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What’s Up:
Bringing people through the front door is easy (well, relatively!). Keeping your guests? That’s the real issue you need to wrestle with.
So What:
The average church loses 85 out of every 100 first-time guests. That’s not a leak … that’s a flood. And it’s killing your church’s future.
The Point Is:
Warmth Isn’t the Same as Welcome
A greeter saying, “Good morning!” isn’t going to cut it. Visitors need red carpet, not Walmart door duty. Conversations matter. Personal engagement matters more.
Relevance Rules the Room
If your sermon doesn’t speak to the real-world crises people are facing like money, marriage, meaning, and more, then they’ll find answers elsewhere.
Follow-Up Can’t Wait
Waiting until someone visits twice or three times before reaching out is church malpractice. Five personal touches in one week is the baseline. Anything less is lazy.
Stop Treating Members Like Customers
Your members aren’t the target audience, they’re the staff. Jesus called them slaves. Paul called them servants (he was nicer!). The customer is the one who hasn’t come yet.
And … ?
Most churches I work with want more guests but are shockingly unprepared for them. It’s like baiting a hook with prime steak and then forgetting to bring a net. A solid connect strategy ensures guests don’t just visit … they return, engage, and grow.
The research is clear: 15% retention is standard. For plateaued or declining churches, that drops to a miserable 6%. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Churches in the Growing Church Network are regularly hitting 50% and higher, with 75–82% not just returning, but becoming active participants. How? They plan for connection.
If your goal is to make disciples (which, let’s be clear, is the only goal worth having), then connecting with your guests is the first critical step. And THAT takes intentionality. Plan the welcome. Preach to real needs. Follow up fast and often. Don’t pray for visitors and then treat them like interruptions when they show up.
Action!
Tired of losing 85% of your visitors? Get serious about connection. Learn more about being a part of the Growing Church Network here.
