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Factoids

TWO KEYS TO KEEP  YOUR GUESTS:

Assimilation Factoid #1:

“Our studies indicate that typical nongrowing churches see only 10 to 12 percent of their first-time visitors join.”  (Win Arn, “How to Use Ratios to Effect Church Growth”, in Wagner, C. Peter, ed. Church Growth: State of the Art. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1986, ch. 8, p. 102. )

Non-growing churches experience only 10% or less of an assimilation rate, in regards to first-time guests.  And that is not enough to grow a church.  Why not?  After all, they tell us that if your mutual fund grows at 10% a year, it will double in 7 years.  But here's the difference - money doesn't walk out the bank if it gets unhappy.   The typical attrition rate in an average church is about 10%.  Here's how it breaks out: 2-3% die [can't control that!]; 3-4% move or get transferred [not much control here either]; 4-5% just get dissatisfied with the church, pastor, youth program, nursery, etc. and leave.  That comes up to about 10%.  So, you must keep at least 10% of first-time guests just to stay even.   If you want to grow, you need to retain more.

Assimilation Factoid #2:

“An incorporation strategy that focuses on these second-time visitors specifically will result in 70 to 75 percent of these visitors joining within a year.”  (Win Arn, “How to Use Ratios to Effect Church Growth”, in Wagner, C. Peter, ed. Church Growth: State of the Art. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1986, ch. 8, p. 101. )

So, how do these relate, and what kind of observations can we draw?

Some assimilation pastors with whom I have spoken have indicated that if you can get a 20% return rate on first-time guests, that your church is likely to grow.  And Win Arn has already indicated that a rate of 10% will not get you there. 

So somewhere between 10 and 20 percent is the tipping point.  But how to get there is the real challenge.  And that is where the second factoid comes in.  The solution to improving your assimilation rate as a church comes not from focusing just on your first-time guests, but especially on your second-time guests. 

But you need to have a different strategy for each type of guest.  First-timers are an entirely different type of visitor than second-timers.    First-time guests are asking a whole set of different questions than second-timers.    First-timers are asking basic questions like, "Is this my type of church?  Do I like the pastor?  Do they have ministries for my children and youth?  Do I like the building?  Do I like the worship style?"  But second-timers have most of those questions answered.  If someone comes to your church, and then comes back a second time, that says a whole lot about them.  It means that they probably like your church, your pastor, your worship style.  It means they believe that you may have the ministries they want for their children.  Now they want to know more.  They want to go deeper.  So your assimilation strategy needs to honor that desire in the hearts of second-timers.  They are looking for deeper connections. 

Q: What connection strategies do you plan for your second timers?  What response are you looking for from them?  Does your second letter & second phone visit, have a specific action response built into them?

These and other thought-provoking Factoids can be found at ChurchGrowth Factoids

Coaching

The Four Secret Questions of Any Coaching Session

As a coach, or a staff mentor, you may ask your staff any number of questions during the course of a coaching/mentoring session.  But be assured that they are also asking some questions.  But their questions are silent and personal ones which they may never voice to you.  But even so, you need to answer these questions during the course of your coaching session, or you will not see the life change that you want to see.

When coaching for life change, be aware of these questions swirling in the minds of your staff or coachees:

1)  Will it work for me?

For some reason, everyone needs to be convinced that it will work for them, even if it worked for everyone else.  You have to be prepared for the inevitable excuses or rationalizations about why it won’t work.  Be ready for objections, spoken or unspoken.

2)  Can I do it?

Self-doubt needs to be addressed.  Sometimes practical steps will need to be explained clearly.  You may need to practice the Show-Watch-Do-Evaluate model to help them through the first couple of times on a new behavior. 

For example, recently I was coaching someone on preparing ministry descriptions.  This person was honest enough with me to tell me that she didn’t know how to prepare one (Even though she was looking at a blank template for one right in front of her.)  So we just went through it for one position which she was looking to fill.  After that, she ‘got it’, and during the next week, created many different Ministry Descriptions for several new, key positions she was seeking to fill.  She is now proudly displaying and distributing those Descriptions far and wide so that her people will clearly understand what she is asking of them. 

3)  How useful is this to me?

This is basically the ‘Is it worth it?’ question, or the ‘Why should I go to the trouble of doing this?’  question.  Be prepared to answer this unasked question.  If you have anecdotal evidence of others who have taken similar actions and seen results, this would help.  Personal testimonies are very powerful. 

4)  What will it cost me?

This is the real question; what will I have to do differently because of this proposed new action.  What is it going to cost in terms of time, effort, money? 

For example, I recently did a prayer seminar, and as I was encouraging the listeners to make prayer a daily discipline I presented a potential cost factor to them:  “Some people,” I said, “like to read their paper as they drink their coffee each day.  They do this every single day, and never miss.  What if someone were to pray first every day before touching that paper?  They might not have time to read all the paper.  That is one example of what it might cost you if you really take prayer seriously.” 

And if you have answered the other questions well, they will be prepared to pay the cost.

So these four questions are often the unasked questions, which must be answered, in every coaching session.

“The wise are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.”  (Proverbs 16:21)

Software

“Free Library Software for Pastors”

“HighPower Library” is some free software developed for church leaders to track your library resources.  This nifty little program will allow you to keep track of every book, CD, tape, DVD, article, etc. that you have in your entire library.  And its completely free!   There is no time limit on it; no restrictions at all.  And you can give it away to friends too!  We developed this little program for you to use as our way of saying ‘Thanks!’  Download your free library software:  Go to the main page:  www.HighPowerResources.com, and locate the link down the column on the left side called, “Free Library Software”.  Download your copy in either Mac or Windows.  Use it, and feel free to give a copy away to your pastor friends.

Seminars

“Growing a Healthy Church Seminar”

Sonlife developed and promoted these seminars for years.  They have now been transferred to another ministry in Olathe, KS, called – appropriately enough – Growing a Healthy Church!  The seminars are still a great church health philosophy which examines the ministry of Jesus, and applies His disciple making skills to the local church.  If you’ve never been exposed to their great teaching on Purpose, Product, Process, and Programs, I encourage you to check them out. 

This seminar will help to transition your church ministry from just a collection of programs, into a cohesive ministry that helps move people through the process of becoming a disciple. 

Sermons, Dramas, Bible Studies

Ecclesiastes Bible Study

Ecclesiastes is one of those books that many people love to study, just because it is so tricky to understand.  I’ve preached and have taught Ecclesiastes several times, and have gained some great insights into this highly evangelistic book.   If you would like to study or teach it, download your copy of  “In Search of Life”  from our website.  Go to the main page, www.HighPowerResources.com, and click on the “Bible Studies” link on the upper left corner. 

Or, if you would like your own free copy of the fill-in-the-blank Student Notes, click on, or copy this address into your web browser:  http://www.highpowerresources.com/Sermons/BibleStudies.htm