7 Secrets of Effective Inviters

by Reba Collins

Easter is over and you’re catching your breath, but it’s now nearly past time to consider what’s next for your Easter visitors! How do you build the relationship beyond the warm glow of the Easter honeymoon? You’re sure you want them coming back, and you’d really like them to either join or be regular attenders. But realistically, you can’t expect one spectacular Sunday experience to lead to a full-on commitment. People just don’t work that way.

Churches that have a great track record for welcoming visitors, and for engaging them in their church communities, are intentional and strategic. They have a system for making new disciples at a rapid rate. They have a plan for serving their communities in new and exciting ways. And they are crystal clear about the next step for new people. They are “Effective Inviters.”

The key difference in their success is that these churches seriously focus on making that “next step” easy and obvious, and they’ve created effective ways for people to “find something.” Effective Inviters offer relationships, environments, and communications that are attractive, engaging, accessible, and helpful to guests and visitors.

Here are a few of the ways I’ve found that a church effectively introduces newcomers to new experiences in their community. Effective Inviters:

1.        Move people to appropriate space naturally.

Greeters are strategically placed to move people from place to place for every occasion. An outside door greeter says, “Welcome.” Inside greeters say, “We’re expecting new people here.” Paths are clearly laid out and signs provide clear and easy directions. Effective Inviters know it’s hard to invite someone into a new space if they can’t find it easily.

2.      Introduce experiences.

Effective inviters introduce themselves to guests. Anyone leading a part of worship introduces him/herself and explains what guests will be experiencing next. Really good introductions explain the meaning/significance of the upcoming experience. Effective Inviters verbally introduce transition points in the service. They invite people to engage in the next experience of singing, praying, serving, or joining a group.

3.      Invite guests to connect with a person outside the worship experience.

Opportunities to validate the corporate worship experience are offered outside worship at the Welcome Center, during a visitors’ “meet the pastor” time (10 minute hook-up), or at a monthly/weekly get-to-know-us meeting (30 minutes max). Visitors want to validate their connections made in the worship experience with a human connection somewhere else. In other words, they want to know: Is what I experienced and learned for real with the people who attend here? Effective Inviters don’t wait for guests to return next week. They are invited from the pulpit to ask questions and check out the church using a specific connection point following worship.

4.      Provide extended connection opportunities.

Effective Inviters give freely. Free worship CDs, Bibles, etc., are available to take home at specific connection points. It’s not just about Sunday, but about continuing connections throughout the week. Active connections are offered through invitations to groups and ministry work. Most offer weekly “next step” opportunities for anyone new to the church. Others invite participation in ministries whether they come regularly or not. Communication intentionally removes “in the club” barriers. There is always “the next invitation” to engage in relationship outside worship services.

5.      Offer engaging Welcome Centers.

Engaging Welcome Centers offer guests a connection without strings attached. Guests want an opportunity to check out what the church has to offer on their own time and in their own way. Engaging Welcome Centers offer several essential resources beyond serving as another connection point:

·         A greeter with a faith story. Greeters who have found something at this church make a profound impact. I’ve met people who’ve found a place where they can learn the Bible, a place where Grace was abundant, a place where a lesbian couple found acceptance, a place where God was felt. At the same time, greeters must be willing to share their stories, but not demand the guest share too much of theirs in return.

·         Materials explaining why the church worships and ministers the way it does. In other words, communication pieces let guests know why they should invest their spiritual lives at this church. Any materials made available are consistent with the church’s mission and culture. The greeter’s conversation about the church illustrates whether the church is accomplishing its mission or not.

 6.      Explain how a church helps others.

An Effective Inviter knows where its heart lies for people and invites those people to be cared for and helped. Effective Inviters clearly communicate whom they care about and how they care for them – whether they are people looking for help with life issues, answers to spiritual/faith questions, or a connection to a higher purpose.

7.       Offer dedicated space for guests.

Welcome Centers are not a place for regular attenders to gather, get information, or sign up for events. Welcome Centers are for guests. Ministry isn’t just for regular attenders either. Effective Inviters intentionally make ministry an open space for new people. Announcements always welcome guests first, and then invite them to safe spaces to explore the church community next.

Inviting effectively is an on-going need at all churches – large and small, young and old, denominational and non-denominational. Keep Easter from becoming a one and done event for your guests. When you prepare for this first Sunday after Easter, do so as a visitor. Where do I go to learn more? What do I want to know more about? Is that experience safe for someone like me? How can I find a place to belong beyond worship? Look and listen around your church on Sunday and see where you can become a more Effective Inviter in practice.