4 Tips for Excellence in Ministry

If you had to have brain surgery would you seek out the doctor who is known for being the best or would you be satisfied with a surgeon who was just mediocre?  I think we would choose excellence over mediocrity every time. I may not be the smartest guy but if someone is going to be operating on what little mind I have, I want it to be the best!  When it comes to being a pastor, just like doctors, there are some who just go through the motions and there are others who are driven to excel. Part of Wesleyan theology speaks of "going onto perfection" - what I hear there is striving for excellence. So here are 4 tips for striving for excellence in ministry.

1. Focus on doing less so that you can do more well.  There are a lot of things people expect from a pastor and, quite frankly, if you look at all the stuff we're supposed to do it seems pretty overwhelming: Hospital visits, home visits, counseling, Bible studies, youth groups, meetings, worship planning, preaching, conflict management, strategic planning, custodial responsibilities, and on and on.  We can't possibly do it all and do it well.  So play to your strengths. Delegate to others what you don't do well (this is a great opportunity to invest in and train up the laity).  Great leaders don't do everything.  Rather, they surround themselves with a team of people who can do what they can't do and what they can do even better.  What can you let go of so that you can do a few things even better?  Can someone with a gift for teaching lead confirmation?  Can a team of people do hospital and home visits?  Can you eliminate some meetings that aren't necessary?  You're probably not going to be able to let go of a few things like preaching and visioning.  So if they aren't your strengths your going to have to work to get better.  That leads to number 2.

2. Be a life-long learner.  Don't be satisfied with being mediocre.  Pursue opportunities to improve. Play to your strengths again.  What is it that you do well and keep evaluating how you can do it better.  If something is in your wheelhouse that you can't let go off and it's not your strength then work at turning it into one.  You can learn to be a better preacher.  You can learn to be a better vision caster.  Read books, go to seminars, listen to podcasts, ask for advice but don't just sit there.  Keep asking the question, "How can I do this better?  How can I improve?"

3. Offer your best all the time.  Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for people."  God deserves our very best.   Here's the question I invite you to ask about every aspect of your ministry;  "What would this look like if I did this with excellence?"  How would your preaching be different if every time you preached you did it with excellence?  How would worship be different if you did it with excellence every time?   How would your web page look if it was done with excellence?  How would your ministry be different if you expected excellence from others?  God deserves our very best.  The people who come to the church on a Sunday, whether they are churched our unchurched, deserve our very best.  How can you offer your best all the time?

4. Live in God's grace.  Remember you're not perfect but that God loves you even when you mess up.  It happens.  We may want to give our best but sometimes the worst happens.  That's life.  Don't beat yourself up when you fail.  Don't let your mistakes get in the way of becoming a better you. Remind yourself that no one is perfect, that you are loved by God, you are a child of the Most High God, and then get up and keep moving forward. Your best days aren't behind you - they are in front of you!

Together in Ministry,

Kevin

6 Tips for Turning First Time Guests into Regular Attendees

Every first time guest that walks through the doors of your church matters to God.  I'm of the opinion that somehow, someway, God brought them through those doors to your church and now it's up to you to help them stick.  It's a stewardship issue.  God sends us people and we have to faithfully and effectively follow up with them so that they become part of the Body of Christ.  Research shows that most churches are keeping 1 out of 20 first time guests.  That means 1 out of 20 people come back a second time.  My retention goal has always being much higher than that.  I aim for 50% of people to come back a second time and between 10-20% to become regular attenders.  So let's talk about how to keep the people God sends your way.
 
Turning first time guests into regular attenders involves everything from hospitality to excellence in preaching.  It's the whole experience that matters.  It starts with outreach in the community and then hospitality from the street to the seat, and then a strong follow up plan.  So here's some tips on getting guest information and doing follow-up.

1.  Never make guests stand in worship and identify themselves.  Never.  Guests don't want attention drawn to themselves.  Making them stand is a sure fire way to insure they won't come back,

2. Use an Information Card to get their info.  Get rid of those United Methodist Ritual of Friendship pads that you pass through the pews.  There isn't even enough room to write one's name on it!  Create a professional looking Information Card that is placed in the bulletin with extras in the chair/pew pockets.  Make it simple.  Simple is better.  People today are cautious about giving out their contact information because they're not sure how it will get used. They are afraid if they leave an email you will send them daily emails.  If they leave their phone number they are afraid you will hound them.  If they give you everything, who is to stay you won't sell it to a vendor?

Here's what you need on the card:  Name, Email, Phone.  Done.  No more.  No boxes to check about baptism, membership, change of address, commitments, etc.  Keep it simple.  Make sure there is enough room on the card to write in each item.

3.  Create a time to fill out the card and ask everyone to do it.  Often times we ask for the data but don't give people time to fill it out.  Take a minute and ask everyone to pull out their card and complete it.  As they complete it talk about what to do with it.  Will they place it in the offering or put in a box when they leave?

4. Give a gift to first time guests.  You don't need to ask them to check a box that says "first time guest" because when you input the data into the computer you will see they aren't in the computer yet making this their first time!  What you can do though is thank them for coming.  You can say, "If this is your first time here we are so honored and thankful that you are here.  After worship when you leave if you hand me your info card or give it to the person at the Info center we'll give you one of these nice coffee mugs!"  Hold up a mug to show everyone.  At the info center or where you stand to shake hands have cups available with a professional brochure about the church, your business card, some candy, a pen,  movie tickets, etc. in the cup.  When you get a first time guest card, give a cup.

