{"id":32419,"date":"2022-09-10T16:08:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/5-things-that-matter-most-to-church-visitors\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:08:49","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:08:49","slug":"5-things-that-matter-most-to-church-visitors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/5-things-that-matter-most-to-church-visitors\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things That Matter Most to Church Visitors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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rawpixel.com photo – Pexels<\/div>\n

Taking the Guesswork out of Guest Relations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By Aaron Wilson<\/em><\/p>\n

Did we make a good impression?<\/em>
I wonder what they thought of us?<\/em>
Will they be back next week?<\/em><\/p>\n

Questions like these are on the minds of church leaders each week as they watch first-time visitors leave service.<\/p>\n

To help get answers, churches around the country employ the services of Faith Perceptions\u2014a company that sends real people from a church\u2019s mission field to visit and share feedback on their experience. This allows leaders to see their church through the eyes of a visitor and learn what can be improved so guests will be more likely to return.<\/p>\n

Melanie Smollen, founder and president of Faith Perceptions, says that while many factors play a role in whether guests will come back to a church, there are certain aspects of a church experience that tend to be most influential on visitors.<\/p>\n

After cataloging feedback from mystery visits to more than 10,000 worship services across the nation, Faith Perceptions met with Facts & Trends<\/em> to share what they\u2019ve identified as the five most significant impressions that determine whether a church guest will return.<\/p>\n

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Impression #1: A Welcoming Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Faith Perceptions has found that friendliness alone won\u2019t make guests return to a church, but an unwelcoming encounter is enough to send them packing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how great the church service is, if a guest is made to feel unwelcome, there\u2019s a high probability they won\u2019t return,\u201d Smollen says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how great the church service is, if a guest is made to feel unwelcome, there\u2019s a high probability they won\u2019t return.\u201d Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the service, I was asked if I needed to shop for food in the food bank and pick up some clothes there for my son. I was a little taken back because I wasn’t someone in need and felt like they were making assumptions about me. I would not return to this church.\u201d \u2013 church mystery guest<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just door greeters who are responsible for creating a hospitable experience. A welcoming impression is gathered from church signage, whether guests are talked to and escorted to where they need to go, and if the church offers a digital welcome through its website\u2014the new front door of the church.<\/p>\n

Impression #2: A Clear, Relatable Message<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Biblical preaching should be theologically precise, but not at the expense of being unclear to guests. Consider the following sentence from a sermon:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe shedding of blood caused the curtain to be torn in two, ushering in the reversal of the Fall\u2019s curse.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

While every word in that sentence is theologically correct, a guest with limited Bible knowledge may leave thinking they heard a message about upholstery damage and the pastor\u2019s dislike of autumn.<\/p>\n

To avoid such confusion, take time to explain terms and phrases that might be unclear. Also be on the lookout for Christian jargon or \u201cchurch talk\u201d that can keep visitors from relating to the service. Examples of this are:<\/p>\n

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  • \u201cWe\u2019re going to take up a love offering now.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • \u201cJoin us in singing the Doxology.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • \u201cThink about this during your daily quiet time.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Guests are much more likely to return to a church when they feel a pastor or group leader speaks their language and can communicate God\u2019s truth in a clear and relatable manner.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe main thing that would bring me back, even after only one visit, was the message. I thought the sermon was excellent. It stuck in my mind throughout the week.\u201d \u2013 church mystery guest<\/em><\/p>\n

    Impression #3: A Personable Pastor<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Speaking of pastors, Faith Perceptions reports one of the greatest indicators of a return visit is if a church guest finds the pastor to be personable.<\/p>\n

    This doesn\u2019t mean pastors need to manufacture a forced charisma that mimics a Christian \u201ccelebrity.\u201d It just means pastors need to be genuine, humble, and approachable to their members and guests.<\/p>\n

    Church visitors don\u2019t need rock star pastors that drip with magnetic appeal\u2014just shepherds who are willing to be present and personable within the flock. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

    To accomplish this, pastors may choose to hang out by a doorway after service to engage guests as they prepare to depart. Some pastors may choose to record a welcome video on the church website. Others may be intentional in maintaining a humble but visible social media presence. (The latter is especially beneficial for helping younger generations sense the pastor is accessible.)<\/p>\n

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    See also  What Do Churchgoers Want to Change About Their Churches?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    \u201cDuring the meet and greet portion of the service, the pastor came over and introduced himself. I thought it was very considerate that he took the time to seek us out and talk with us.\u201d \u2013 church mystery guest<\/em><\/p>\n

    Church visitors don\u2019t need rock star pastors that drip with magnetic appeal\u2014just shepherds who are willing to be present and personable within the flock.<\/p>\n

    Impression #4: A Healthy Kids Ministry<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u201cLong gone are the days when parents dragged their kids to church,\u201d Smollen says. \u201cToday, parents want to go to a church where their kids also want to go. A healthy kids ministry is important to the survival of any church.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cOur children enjoyed the children\u2019s ministry. It would be worth returning just for that reason.\u201d \u2013 church mystery guest<\/em><\/p>\n

    Making kids ministry enjoyable doesn\u2019t mean watering down the message. Nor does it require a huge budget.<\/p>\n

    It does, however, require volunteers who are passionate about reaching kids with the gospel\u2014volunteers who are willing to relate to kids\u2019 interests and learning styles.<\/p>\n

    Lifeway Kids provides weekly ideas for developing and strengthening a children\u2019s ministry through the blog, KidsMinistry101.com and the Kids Ministry 101 podcast.<\/p>\n

    Impression #5: Authentic Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    When it comes to music and singing, church guests aren\u2019t drawn to a particular style as much as they\u2019re interested in authenticity, musical quality, and congregational engagement, says Smollen.<\/p>\n

    [epq-quote align=”align-right”]\u201cA lot of traditional churches will have the preconceived idea that if they don\u2019t have a contemporary service, it\u2019s a deal-breaker for guests. That\u2019s just not true.\u201d[\/epq-quote]\u201cThat\u2019s been one of the biggest surprises for me over the last decade,\u201d she says. \u201cA lot of traditional churches will have the preconceived idea that if they don\u2019t have a contemporary service, it\u2019s a deal-breaker for guests. That\u2019s just not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Instead, guests are looking for a worship experience that demonstrates a genuine intent to honor the Lord.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIn churches, I sometimes get the feeling the congregation just goes through the motions instead of approaching worship with an attitude that says, \u2018We were made for this, so let\u2019s worship God with all we\u2019ve got.\u2019\u201d \u2013 church mystery guest<\/em><\/p>\n

    \u201cIf a guest looks around during worship and sees a congregation not singing or glued to their phones, it makes that guest think they\u2019re at a concert,\u201d Smollen says. \u201cThat\u2019s not the point of worship.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Having authentic worship comes from setting a precedent from the stage that encourages congregational participation and helps the church understand the meaning behind worship.<\/p>\n

    Majoring on What\u2019s Most Impactful<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    It can be taxing for leaders to fret over every detail that might affect a guest\u2019s perception of a church service. But by doing the following, leaders can be assured they\u2019re hitting the highlights of running an efficient guest ministry:<\/p>\n

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    1. Creating a welcoming experience<\/li>\n
    2. Delivering a clear, relatable message<\/li>\n
    3. Presenting personable pastors<\/li>\n
    4. Offering a healthy kids ministry<\/li>\n
    5. Leading authentic worship<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Learn more about mystery visits and ascertain the health of your church guest program by visiting FaithPerceptions.com.<\/p>\n

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      Aaron Wilson<\/h2>\n

      @AaronBWilson26<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      Aaron is associate editor of LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n