How to Make Your Church Visitor Friendly

8/13/2019 How to Make Your Church Visitor Friendly

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How To Make Your Church

Visitor Friendly


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Hebrews 13:1

Let brotherly love continue. Donot forget to entertain strangers, for

by so doing some have unwittinglyentertained angels. Remember theprisoners as if chained with them

those who are mistreatedsince youyourselves are in the body also.


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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 wrongparents each day in every major city.

200,000 drug prescriptions will be filledincorrectly in the next 12 months. 107 incorrect medical procedures will be

performed by the end of the day today.

Since 99.9 % is not good enough forparents, pharmacists and doctors, it isnot good enough for churches either.


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FACT #1:

Your church cannot grow without visitors.

FACT #2:

Your church cannot grow if your visitorsdontcome back.


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THE QUESTION:

What are you doing everySunday to make sure yourvisitors return?


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Archbishop William Temple said,

The church is the onlycooperative society in theworld that exists for the

benefit of its non-members.


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Getting Ready

forCompany


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What is the difference

between a guest and avisitor?


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It is the differencebetween never missing

another Sunday or nevercoming back.


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Getting Ready forCompany

A.ON THE OUTSIDE


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Did you know?

Researchers say that church guests

decide whether or not to returnto the church they are visiting

in the first ten to twelve minutesupon entering the church campus.


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So, what happens in the

first twelve minutes? They see your facilities

They meet your people

They decide whether or not you canmeet their needs

They decide whether or not to comeback

Before they have heard the music or sermon


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A. Your church campus must:

Have directional signage in parking

areas and outside of buildings Be well landscaped Be clean, and well maintained

Be inviting cosmetically


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B. Parking Lot/Guest Parking

Adequate number of guestparking spaces

Easy to identify and locate

Must be your best parking spacesMust have greeters


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C. Your Greeters

Should wear name tags Should be friendly

Should understand the value of thisministry

Should escort guests to thewelcome/information center Should introduce guests by name


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The Value of a SmileHoliday Inn interviewed 5,000 people to fill 500positions that were needed to open a newfacility. When the hotel managers interviewedthese candidates, they excluded anybody who

smiled fewer than four times during the courseof their interview. This standard was applied toevery available job and to every prospectiveemployee.

How many of your church members wouldqualify for a job at Holiday Inn?


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Transitioning Our Guests

Parking Lot Greeters should escort allguests from the parking lot to the

Welcome/Information Center.

This time is extremely valuable and shouldbe used to discover the interests andneeds of the guests which the church canmeet.


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Getting Ready forGuests

B. ON THE INSIDE


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The Welcome/InformationCenter

At the Welcome/Information Center,all guests must be welcomed and

receive information.


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What type of information?

Church newsletter Information on upcoming events for all ages Information on all ministries

Information about discipleship/Sunday Schoolclasses Information on recreational opportunities Information on the staff and who to call for what

Campus Map Gifts (Example: Coupon for free Wednesday night

dinner)


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Parking Lot Greeters then escortthe guests to a Sunday Schoolclass, nursery, youth area or to

the Worship Center.

There, the guest must be

introduced to the class greeters,teacher or usher by name.


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The Nursery

The Nursery area must be

clean, bright, cheerful,

and secure.


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Acknowledging Guests

During Worship

How we acknowledge our guestsduring a worship service caneither make them feelwelcomed or embarrassed.


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How to make your guestsfeel valued

Includedo not exclude. Act like every personis a first time guest.

Everyone who gives an announcement, sings,

speaks, etc. must be introduced or introducethemselves.

When you acknowledge your guests, allow themsome anonymity.

Teach your people to value their guests. Provide a reception for guests following the

service so they can personally meet the pastorand staff.


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Most Churches consider themselves to bevery friendly. The truth is they are, butusually to themselves. It is important forall Churches to do their best to make surethat every guest feels loved and

welcomed.

As you incorporate these and your own

ideas into the life and ministry of yourchurch you will be well on your way tobecoming a Visitor Friendly Church.

Documents

How to Make Your Church Visitor Friendly