Assimilation Training Church Development Team Office Kentucky Baptist Convention

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Assimilation Training Church Development Team
OfficeKentucky Baptist Convention
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When does assimilation begin?Who in the church
is responsible for assimilation?How does a
church develop an effective assimilation strategy?
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An effective assimilation strategy has five
components

• Places an importance on First Impressions
• Communicates high expectations about Church
  Membership
• Is intentional about building relationships with
  guests and new members
• Connects people to a small group (Sunday School
  Class).
• Mobilizes people to serve in a ministry that is a
  good fit.

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Essential Component 1Place a High Importance on
First Impressions
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FACT 1

• KBC churches cannot grow without visitors
  attending.
• One outcome of Find it Here will be guests
  attending our churches as a result of our praying
  and sowing efforts.
• FACT 2
• Your church cannot grow if your visitors dont
  come back. We may only get one chance to
  connect with guests when they attend out churches
  for the first time.

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THE QUESTION

• What first impressions are you communicating
  every Sunday to make sure your visitors return?

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• Most Churches consider themselves to be very
  friendly. The truth is they are, but usually to
  themselves. It is important for all Churches to
  do their best to make sure that every guest feels
  loved and welcomed.

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What places have you visited that made a good
first impression? What were the contributing
factors that helped communicate a good first
impression? What places have you visited that
left a poor first impression? What was absent
that made you not want to return?
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Where does a good first impression begin?Who is
responsible for making a good first impression?
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• First Impressions in the Bible
• Luke 151-2 Now the tax collectors and "sinners"
  were all gathering around to hear him. But the
  Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,
  "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
  Then Jesus told them this parable "Suppose one
  of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open
  country and go after the lost sheep until he
  finds it?

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• And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his
  shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his
  friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice
  with me I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you
  that in the same way there will be more rejoicing
  in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
  ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to
  repent.
•  

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• "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and
  loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the
  house and search carefully until she finds it?
  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and
  neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me I
  have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I
  tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of
  the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

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• Jesus left a good impression on sinners. They
  wanted to be in the presence of Jesus. Why?
• The Pharisees and teachers of the law left a bad
  impression on sinners. Sinners didnt want to be
  in the presence of the Pharisees. Why?
• What Christ-like qualities do we need to emulate
  in order to make a good first impression on
  people who visit our church? 
• What Pharisaical qualities do we need to avoid in
  order to make a good first impression on people
  who visit our church?

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Why Address the Issue of First Impressions?

• It is one of the top four contributing factors
  for healthy growing churches in Kentucky
• Because the entry point for most guests who
  connect with this church will be through and
  worship experience.
• The salvation of a soul could be influenced by
  it.
• We communicate our theology through first
  impressions.
• This issue is essential to a comprehensive and
  effective evangelism strategy.

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First Impressions The church web site

• Regarding appearance, is it clean, clear and
  uncluttered?
• Are colors and fonts visually pleasing?
•  Does the design highlight important
  information?
• Is the content well organized and easy to find?

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The content needs to address two key questions,
based on these two groups What do I need to
know to visit this church? (non-church
members) Contact information (address, phone,
email) Written directions and a map Service
times List of ministries Staff information,
including contact (email) Do you know Jesus
page What we believe page
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What do I need to help me feel connected to this
church (members)-Calendar (VERY important, must
be updated faithfully!)-Prayer request (be
careful this can turn into flame wars, or
TMI)-Bulletin boards-Blogs (great for staff,
ministry leaders)-Podcast, audio/video downloads
(very popular, can really be helpful for
prospects, too)
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First Impressions The Role of Parking Lot
Greeters

• Assimilation begins the moment a person drives on
  to your parking lot, not when they join the
  church.
• Guests tend to decide within 10 to 12 minutes if
  they will return.
• Parking Lot Greeters serve as a front line of
  hospitality and assistance.

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Parking Lot Greeters

• Assist drivers in finding appropriate parking.
• Answer initial questions of those arriving.
• Direct guests to appropriate entrances.
• Assist mothers, elderly or disabled to their
  destination.

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Door Greeters

• Be a second miler.
• Continue the good first impression made from the
  parking lot.
• Provide a helpful transition from the strange
  and unfamiliar to the pleasant and
  familiar.
• Set the tone for the worship service.
• Be sensitive to the needs of new people.
• Be caring and dependable.

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Section Captains

• Assigned to a section of pews in the church
  sanctuary.
• Arrive 15 minutes before the worship service
  starts.
• Approach and befriend guests when they arrive
  early for worship.
• Talk to guests about their life and interests.
• Introduce guests to others seated around them.
• Encourage them to fill out the guest information
  card and to drop by the information table on the
  way out.
• Remember their name. If they come back next
  Sunday, chances are they will sit in your section.

