I found it today. At Fellowship Church on my guitar amp, under last weeks dead hard drive.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
First Impressions from ridgestone backstage
First Impressions
When you have a first time guest come to one of your weekend services what should you do? Should you point them out to everyone you meet and let your people know they are first time guest? How about making them stand up in the middle of the service and having them wave at everyone? Better yet you could let them know what your doctrine is and that if they don’t quickly change their ways something bad is going to happen to them.
Sadly many churches make these mistakes. They make their first time guest so uncomfortable that they are looking for the exit door as soon as possible. When my wife and I were visiting churches (long before Ridge Stone) we were made to feel this way many times. There was a church (left unnamed) that we could not wait to escape from. It was weird and we knew that we did not want to waste anymore of our Sunday there. We wanted to leave as soon as possible.
There is a fine line between letting them know that you are glad they are there and giving them the space they need to check your church out.
So what do we do with first time guest at the stone?
1.) We don’t ask them is this is their first time visiting RSC. We let our greeters know that they should not ask this question. The reason is because people who are NOT first time guest feel awkward telling you no. Many people don’t want to be pointed out as first time guest. Don’t ask people if it is their first time at your church. Instead of doing this talk to them and allow them to opportunity to let you know first. If you are patient you will find out through a laid back conversation. Find a more creative way to find out instead of asking that question. More than likely, that question will only turn people off to your church.
2.) Take them to the information desk. Once we find out that they are first time guest a greeter takes them to the information area. He or she will let them know that this is the place to get information and that we a gift for them. One of the information desk volunteers also talks to them and welcomes them to the church.
3.) Have them fill out an information card. Before we did this we were having a lot of difficulty getting people to fill out communication cards. We used to make time (maybe 30 seconds) and try to get people to fill them out during the worship service. The band would jam while people filled out the cards. The problem is that hardly anyone filled it out. So what we do know is take first time guest over to the information area and have them fill them out before we give them the gift bag. This way we get the communication cards to the first time guest right away and we get it back from them right away.4.) If they have kids we walk the family back to the children’s area. If they have kids ranging from newborn to 5th grade we take them back to the kids area. We have a desk for first time guest families. From that point our Family Pastor or a volunteer will take them back and show them the kid’s area. This is important because we do not allow kids in the service that are over 3 months old. It also gives the parents an opportunity to take a tour of where child will be during the service.
5.) We walk them to the worship service. We (a greeter) walk them in to the service and hand them off to an usher. From that point the usher takes them and shows them to a seat.
6.) We don’t forget they are leaving. This is where many churches drop the ball. First impressions don’t end when the service is over. Make sure you have your greeters and pastors saying goodbye to people. It is great to remember your first time guest as they are leaving the service. Make sure you let them know that you were glad they were there. Many people have a ton of questions after the service and that is a great time to answer them. Make sure you have greeters available after the service not just before.
7.) Email. We send a generic thank you email on Monday and we mail a hand written thank you card the same day.
Make sure you let them know that you greatly appreciate the fact that they visited and you want to see them back. Remember there is a balance between the two. You don’t want to be too overbearing but you also want to show them how much you appreciate them taking the time to visit. We have had many people comment on how they felt that people actually cared that they were there. That’s what you want to hear.
When you have a first time guest come to one of your weekend services what should you do? Should you point them out to everyone you meet and let your people know they are first time guest? How about making them stand up in the middle of the service and having them wave at everyone? Better yet you could let them know what your doctrine is and that if they don’t quickly change their ways something bad is going to happen to them.
Sadly many churches make these mistakes. They make their first time guest so uncomfortable that they are looking for the exit door as soon as possible. When my wife and I were visiting churches (long before Ridge Stone) we were made to feel this way many times. There was a church (left unnamed) that we could not wait to escape from. It was weird and we knew that we did not want to waste anymore of our Sunday there. We wanted to leave as soon as possible.
There is a fine line between letting them know that you are glad they are there and giving them the space they need to check your church out.
So what do we do with first time guest at the stone?
1.) We don’t ask them is this is their first time visiting RSC. We let our greeters know that they should not ask this question. The reason is because people who are NOT first time guest feel awkward telling you no. Many people don’t want to be pointed out as first time guest. Don’t ask people if it is their first time at your church. Instead of doing this talk to them and allow them to opportunity to let you know first. If you are patient you will find out through a laid back conversation. Find a more creative way to find out instead of asking that question. More than likely, that question will only turn people off to your church.
2.) Take them to the information desk. Once we find out that they are first time guest a greeter takes them to the information area. He or she will let them know that this is the place to get information and that we a gift for them. One of the information desk volunteers also talks to them and welcomes them to the church.
3.) Have them fill out an information card. Before we did this we were having a lot of difficulty getting people to fill out communication cards. We used to make time (maybe 30 seconds) and try to get people to fill them out during the worship service. The band would jam while people filled out the cards. The problem is that hardly anyone filled it out. So what we do know is take first time guest over to the information area and have them fill them out before we give them the gift bag. This way we get the communication cards to the first time guest right away and we get it back from them right away.4.) If they have kids we walk the family back to the children’s area. If they have kids ranging from newborn to 5th grade we take them back to the kids area. We have a desk for first time guest families. From that point our Family Pastor or a volunteer will take them back and show them the kid’s area. This is important because we do not allow kids in the service that are over 3 months old. It also gives the parents an opportunity to take a tour of where child will be during the service.
