Many factors influence a visitor’s perception of a church. The following things influence a person before they visit a church, or whether they return. Every item can help or hinder their decision about whether or not to darken the door again. See what you think.
- Website and/or Facebook. Its presentation and general content. Its mission statement and indicators of church life/activity. In other words, how we talk about ourselves. This includes any blogs which indicate the church’s spirit and kind of thinking.
- Signage. (A sign was seen which said “Merry Christmas” on one side and “Turn or Burn” on the other side?!)
- Printed material available in the foyer. What kind, quality, and variety? Is it easily accessible?
- Greeters/Ushers. Who they are and how they present themselves. What information do they offer the guest?
- What others have told this person about your church.
- Coffee. (Don’t underestimate this.)
- Friendly gestures.
- The person who invited them.
- They are listened to.
- How they are talked about when in attendance.
- Advertising, especially in a small community. (And is the church what it advertises itself to be?)
- Presence (visibility) in community life.
- Children. How many and what place do they seem to have in congregational life?
- Facility.
- What you believe and how we express it.
- A person from your church helped them in some way.
- The preacher
Stumbled onto this in my files. What do you think?
robert
