This is the first installment of the series: The Top 7 Ways to Connect Visitors to Your Church

1. Take Responsibility for Visitor Connection

The fundamental question that must be answered before building a visitor connection process is "Who's job is it to connect visitors to your church?"  Historically, the burden has fallen to the visitor to connect themselves.  This sounds silly, but most churches respond to a first visit with a letter, postcard or even gifts.  Then they wait for the visitor to return so that they can respond again.  This puts the next move squarely on the shoulders of the visitor.   I believe that pastors and staff must take responsibility for visitors as an issue of stewardship.  A new visitor, or even an entire family,  represents a gift with which God has entrusted to you and your church. This should not be taken lightly.  When I work with pastors who are struggling to determine an effective connecting process, I ask this question: 

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What actions would constitute faithful stewardship of the
gift (the visitor) that God gave you?

The answer to this question should become your connection process. 

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It is fine to acknowledge a second or third visit if they let you know by filling out your welcome card or signing your book again.  In fact, you had better respond.  The problem is that this is NOT a connection process!  It is just a reaction to what happened.  We all know by now that any visitor who attends three times is highly likely to join a church.  But what do you do that increases the chance of that actually happening?  A connection process where the church has accepted the responsibility of connecting visitors to them will involve proactive contacts that encourage involvement regardless of whether or not a visitor returns right away.  In addition, the quality of the contacts will be  higher than a standard form letter or e-mail.  Perhaps a phone call rather than a letter.  It could even involve a Facebook or texting conversation.  The best method must be determined by the situation at hand and what action would have the highest chance of making the visitor feel welcome and accepted.  People respond to a genuine interest in their lives.  They will spot an obligatory phone call a mile away! 

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Next: 2. Focus on Households

There has been quite a bit of interest in my recent post on the top 7 ways to close the back door of the church.  I have been asked quite a few times to write a top 7 list for visitor connection.  The only problem is that it is turning out far too long for a single post.  So, I have decided to write it in a series of posts over then next couple of weeks.  In the interest of laying out the road map, I will go ahead and share the list as it stands now.  I do, however, reserve the right to change it as I write!

1. Take Responsibility For Connection
   
2. Focus On Households
   
3. Refine Your Current Process of REACTIVE Actions
   
4. Create Process of Strategic PROACTIVE Actions
   
5. Recruit and Build an All-Star Connection Team
   
6. Measure the Performance of Your Process (and adjust)
   
7. Measure the Results (and adjust)

My hope is that the list will prove useful to church leaders who want to do a better job of connecting visitors to their church.  I value comments and welcome contribution, so let me hear from you!  First up, Take Responsibility for Visitor Connection.