Since the vision statement of Community Christian Church is "helping people find their way back to God," we spend a lot of time dreaming, discussing, and talking about how we can do a better job of motivating our people to invite their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. As a result, during the last eight years, we have grown from 700 people in attendance to 5,000 people.
In almost every consultation I conduct through my company, the Rainer Group, and in almost every church I research, the issue of assimilation arises. "If we could just keep the people who join our church, our attendance would be twice as high," church leaders often lament. Is there a "secret" to retention? Is there some type of process that can close the back door?
ARTICLE First Contact How do you connect first-time guests to the church body? Erwin McManus, Ken Fong, Cheryl Sanders
Rating:Not yet rated
Erwin McManus Mosaic
Los Angeles,
California
Plug Them in, Quick!
The number one indicator that a first-time guest will be here a year from now is if we get them serving somewhere, so first contact is critical.
A lot of times trying to assimilate guests is like fishing in the rapids—they're rushing in and out. We create shallower pools, places where people slow down so we can talk to them. We have ...
ARTICLE Second Impressions Your church passed their first visit, but will they come back? Charles Arn
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First impressions are important to first-time guests at your church, but the half-hour after service can determine whether they'll come back—and stay. Our research reveals three insights:
"Friendliness of the people" is the most important thing newcomers look for.
"Friendliness" is based on how many people talk to them.
The most important time for "friendly talk" is immediately following the service.
ARTICLE Sharper Definition How a small congregation was reinvigorated by making membership mean something specific. Brian Metke
Rating:
After 18 years of ministry, I've become convinced that the way to lead a dormant church into exuberant, committed discipleship is not by lowering the bar, but by raising it.
Our members are required to participate in at least one specific ministry, attend a weekly Bible-study class, and tithe regularly. We call it "intentional Christianity."
Trinity's mission statement sums up the bottom line: "To help ...
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