follow up with visitors at church, how to start an assimilation process at church, how to start an connections ministry at church, how to train church greeters, how to train church parking lot team, how to use social media for your church, next steps at church, promote small groups, the church information desk, what to give guests

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Contact:

  • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Linkedin
    • Google+

Top Posts & Pages

  • When God Overrules Bad Decisions
  • The Do's and Don'ts of Small Groups (Full Version)
  • Don't Eat The Fake Fruit
  • The Epitome of Dysfunction

Subscribe!

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 8,130 other subscribers

Tags

assimilation process Bible children Christ Christian Christianity church church guest services church serving opportunities church signs death Faith family fellowship first impressions at church god good church signage gospel Grace group connect events group link events guest management hope how to follow up with guests at church how to follow up with visitors at church how to start an assimilation process at church how to start an connections ministry at church how to train church greeters Jesus leaders leadership life love marriage next steps at church parenting priorities promote small groups purpose quote of the week relationships Scripture sin the church information desk what to give guests
(c) 2017 BurkeDaniel - All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...