Comments on: Integrating Visitors into Your Church http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/ Frustrate. Educate. Motivate. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:01:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Justin http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-21334 Justin Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:34:57 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-21334 Our church uses Connection Power to integrate people into the church. Basically when someone first comes, they are assigned Connection Partners who follow up once a week for the first 6 weeks to build a relationship. After that, those who are considered retained are assigned a Care Partner that cares for the person for the first year. The plan is to care for someone until they are in a small group, where the group cares for each other. Letters are sent from the church on the 1st, 2nd, and third visit. Check out connectionpower.com It isn't perfect, but it has helped us. Our church uses Connection Power to integrate people into the church. Basically when someone first comes, they are assigned Connection Partners who follow up once a week for the first 6 weeks to build a relationship. After that, those who are considered retained are assigned a Care Partner that cares for the person for the first year. The plan is to care for someone until they are in a small group, where the group cares for each other. Letters are sent from the church on the 1st, 2nd, and third visit. Check out connectionpower.com It isn’t perfect, but it has helped us.

]]> By: North Raleigh Community Church http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-16268 North Raleigh Community Church Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:42:57 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-16268 In our community we have found a large % of our first time visitors saw & read our web site and came from that.. In our community we have found a large % of our first time visitors saw & read our web site and came from that..

]]> By: Knowledge Lab http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1634 Knowledge Lab Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:06:46 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1634 <strong>Integrating Church Visitors</strong> A few tips and facts about assimilating visitors into the life of your church: <ul><li>Over 70% of visitors come to church because of a personal invitation. <li>Only 12% of first-time visitors will come back the next week and eventually become members.... Integrating Church Visitors

A few tips and facts about assimilating visitors into the life of your church:

  • Over 70% of visitors come to church because of a personal invitation.
  • Only 12% of first-time visitors will come back the next week and eventually become members….
]]> By: Anne Jackson http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1632 Anne Jackson Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:13:56 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1632 Ron - may be a bit of a drive for you, but try Irving Bible Church in Irving on Kinwest a little off Macarthur(I think that's how you spell it) - or The Village Church in Dallas. I have friends that are involved heavily at both of these churches. If you decide to go, let me know, and I would be happy to have them meet you and show you around. (I'm from Dallas but now live in Kansas City). What kind of church do you like? Big, small, contemporary, traditional? Feel free to send me an email at ajackson@westsidefamilychurch.com if you'd like to talk more about some churches in DFW. Ron – may be a bit of a drive for you, but try Irving Bible Church in Irving on Kinwest a little off Macarthur(I think that’s how you spell it) – or The Village Church in Dallas. I have friends that are involved heavily at both of these churches. If you decide to go, let me know, and I would be happy to have them meet you and show you around. (I’m from Dallas but now live in Kansas City). What kind of church do you like? Big, small, contemporary, traditional? Feel free to send me an email at ajackson@westsidefamilychurch.com if you’d like to talk more about some churches in DFW.

]]> By: Ron http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1631 Ron Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:05:25 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1631 I'm interested in Christianity and being part of a church. However, the ones that I've visited seem very cliquey and unfriendly. I live in Dallas Texas. Any recommendations? I’m interested in Christianity and being part of a church. However, the ones that I’ve visited seem very cliquey and unfriendly. I live in Dallas Texas. Any recommendations?

]]> By: Alex http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1630 Alex Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:19:16 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1630 To piggy back on Linda's comments, the general stream of involvement in chis BE(come to an outreach event, participate with an interest group i.e. a motorcycling small group, etc.), BELONG(join a small group that develops spiritual growtn and connection, volunteer on a regular capacity, etc.), BELIEVE(make a commitment to follow Jesus), and BECOME(develop spiritual habits of prayer, worship and study, develop leadership , start mentoring others in the faith, evanglize). In our church, I am certain the stats would bear out that most people belong before they believe. What we are aiming for is deep, long term life change, spiritual growth and connection into the community, not the 7 Habits of High Effective Born Again Christians. All that said, we must make more disciples and better ones at the same time, recognizing the above continuum. To piggy back on Linda’s comments, the general stream of involvement in chis BE(come to an outreach event, participate with an interest group i.e. a motorcycling small group, etc.), BELONG(join a small group that develops spiritual growtn and connection, volunteer on a regular capacity, etc.), BELIEVE(make a commitment to follow Jesus), and BECOME(develop spiritual habits of prayer, worship and study, develop leadership , start mentoring others in the faith, evanglize). In our church, I am certain the stats would bear out that most people belong before they believe. What we are aiming for is deep, long term life change, spiritual growth and connection into the community, not the 7 Habits of High Effective Born Again Christians.
All that said, we must make more disciples and better ones at the same time, recognizing the above continuum.

