We’ve all been there, we’re new, we don’t know what to expect and we walk into a place for the first time. What happens in those next few minutes will determine if we ever come back. The same is true for a church. Your First Impression is the greatest impression you can ever make for a newcomer. Here are 5 easy ways to make a great first impression.
1. Have trained friendly greeters at the front door. Many churches don’t have anyone stationed and the entrance door, instead, they station them at the entrance to the auditorium. Greeters who are friendly, welcoming and trained should be the very first people that greet you as you come in to the church. Train them to identify and connect with newcomers; what to watch for, what to say, how to connect them to other people. Your greeter team is the message before the message and, if they are welcoming, friendly and inviting, the more receptive people will be to your message.
2. Welcome newcomers directly every single Sunday. At least twice during the service, you should address newcomers directly and let them know that they are welcome and that you are glad that they have joined you. It doesn’t matter if there are newcomers there or not. Just say, “if you’re new with us this morning, welcome, we are so glad that you have joined us”. People who are new to your church don’t really know if it’s ok for them to be there. Set their mind at ease by letting them know that they are welcomed and appreciated.
3. Get information and follow up. This can be a little tricky but find ways for a newcomer to easily identify themselves and give you information. It may be through a text or physical / digital connect card. You may have a designated place in your lobby where people can go and get some coffee or snacks. You may have a gift or a gift card that you give out. Whatever you choose to do, make this a priority. Talk about it in your service at least twice. Make it easy and obvious for someone to say, “I’m new”. Then, follow up with that person within 24 hours; an email or text saying, “thank you so much for joining us this Sunday it was great to see you” with an invite to a next step to connect.
4. Invite them to something. The message a newcomer needs to hear is not “come back next week” but “join us at a special day just for you”. Invite them for lunch or to a newcomer get-together in a few weeks. Invite them to something that will intentionally connect them with more people. People may come once or twice for the service, but they’ll stay because they’ve made friends. Connecting people to people is a key ingredient in making a great first impression.
5. Get a team of undercover greeters. You’ve got ushers and greeters, that’s great. Now what you need is a team of people who are tasked with connecting with newcomers. They may not have a name tag, but they are definitely filling a role. Their job is to sit with newcomers, invite them for lunch (if possible) and stay in contact with them during the next few weeks (if possible). You can also have a team of undercover youth / young adult greeters that do the same thing. It’s a matter of looking for people we don’t know and going up to them and starting a conversation.
First Impressions may be the single most important key in seeing your church grow. The average church gets about 50% of its weekly attendance in visitors throughout the year (e.g.; for a church of 100, they get about 50 visitors in 12 months.) Imagine if you saw just 15% of those visitors become part of your church family in this coming year. It all boils down to this, what first impression are you making on the newcomer in your church?
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.