ONE DAY SEMINAR

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How to Assimilate Newcomers Into Your Church
ONE DAY SEMINAR
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New Members Older
Members
Whats the Difference?
SESSION THREE
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The First Year
High
The typical drop-out pattern in the first year
Drop-out Rate
Low
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
Months
4
The First Year
High
The typical drop-out pattern in the first year
Drop-out Rate
Low
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
Months
5
The First Year

• 2. When a person drops out immediately after
  joining, the problem is usually with the
  evangelistic process.

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The First Year
High
The typical drop-out pattern in the first year
Drop-out Rate
Low
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
Months
7
The First Year
Information Transmission
Manipulative Monologue
Non-Manip. Dialogue
Teacher
Salesperson
Friend
PROCLAIMER
Student
Customer
Friend
SUBJECT
Impersonal
Confrontation
Relational
STYLE
Information
Decision
Disciple
EMPHASIS
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The First Year
Information Transmission
Manipulative Monologue
Non-Manip. Dialogue
Teacher
Salesperson
Friend
PROCLAIMER
Student
Customer
Friend
SUBJECT
Impersonal
Confrontation
Relational
STYLE
Information
Decision
Disciple
EMPHASIS
The highest drop-out rate!
9
The First Year
Information Transmission
Manipulative Monologue
Non-Manip. Dialogue
Teacher
Salesperson
Friend
PROCLAIMER
Student
Customer
Friend
SUBJECT
Impersonal
Confrontation
Relational
STYLE
Information
Decision
Disciple
EMPHASIS
The highest retention rate!
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The First Year
High
The typical drop-out pattern in the first year
Drop-out Rate
Low
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
Months
11
The First Year
First Six Months
Second Six Months

• 1. Can I make friends in this church?
• 2. Can I fit in, in this church?
• 3. Does this church want me?

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The First Year
High
The typical drop-out pattern in the first year
Drop-out Rate
Low
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
Months
13
The First Year
First Six Months
Second Six Months

• 1. Can I make friends in this church?
• 2. Can I fit in, in this church?
• 3. Does this church want me?

• 1. Are my new friends as good as my old ones?
• 2. Does the group meet my needs?
• 3. Is my contribution important?

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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
1. are members today because of a need being met
in their life.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
1. are members today because of a need being met
in their life.
1. are members today because of relationships
with those in the church.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
1. are members today because of a need being met
in their life. 2. tend to be enthusiastic about
the present congregation.
1. are members today because of relationships
with those in the church.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
1. are members today because of a need being met
in their life. 2. tend to be enthusiastic about
the present congregation.
1. are members today because of relationships
with those in the church. 2. have had one or
more disillusioning experiences.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
1. are members today because of a need being met
in their life. 2. tend to be enthusiastic about
the present congregation. 3. feel like outsiders
with little sense of belonging.
1. are members today because of relationships
with those in the church. 2. have had one or
more disillusioning experiences.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
1. are members today because of a need being met
in their life. 2. tend to be enthusiastic about
the present congregation. 3. feel like outsiders
with little sense of belonging.
1. are members today because of relationships
with those in the church. 2. have had one or
more disillusioning experiences. 3. feel they
have earned their sense of belonging.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are usually future-oriented.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented.
4. are usually future-oriented.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented.
4. are usually future-oriented. 5. are more open
to change in the church.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented. 5. are often
concerned with perpetuating status quo.
4. are usually future-oriented. 5. are more open
to change in the church.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented. 5. are often
concerned with perpetuating status quo.
4. are usually future-oriented. 5. are more open
to change in the church. 6. have strong positive
feelings toward present minister.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented. 5. are often
concerned with perpetuating status quo. 6. I
remember Pastor Jones ...
4. are usually future-oriented. 5. are more open
to change in the church. 6. have strong positive
feelings toward present minister.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented. 5. are often
concerned with perpetuating status quo. 6. I
remember Pastor Jones ...
4. are usually future-oriented. 5. are more open
to change in the church. 6. have strong positive
feelings toward present minister. 7. are not
attached to the present building.
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New Members and Older Members Whats the
Difference?
New Members
Older Members
4. are often past-oriented. 5. are often
concerned with perpetuating status quo. 6. I
remember Pastor Jones ... 7. often see the
building as a sacred place.
4. are usually future-oriented. 5. are more open
to change in the church. 6. have strong positive
feelings toward present minister. 7. are not
attached to the present building.
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So, What Do These Differences Mean To Us?

• 1. New members will be seen as either assets or
  as liabilities.
• 2. New members provide the greatest pool for
  volunteers.
• 3. New members should be well-represented in
  policy-making positions.
• 4. New members make an important contribution to
  the evangelism committee.
• 5. New members are excellent for starting new
  groups and classes.

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