Winning Moves to Connect with Guests
One of my favorite games to play with my grandsons is Connect 4. I love it because every time we play, they win! Well, I realized when preparing for a recent trivia game, that if you go first in Connect 4, you have a strong chance of winning 100% of the time. I always love to see the look on their faces when they beat me!
Well, let me give you 4 winning moves you can make you and your church a 100% winner this summer to connect with your guests.
Move #1: Move toward getting the right information
For any type of follow-up to be effective, it is crucial to get the right information on your forms. I have found that asking guests to complete an online form is your best option because you can make the fields required and you don’t have to contend with bad handwriting. The only caution here is to make sure you only ask for vital information and keep your form brief.
Move #2: Move toward building relationships right away
Guests return not because of what we do, but because of how we make them feel. It is vital that you begin building a strong relational connection so that you can get beyond their contact information. Your guests are looking to make friends and when we take the time to interact with them, get to know them and take interest in their lives, this is a sure path to ensuring that they will come back to your church.
Move #3: Move toward another event right away
Follow up events outside of church are great ways to connect with families who have visited your church or come to an event that you hosted. Always have another event scheduled so that you have another invitation to extend to your guests. Some people won’t automatically want to come to church but they may be open to another event for their family. At these events, you can continue building the relationship and keep introducing them to others so that they feel included and welcomed.
Move #4: Move toward connecting your guests with other people
No matter the size of your church, people need community. We are reminded in Hebrews 10:24-25 how important and challenging community can be: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." As you build relationships with your guests, find ways to connect them with others who have similar interests (kids in the same school, sports teams, etc.). More connections will produce other opportunities for them to make friends themselves.
Remember to give people stepping stones and they can take steps. Whatever your context is, your first timers need a baby step or two. Think low-commitment and non-intimidating! But make moves that are strategic and winning.
What’s your move?
Sandy Coelho serves as Lay Leadership Development Coordinator at the Baptist Churches of New England.
