In Part 1 of this post, we outlined four major steps to take as your church family expands. We hope these final points below will inspire your church to create lasting rhythms in this season of growth. Read below for the keys to maintaining an effective pipeline, creating communication strategies, and growing your online presence.
1. Communicate effectively with existing members.
Does your church have an existing email, social media, or messaging strategy with members and visitors? These can be important assets that enable your church to communicate upcoming events, send updates on a capital campaign, and encourage the congregation throughout the week.
Whether it be a social media network, email newsletter, or something else, these methods of digital communication can be used in various ways to create a touch point with the congregation throughout the week. Additionally, these are easily scalable as your church continues to grow and reach more of the community.
2. Develop a quality online presence.
Some churches view their website only as a small piece of their ministry, but often it is a major factor in whether a potential visitor decides to come to a weekend service.
In fact, a church’s website is a place where potential visitors research, locate, and learn more about the mission and vision of the church. By creating a clear, user-friendly website, the church is opening the door to new visitors and greater involvement among members. Simple touches, such as visible church location and a reputable online giving platform, can make a world of difference to the church’s online impact.
3. Establish a pipeline for new visitors.
If your church is going through a rapid season of growth, it can be difficult to track the influx of new visitors every weekend. However, creating a pipeline to track and manage communication with new visitors does not have to be a hassle. For example, maybe the kids’ ministry check-in alerts you to a new family, or the information cards during the service provide enough information to follow up.
Regardless of the method your church uses, the most important step is to plan ahead. Hire a volunteer or staff member who will oversee the follow-up process, so that no visitor goes unreached. Invite them to get connected with a member, class, or simply to learn more about the church.
We hope this blog has provided some helpful insight into facilitating church growth. If we can better serve your ministry in any way, please let our team know.