5. Enter and track attendance.  The data you get doesn't mean anything unless you track it.  If a person is a first time guest, follow-up.  If a second time guest, follow up.  If a third time guest, follow-up.  If a regular attender has missed worship for a few weeks, follow-up.  You can also use this data to track your retention rate.  If you get a lot of people checking you out but they don't come back a second time what does that teach you?  Is the hospitality not working?  Is the service dead?  Is the preaching boring? Is the nursery unsafe?  Is the music not top notch?  What needs to change?

6. Follow-Up!  For first time guests send an email thanking them for coming to worship.  Do this within 36 hours.  In the email you can ask them if they want more information about the church and if so, could they please share their address. You can even place a link in the email to your website where they can leave information such as:  What did you notice first?  What did you like the best? What was your overall impression? Would you like more information about our church?  How can we pray for you?  If they ask for more information, send it promptly.  There's a bit of debate on whether you should call them.  It's up to you.  If you call, do it on Thursday because you can invite them back on Sunday.  Call them on the phone and say, "I'm Pastor ...... from ....Church and I just want to thank you for coming to worship last Sunday.  It was a huge honor to have you here.  I simply want see if you have an questions or comments about your experience here....Again thanks for coming and I hope to see you Sunday."  Phone calls may work in smaller churches where people are looking for more personal contact.

For second time guests, send another email thanking them for attending.  Since they came back a second time they are probably interested in you.  If you don't have their address ask in the email if you can send them some information about the church - ask for their address.  You can even provide a link to the webpage where you can learn more about them by asking questions like what influenced you to return?  Would you invite a friend?  Would you like more information about small groups, service opportunities, children ministries, etc?  Be prompt in sending out information they request.

For third time guests, send an email and invite them to a "coffee with the pastor".  In smaller churches you may actually meet them for coffee or lunch.  At this time explain how to get connected. If people don't connect to the church in a meaningful way through small groups and service the likelihood that they will stop coming increases.  The goal is that each follow up drives them to get more connected to the church.

Every new person that walks through your doors is a potential member of the Body of Christ - your church.  What are you doing to help turn first time guests into regular attendees?

Together in Ministry,

Kevin

If you are looking for more information on turning first time guests into regular attenders read Retention 101: A Practical Guide for Keeping More People, by Brian Davis; and Fusion:Turning First Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church,by Nelson Searcy.

Creating a Culture of Hospitality

Imagine walking into your church for the first time. You wonder, "Will the people accept people? Will they be friendly?  Will I know what to do? Will I fit in?"  As you arrive in the parking lot you see multiple entrances to the building.  "Which do I use?" you wonder to yourself.  Once inside you have a child who needs to go to the bathroom but you don't know where it is.  You look around with a perplexed "I'm new here" face but no one engages you.  After searching the building and finding a restroom you find your way to worship where you sit and watch others mingle but no one approaches you.  Would you go back?

Hospitality is critical to producing return guests.  Research shows the a guest will decide within the first 7 minutes of contact with your church whehter or not they will return.  So, let's talk about some tips for improving hospitality to keep them coming back a second time..

1. Consider hiring a mystery worshipper.  This a person who, preferably, has no church experience. Pay them to come to your church and evaluate finding the location, signage, friendliness, cleanliness of restroom and nursery, Following along in the service (was it all insider language?), etc. Then have them write a report on their experience and share it with your leadership team.

2. Grow your Greeter Ministry.  Consider parking lot greeters to welcome people and direct to the front door.  Have greeters at all entrances and train them to smile and welcome everyone.  Have "intentional rovers".  These are people inside the church that are looking for guests who look confused or simply to introduce themselves to guests.

3. Make sure your web page is for "outsiders".  Make worship times easy to find on the front page and make sure they are updated to reflect current worship times!  Give directions to your church. Make sermons available online so people can hear before they arrive.  Share information about Sunday School, how to dress, small groups, childcare, etc.

4. Create an information desk.  In your lobby area set up a nice info desk area with pamphlets and brochures of events and activities of your church.  Post a person there to answer questions.

5. Pastors, go out of your way to meet and greet new faces remembering their names so that next time they return you can call them by name.

6. Introduce yourself from the front.  Not everyone knows who you are so introduce yourself each Sunday.  "Hi, my name ......., and I'm the lead pastor at ......."

7. Welcome guests  each Sunday from the front.   After introducing yourself thank people who are there for the first time.  "If you are new among us today, thank you for choosing to worship with us. We are honored you are here." NEVER make new people stand or introduce themselves!

8.  Have excellent visible  signage.  Make sure nice looking signs point the direction to classrooms, the sanctuary, restrooms, and especially the nursery.

9. Teach your congregation to greet people.  Literally, from the pulpit, tell them how important it is to guests to feel wanted and a sense of belonging when they come to a church.  Then encourage them to step out of their comfort zone for the sake of the kingdom..  Here are some tips:

"The Hand-off"  - when a new family or person is met don't just goodbye.  Hand them off to someone who is similar to their age and family situation.

"The Table Invite" - Teach your congregation to invite to their fellowship table anyone who is sitting alone.

"The Outsider First" - Make it a habit to look for new people before talking to your friends before church, during fellowship, and after worship.  Then you can bring them to your friends and enlarge your circle of friends.   You still get to talk to your friends but you are seeking the outside first.

Click here for  a link to a Hospitality Audit and Mystery Guest Audit Worksheet.

So what other ideas  do you have to share that can get our churches more welcoming so that they produce follow up visits and eventually a permanent bond?