Visitor Follow-up Strategy
Plan a series of steps that your congregation can follow with each first-time guest, progressing from their first visit through the third month of their participation.
BEST SUITED FOR: Any Size Congregation
WHAT'S INVOLVED?
Preparation:
 | Develop a brochure or information packet which can be handed to first time visitors as they arrive. |
| Choose a method for receiving names and addresses of these visitors. A registration card in the information packet (with a little encouragement most visitors will fill these out) or a pew register which everyone signs are probably the most effective methods. |
| Train a group of your members to be "Thank You Visitors" who make brief visits to the homes of the first-time visitors. |
| Recruit and train a group of your members who are willing to occasionally host newcomers. |
Steps:
| On first visit: The greeters, ushers, and pastor give your visitors a warm welcome and informational literature; as much as possible, they also obtain their name and address. |
| After first visit: Thank You Visitors make a brief visit within 48 hours to the home of first-time visitors, giving them a thank you (for coming), a small gift (such as an inspirational booklet or a food item made by persons of the congregation), and an invitation to return. (When the visitors are from outside your ministry area or are clearly committed to another church, you should not include them in these follow-up steps, except the pastor's letter below.) |
| Also after first visit: The pastor sends a brief letter of appreciation and invitation. |
| On 2nd and 3rd visit: Thank You Visitors and pastor greet the newcomers at church (no longer visitors!) by name and introduce them to several others. |
| After 4th visit: Pastor visits the home of the newcomers to encourage their continued participation. Giving them a copy of the church directory, arranging for them to have a church mailbox, and placing a welcome announcement in the bulletin or newsletter are all helpful ways to indicate your desire for them to feel like they belong. |
| During 2nd month: Two or three hosts invite the newcomers into their home or to a restaurant for a shared meal. |
| After 8th week: Coordinator of caregivers and/or home group leaders contacts the newcomers to explain the congregation's caregiving network and to offer to assist them to become involved. (For those who are not ready to make a commitment to a home group, it's an advantage to have a network which also offers an option whereby persons can receive support and care without the commitment of regular meetings.) |
DO'S AND DON'TS
| DO......remember that the responses to your follow-up will vary, especially between transferees and unchurched persons. Unchurched persons may want to move through the steps more slowly. |
| DO......train your hosts to keep the food simple and to major on caring for people. |
| DON'T......call ahead before making the follow-up visits; rather, train your Thank You Visitors to go to the homes at convenient times and to limit their visits to no longer than fifteen minutes. |
| DON'T......use these follow-up visits for extensive fellowship or evangelistic discussions, unless there is a very clear opening presented by the person you are visiting. The purpose is to express appreciation for their first visit to the congregation and to encourage them to come a second time. |
RESOURCES NEEDED
| A person with good organizational skills to coordinate the various volunteers of this ministry. |
| Persons with a real desire to welcome others to Christ and the church. |
| Printed materials such as brochures, information packets, registration cards, and/or pew pads. |
| Small gifts of appreciation, such as inspirational booklets or food items made by persons of the congregation. |
COST
| Although it will vary somewhat, depending on the amount of printing and the type of gifts you choose, it will be relatively small. |
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