]]> By: :: cawleyblog :: http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1633 :: cawleyblog :: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:39:51 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1633 <strong>Church Planting</strong> A great reminder from the folks at CMS that integrating people into your church actually requires work: • Over 70% of visitors come to church because of a personal invitation. We've heard similar stats before, but it's always good Church Planting

A great reminder from the folks at CMS that integrating people into your church actually requires work: • Over 70% of visitors come to church because of a personal invitation. We’ve heard similar stats before, but it’s always good

]]> By: Linda http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1629 Linda Fri, 12 Aug 2005 12:51:08 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1629 I have found that people do well to attend your cell group before they come to your church. That way they meet "the church" before they go to "the church." As you said, "small groups are best for fostering relationships" What's the best way to create them? Check out the article by Ralph Moore on the best way to train cell leaders: http://www.cpforum.net/cgi-bin/processrequest.cgi?action=displayarticle&articleid=330 I have found that people do well to attend your cell group before they come to your church. That way they meet “the church” before they go to “the church.” As you said, “small groups are best for fostering relationships” What’s the best way to create them? Check out the article by Ralph Moore on the best way to train cell leaders: http://www.cpforum.net/cgi-bin/processrequest.cgi?action=displayarticle&articleid=330

]]> By: Justin Broome http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1628 Justin Broome Fri, 12 Aug 2005 12:27:32 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1628 A GREAT book on the subject is Thom Rainers <b>"Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them."</b> Thom Rainer studied people who formerly did not go to church, but now they do, and asked them why. What's important? What makes a good impression? Why did you pick the church? Did someone invite you? What keeps you there? Plus MANY more questions. The book is so good that I give it out free to churches placing a certain minimum order with my company. You can find some snippets of information from the book on my website on the left side scrolling menu at <a href="http://www.jjgraphics.com" rel="nofollow">www.jjgraphics.com</a> The facts from the Portland story line up almost verbatim. I can't recommend Thom's book enough. Even for churches without growth problems, it never hurts to continually evaluate and ask "are we doing the best we can?" I love church growth. :) A GREAT book on the subject is Thom Rainers “Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them.” Thom Rainer studied people who formerly did not go to church, but now they do, and asked them why. What’s important? What makes a good impression? Why did you pick the church? Did someone invite you? What keeps you there? Plus MANY more questions. The book is so good that I give it out free to churches placing a certain minimum order with my company. You can find some snippets of information from the book on my website on the left side scrolling menu at http://www.jjgraphics.com
The facts from the Portland story line up almost verbatim. I can’t recommend Thom’s book enough. Even for churches without growth problems, it never hurts to continually evaluate and ask “are we doing the best we can?”
I love church growth. :)

]]> By: Michael http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/integrating-visitors-into-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1627 Michael Fri, 12 Aug 2005 10:19:26 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=307#comment-1627 First off, assimilation:bad integration:good ... now that we have that cleared up... :) It's about resources. We have to be on purpose and stay on task. Giving 100% to visitors is the only way to go. Giving 100% to regulars is the only way to go. We can't have too few people doing too many things. It dilutes the effort. We must stay with and pursue what we were designed for. Fill a need because you were designed to fill the need, not because you were asked to fill the need. So go out there, find your 100% and tackle it! First off, assimilation:bad integration:good … now that we have that cleared up… :)
It’s about resources. We have to be on purpose and stay on task. Giving 100% to visitors is the only way to go. Giving 100% to regulars is the only way to go.
We can’t have too few people doing too many things. It dilutes the effort. We must stay with and pursue what we were designed for. Fill a need because you were designed to fill the need, not because you were asked to fill the need.
So go out there, find your 100% and tackle it!

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