Week 6

Fusion: Turning first-time guests into fully-engaged members of your church by Nelson Searcy.

The author opens with a discussion on why having a clear plan in place to help the first time guest make the transition to a fully engaged member is so important. Like other authors, this author points out the reality of front and back doors into and out of the church adding that if the ratio of those staying is not higher than those leaving, the church community is declining. If declining, then he says the parish must evaluate why. The community must understand what about itself encourages some guests to stay and others to leave.

Some things the author admits are beyond the control of the community. However, according to the author, the most essential ingredient needed to foster the transition from guest to member if firmly in our grasp. At the core is a sense of intentional (and natural) hospitality from the time they first look at us to well after they have left the building. Why is such hospitality so critical? It is critical because society has changed. What people once expected of and from the church has changed. Also, because many in the world have little or no connection to a worshipping community and therefore only see the church through a secular point of view and the general consensus is that all the church cares about observance to difficult rules and their money.

Citing the journey of one particular family, people who accept an invitation to "Come and See' often do so reluctantly. Unless the community is able to overcome the preprogrammed vision of what that first encounter will be like, there will not be a second chance to do so again. "Creating an environment that makes First-time guests feel welcome and respected is key" to any program designed to help people develop a relationship with Christ and those in the community they encounter. This doesn't mean that the community hovers over them like a helicopter, but it does mean that guests are cared for and made to feel comfortable.

Like other authors, signage is the first step in offering a comfortable atmosphere. From the advertising, to the website, to the signs on the premises, not only must they truthfully reflect who we are, they must make it easy for the guest to find what they are looking for. For instance, if we say that we are friendly, and the guest walks through our door unnoticed, wanders through the place feeling lost, than our signage is not truthful. One sign often overlooked, according to the author, is the church grounds. When either the outside or inside is in disrepair, and we say we are a thriving community, there is another disconnect between signage and experience. Also, when someone walks through the doors, and they are nervous, they often seek to mask their nervousness by looking for the restroom. When signage does not help them overcome their initial nervousness, or a very real biological need, they must ask. Again, another disconnect.

Throughout this book, the author lays out a plan that lets guests know they are welcome, valued, and seen as a gift from God, not a number on an attendance record or a wallet to empty for the benefit of something the community values, but to which the guest has little if any knowledge of. Much of what the author suggests resonates with other authors on our sabbatical reading list. One area the author spent a lot of time explaining, was the importance of getting contact information. His use of a communication card has merit, and with teaching could easily replace the standard guest book used by so Episcopal churches. The reason this information is so critical, is that the success of any ministry designed to help people transition from first-time guest to that of a fully participating member, requires some degree of follow-up. It is impossible to follow-up if there is no knowledge of who they are or how to reach them.

The follow-up model highlighted is not unique, we do some of what is discussed already. What is important to the author is that it be intentional and grace filled. Pointing out that people who visit fear being placed on a mass mailing list or hounded by well meaning parishioners, any follow-up must be inviting, not intrusive, and it must be personable. In churches our size, the pastor and one or two volunteers could easily manage the program he lays out, but as the congregation grows, a larger group would definitely be needed.

According to the author, the only way to know for sure that any program is successful, is not that more people are sitting in the pew, but that more people have made a commitment to the community. While service (involvement) is an outward sign of such commitment, service can be used to hide the fear of commitment too. One can serve without committing oneself beyond the service being done. This is why a membership class becomes a vital tool in helping people make the transition from guest to member. I have long thought about developing such a class, and the model the author offers is a good starting point to do so.

Overall a good book filled with inspiring insights and well worth reading and studying.

Next week's book:

Lasting Impressions by Mark Waltz