5.) We walk them to the worship service. We (a greeter) walk them in to the service and hand them off to an usher. From that point the usher takes them and shows them to a seat.
6.) We don’t forget they are leaving. This is where many churches drop the ball. First impressions don’t end when the service is over. Make sure you have your greeters and pastors saying goodbye to people. It is great to remember your first time guest as they are leaving the service. Make sure you let them know that you were glad they were there. Many people have a ton of questions after the service and that is a great time to answer them. Make sure you have greeters available after the service not just before.
7.) Email. We send a generic thank you email on Monday and we mail a hand written thank you card the same day.
Make sure you let them know that you greatly appreciate the fact that they visited and you want to see them back. Remember there is a balance between the two. You don’t want to be too overbearing but you also want to show them how much you appreciate them taking the time to visit. We have had many people comment on how they felt that people actually cared that they were there. That’s what you want to hear.
Yuck!!!!!
Lost my new Kutless Live CD. I haven't had a chance to really listen too it. Looked like there might be some good tunes for Fellowship Praise Band to cover. If I loaned it to you please help my sanity and let me know.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Have you SEEN?
Fellowship Church's new calendar? Click here!
This could be a great way to remember events and share them with friends. Check it out and give it a spin. Did ya notice the poll on Felloship Church'e home page?
Click Here!
This could be a great way to remember events and share them with friends. Check it out and give it a spin. Did ya notice the poll on Felloship Church'e home page?
Click Here!
Defining our Vision Part 3
This is the third part that I failed to post back when...
To refresh our memory
Part 1
Part 2
Defining Our Vision (Pt. 3)
In the Bible the book of Nehemiah is an incredible example of God giving a vision to a people. Israel had fallen captive to the Babylonians and the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonian siege. Israel found freedom and many moved back to Jerusalem, however the city was not rebuilt to it once radiant splendor.
While a cupbearer to Artaxerxes, King of Persia, Nehemiah receives word that the city was in disrepair. At this time God burdened Nehemiah with a VISION of what could be and should be in Jerusalem for the Children of God. He followed that VISION and God bless the Israelites in the years to come as a result of one man following after God.
Meaningful –
A key word in our mission statement is meaningful. Our Savior Jesus Christ was masterful at making things meaningful. He didn’t just stand up and preach a message about a subject with facts and figures. He spoke to people about their lives and how God desires to give them meaning. He used metaphors and stories to deliver his message, as a result people responded. Careful study of the Bible and the life of Christ will reveal that Jesus used nature, events, customs, and seasons to illustrate the never changing message of His Father. The church should seek to do the same. Each of these stories brought life and meaning to the work of God.
At Fellowship we seek to provide a meaning presentation of Jesus Christ. Using whatever medium available to present his message in a way that appeals to the life of people who do not understand the wonderful life change Christ offers to them.
By making the Gospel meaningful you touch the heart, soul and mind. Jesus spoke of these three elements that make up man when he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” (Matthew 22:37). He understood that when you engage the whole man you have a greater chance of seeing him make important life changes for eternity.
Life-change will bring about Church change that will bring about Home change that will bring about Community change. This is our VISION!
To refresh our memory
Part 1
Part 2
Defining Our Vision (Pt. 3)
In the Bible the book of Nehemiah is an incredible example of God giving a vision to a people. Israel had fallen captive to the Babylonians and the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonian siege. Israel found freedom and many moved back to Jerusalem, however the city was not rebuilt to it once radiant splendor.
While a cupbearer to Artaxerxes, King of Persia, Nehemiah receives word that the city was in disrepair. At this time God burdened Nehemiah with a VISION of what could be and should be in Jerusalem for the Children of God. He followed that VISION and God bless the Israelites in the years to come as a result of one man following after God.
Meaningful –
A key word in our mission statement is meaningful. Our Savior Jesus Christ was masterful at making things meaningful. He didn’t just stand up and preach a message about a subject with facts and figures. He spoke to people about their lives and how God desires to give them meaning. He used metaphors and stories to deliver his message, as a result people responded. Careful study of the Bible and the life of Christ will reveal that Jesus used nature, events, customs, and seasons to illustrate the never changing message of His Father. The church should seek to do the same. Each of these stories brought life and meaning to the work of God.
At Fellowship we seek to provide a meaning presentation of Jesus Christ. Using whatever medium available to present his message in a way that appeals to the life of people who do not understand the wonderful life change Christ offers to them.
By making the Gospel meaningful you touch the heart, soul and mind. Jesus spoke of these three elements that make up man when he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” (Matthew 22:37). He understood that when you engage the whole man you have a greater chance of seeing him make important life changes for eternity.
Life-change will bring about Church change that will bring about Home change that will bring about Community change. This is our VISION!
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