RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Looking for ways to not just meet, but exceed the expectations of the families who walk through the doors of your children's ministry?

Here's a simple way to add a "wow" factor that will have families singing your praises.

Occasionally surprise them by having treats for them as they are coming out of the worship service. 

It can be cookies, ice cream, hot chocolate, hot dogs, candy, lemonade, etc. 

Remember the feeling you get when you walk into a hotel or other place of business and you are pleasantly surprised by the freshly baked cookies they have waiting for you?  It sets them apart from other businesses and makes you want to return.  That's the same feeling families will get when you do this at church.

Disney is a great example of this.  They consistently find ways to "wow" their guests.  Recently, they celebrated the 60th anniversary of Disneyland.  They surprised all the guests in the park with cupcakes.

We surprised families this past weekend with ice cream coming out of our last service.  There were smiles everywhere.

"Wow" new families and they will be back.  The ability to provide "wow" factors is a key to seeing your ministry grow exponentially.

We all know how important it is to make new families feel welcome on their first visit.  But don't settle for just meeting their expectations.  Think about this.
How do you exceed guests' expectations?  One way is to make their day.  In other words, do something that is so far above and beyond what they would expect, that they never forget it.  Let me give you an example.

This past weekend, we met a new family.  As we were helping them get checked in, we began talking to the little girl.  She was precious.  4 years old.  We asked her what her favorite Christmas present was.  She answered with great articulation, "Chocolate!  I'm a chocolate girl!  I love chocolate!"  Her mom laughed with us about her enthusiasm for chocolate.

During service we went and got a giant chocolate, Hersey's candy bar (it was like a foot long).  When mom came to pick her up, the candy bar was handed to them with a handwritten note thanking them for coming.  They were blown away!

Think about the impact you can have if you do this for at least one family per week.  Try it...

• Be on the lookout for an opportunity.  It may come by overhearing a conversation in the hallway between two parents, asking a new child what their favorite candy or toy is or by talking with the family while you are checking them in.

• Totally surprise them.  When you make someone's day, it catches them by surprise.  The fact they didn't expect it, makes it memorable.

• Make it personal.  It needs to be something very specific that connects with something you just learned about them.  Giving the little girl a chocolate candy bar because she specifically mentioned it's her favorite is an example.  This may mean making a quick trip to the store during the service to grab something they mentioned.

• Make it no-strings-attached.  Don't make it conditional like "come back next week and we will give this to you."  Do it just to "make their day."  If you make their day, don't worry...they will be back.  

 Go ahead...make their day.