Tips To Keep Guests Coming Back especially after Easter

Jesus was never known for making people comfortable but He was really good at holding on to people as long as He can enough to give them enough of God.  Every pastor desires to have that happen to their guests.  Come back once more so they can hear enough of the gospel and just a little longer to be with God's people - the odds are your guests will understand the grace of God more than before.

After reading Caroline Cooper's 7 Tips To Keep Guests Coming Back, it dawned on me that we are not much different from hotel owners. Hotels live by an oath, "We want to see you back." I sure hope we have the same heart.  Here are some similarities worth thinking about.

1.      Ask for feedback.  "If what you have provided fails to meet expectations, wouldn’t you rather know about it before the guest leaves?" writes Cooper.  A friend of mine who is a renowned international speaker asks this question before he leaves any site, "Was there anything that i said that helped?"  "Was there anything i could have covered more?"  I admire his openness.  We can certainly learn a lot when we ask those that visit us.  Sometimes,  feedback forms can be too little - too late.

2.      Talk to your guests throughout their stay.  It’s ironic that guests don’t want to be identified or called out in a large crowd but they want to know that their presence is valued.  How do you make sure you meet both expectations?  You and your church need to talk to your guests.  Maybe not called out - just talked to. Don't catch them being by themselves.  I'm sure you've heard this before, "I went to this church and no one even said hi to me.” Don't rush a conversation! Value each person, and never walk away from someone before they get an answer.

3.      Problem recovery.  There is no perfect church, nor there will be any perfect program.  But when you know that something is not working right, solve it quickly.  "The sooner the problems are identified the better."  This says that you have people who have the "fix-it" task.  It helps if your own congregation can look around for signs that need attention.  Do not panic and solve every problem with a positive attitude that says “this needs attention.”



4.      Finishing touches.  Each Easter event comes with a price.  Whether that be preaching or the friendly usher, it wouldn't hurt to focus on what the church is good at.  You don't have to be known as a do-it-all church.  There's nothing special if you specialize in all things.  Deliver big on what identifies you and capitalize on what stands out in your church.  

5.      Don’t fall down at the last hurdle.  Its true that guests can make up their mind in the first few minutes of their visit, but whether that be good or bad, the "last things" are sometimes what gives a "lasting" opinion. Finish well this Easter.  Remember your goal and end your service with the goal in mind.  Whether that be delivering the gospel or extending a response at the end, plan it and execute.  When the service is done, instruct your leaders to be found around.  Nothing hurts the church more than when guests are not able to talk to someone about their experience.  

6.      Going the extra mile.  What makes a better Easter service is learning from the past services you have held.  If I don't work on my "I wish" list that was put together from previous services, they'll become so ordinary and normal that your "I wish" becomes "So what."  If your first impression is that something needs to be improved - work on it and don't assume someone else will fix it for you.  If you know that the weather will be bad on this day, prepare umbrellas.  If your service ends right before lunch, provide maps where people can get a good bite.  

7.      Show you appreciate them.  Remember, the end of the service can either be the beginning of a good relationship or the end of a short acquaintance.   Thank your guests for coming and if that requires a handwritten thank you note, or an email - go for it.  It helps to know that your church appreciates people whether they come back or not.  

I pray that your church services bear a hall mark of five-star treatment to those seeking the glorious hope we have in Jesus.  Which two out of these seven can you celebrate that your church is pursuing and doing well?  Can you identify two more that your church can work on?  What actions would you take to make sure it happens?  Share your thoughts below on some analogies your church can draw examples from and other things that should be added to this list.