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The Guest and Information Center

• Place the center(s) in the natural traffic
  pattern for guests.
• Provide incentives to stop by.
• Insure the experience at the center reflects the
  welcoming comments made in the service.
• Capture information
• Engage them in meaningful dialogue

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The Guest and Information Center should have the
following resources available

• Brochures describing the church
• Church Newsletters
• Information on upcoming events
• Information on all ministries
• Information about Sunday School and Discipleship
  Classes
• Information on recreational opportunities
• Staff Information
• Church Campus Map
• Gifts (free coupons to a Wednesday night meal or
  a coffee mug)

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First Impressions Signs

• Signs communicate important messages to guests
  (both expressed and implied)
• The absence of signs also communicate something
  to guests.
• What signs are needed outside the church
  building?
• What signs are needed inside the church building?

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• First Impressions The Church
• Campus
• Have directional signs in parking areas and
  outside of buildings
• The grounds should be well landscaped
• The buildings should be clean, and well
  maintained
• The building should be inviting cosmetically

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First Impressions The Sunday School Class
Fellowship Leader/Greeter

• This persons role is to be intentional about
  welcoming newcomers in the class each week.
• They help newcomers connect with others in the
  class.
• They may invite the guest to sit with them in the
  worship service.
• They may invite the guest to lunch.
• They organize and implement periodic fellowship
  opportunities that foster relationships within
  the class.

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The Nursery

• The Nursery area must be
• clean, bright, cheerful,
• and secure.

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The Value of a Smile

• Holiday Inn interviewed 5,000 people to fill
  500 positions that were needed to open a new
  facility. When the hotel managers interviewed
  these candidates, they excluded anybody who
  smiled fewer than four times during the course of
  their interview. This standard was applied to
  every available job and to every prospective
  employee.
• How many of your church members would qualify
  for a job at Holiday Inn?

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Following Up and Following Through

• Herb Miller gives the following statistics for
  following up
• 85 of guests return if visited in 36 hours
• 60 of guests return if visited in 72 hours
• 15 of guests return if visited in 7 days.
• If the pastor makes the first visit instead of a
  lay person the percentage is cut in half.

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Essential 2 Communicating High Expectations
about what is involved in church membership
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High Expectations about church membership are
often communicated by

•  Sharing the basic beliefs of the church
•  Sharing the discipleship expectations by
  explaining your mission / purpose statement
•  Explaining why membership is important
•  Encouraging involvement in a ministry that
  matches spiritual giftedness
•  Explaining the importance of small group Bible
  Study Classes or Sunday School and encourage
  their involvement
•  Explaining why and how to support the church
  financially
• Explaining how to participate in the Great
  Commission and spread the Good News to friends
  and relatives

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Membership Class Formats

• Four consecutive weeks during the Sunday School
  hour
• Sunday afternoon meal with 2-3 hour class to
  follow.
• Consecutive Sunday Evenings
• Saturday Morning Breakfast 2-3 hours
• Consecutive Wednesday Nights

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Essential 3 Be intentional about building
relationships with guests and new members
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New Members and guests are asking

• Can I develop friends in this church?
• Where do I fit in?
• Am I needed?

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If a person cannot name at least six other
friends in the church in the first six months
they are likely to drop out.
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Ways to connect people relationally

• Sunday School class fellowships at least once a
  quarter
• Circle of four groups
• One on one encourager assigned to new converts
• Build a relational bridge using your interest or
  hobby
• Invite a guest to lunch

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Essential 4 Connect people to a small
group/Sunday School Class
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Who is responsible for connecting people to a
small group/Sunday School Class?

• Sunday School Teachers
• Ushers/Counters
• Sunday School Class Outreach Leader
• Church Outreach Leader
• G.R.O.W. teams
• Deacons
• Sunday School Director

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Best Practices for Connecting People to a Sunday
School Class

• Enroll guests in Sunday School.
• Assign every new member to a Sunday School class
  even before they begin attending.
• Have a Sunday School Teacher stand with the new
  convert/member on the day they come forward to
  profess their faith in Christ publicly.
• Share with seekers/new members the expectation
  that everyone is expected to be a part of a
  Sunday School class.

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Essential 5 Help people find their place of
ministry
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Churches need to identify entry level
ministries that new people can become involved in
almost immediately.
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Resources to help people find their place of
ministry

• S.H.A.P.E. by Erik Rees
• Jesus on Leadership
• PLACE Ministries
• Body Life Journey

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Steps in Helping People Find their place of
ministry

• Teach a Class/Preach a sermon series on Finding
  Your Place of Ministry
• Record Findings
• Conduct Interviews
• Place people in ministry

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