True church growth is a result of a positive church experience, members inviting family and friends as well as a reputation that is spread by word-of-mouth.
Many people will visit a church several times before making a decision to call that church home.
The challenging part, particularly for churches of a few hundred people, is that visitors can sneak in and out without anyone even knowing they were there. Read the Full Article →
Churches love when they get visitors because they know that visitors are potential members.
However, visitors need help taking that step toward membership.
And while not all churches have official membership, those that do experience is an increased engagement with members.
This is because when congregants attend a new membership class, they have a better understanding of the church’s history, why it exists and what it hopes to achieve. Read the Full Article →
I was an adult when I became a Christian and didn’t have the Vacation Bible School (VBS) experience as a child.
I knew kids who went to VBS but I was never invited to attend.
Interestingly though, any adult Christian that I know can speak to their childhood VBS memories.
Since I’ve been a Christian I’ve had the privledge of being a part of a great VBS and can see the benefit of investing the time and resources into this great summer event for kids. Read the Full Article →
Churches often struggle with the term “customer” and sometimes question if churches have customers.
However more and more churches have become aware of the need to identify who their customers are and strategically take steps to create a positive experience for them.
In the church, customers can be defined as visitors, members, volunteers and employees.
Creating a positive experience for these key customer groups is important because members fund the church, volunteers are the labor engine of the church and employees facilitate the process. Read the Full Article →
Attracting visitors to your church is the first step in achieving church growth.
Understanding the visitor experience can provide valuable information that can be used to create a first time experience that makes the visitor want to come back – and hopefully join the church.
When I visit a church there are several things I pay attention to. I like going someplace that is welcoming, comfortable and consistent with my belief system. Read the Full Article →
People get involved in the local church to develop relationships, grow spiritually and participate in the mission of the organization.
The member benefits from the opportunities they are given and the church benefits through member financial support and free labor to fulfill its mission. If done well, it is a win-win!
Tensions arise when either party feels like their needs are not being met. Read the Full Article →
People go to church to have their spiritual and social needs met. But identifying ways to recruit new church members is often a challenge.
Finding the right church can be a challenge. This is because people may not know how to find a church that is compatible with their culture and doctrinal beliefs.
Some people will church shop until they find a church that is the right fit for them. Read the Full Article →
Voice-mail is an electronic system that is used to record and store voice messages when we are away from our phones. I was around back in the day when there were no electronic tools used to answer the telephone.
Early in my career, office phones had to be answered by a live person or risk missing a phone call and losing a potential customer. Read the Full Article →
As many of you know my husband and I recently moved from the Midwest to Southwest Florida in an effort to escape the cold and on a quest to find out what the next season in our lives will bring. As part of that quest we have been looking for a home church.
There is a church we have visited several times and are getting close to taking the step of joining. Read the Full Article →
We recently relocated to southwest Florida and, as we continue our quest to find a permanent home, we are visiting churches.
My goal is to find a church for my husband and I and then we hope to purchase a home close to our church.
I worked on staff at a large church for ten years and now help churches develop plans to improve the way they manage their people, time and money, so I have an interesting perspective when I visit a church. Read the Full Article →
