RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Yesterday, we had 36 first-time guests at one of our campuses.  We are pumped that these new families walked through the doors of our church.  

But now comes the challenging part. 

Follow up.  How do we follow up with them and get them to return for a second time?

Here are 10 steps you can take to see guests return to your church, get connected, and become faithful attendees.

#1 - Give them a great first impression.  This is where it begins. If you want to see guests return, then you have to give them a great first visit. 

If they don't have a great first experience, then it will be very hard to see them return.  Start by taking a hard look at what you are currently doing to give guests a great first experience.

You need a copy of my new book - Be Our Church Guest.  It is full of ideas and insight about how to give guests a great first impression. You can get here.

#2 - Write them a handwritten note.  In a day of electronic communication, a handwritten note is golden.  Make the note personal by mentioning something unique that you learned about their family.  An example would be a family who just moved into your city.  In the note, mention you are thankful that they arrived safely in your city.

#3 - Offer them a gift for returning.  For kids, you could offer them a children's ministry t-shirt on their second visit. 

#4 - Have one of your volunteers call the family and thank them for coming.  Often it means more when a volunteer calls instead of a staff member.

#5 - Pray for them.  Pray for all of your guests by name and ask God to work in their life.

#6 - If they came with a person or family that is already attending your church, then find out from that family how you can best follow-up with them.

#7 - Drop by their house.  Although I don't personally recommend doing this, it does work for some churches.  Briefly stop by their house, give them a gift for coming, and briefly ask if they have any questions you can help answer for them.

#8 - Get them connected to other people in your church.  Is there someone who lives near them that attends your church?  Is there someone who works in the same facility as they do?  Get them connected.

#9 - Send them a text message.  95% of text messages get read!  Drop them a short text message and thank them for coming.  They will read it!

#10 - With their permission, add them to your online newsletter, electronic communication channels Facebook group, etc. 

Your turn. What did I miss?  What are some other ways you contact and follow up with guests?  Share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.

When I am not traveling, I have the honor of volunteering in the children's ministry at my home church. 

Yesterday, while I was serving, we had a new family attend.  They had two children. I met them at the classroom door and shared 5 things with the parents. 

"Welcome!  We are so excited that you are here."

You're going to have so much fun with us!  

It's important to make new guests feel welcomed and special.

And always smile.  Your countenance sends a message.  No frowns allowed.  See your guests as a blessing and not as a burden or bother. 

I told the parents that their child would be in this same room the entire service.  This helps calm their nerves from being a first-time guest.  Don't assume that they know which room they will be picking up from.  It's a scary thing when a guest parent comes to pick up his or her children and they are in a different room.  Don't assume the parents know where to pick up their child - tell them. 

Safety and security.  I walked the parents through the safety and security plan we have in place.  No one will ever be alone with their child.  Every volunteer has been through a background check, personal interview, training, etc.

Safety and security is a huge deal for parents and rightly so.  If you want to reach guest families, you must have safety and security plans in place and communicate them to families.  Explain how you will contact them if their child needs them. Share the pick-up procedures.

I handed the parents the take home paper and explained that it contained a review of what we taught that day and questions, activities, etc. that they can use to follow up at home.

p.s. if you hand the parents the take home paper, it has a better chance of making it home and being used.

When they came to pick up their child, I personally thanked them for coming and being our guest.  Look them in the eye and from a sincere heart, let them know you were glad they attended.  Parents and children who are guests should receive the royal treatment.  

Remember this...people's perception of your ministry will be based on the last few interactions they have with you and your team.  It's just as, if not more, important that you have a great guest services team that thanks them for coming and greets them with a smile and handshake as they are leaving.