Prepare for New Year's Eve Visitor's

New Year’s Eve is next Wednesday. This is one of the CME holidays so use it wisely to influence the unchurched!


1. Create a flyer INVITING them to church. Most flyers are designed for the churched and not the unchurched. Be careful of using too many titles. Use the KISS principle – keep it short and sweet. Why? You don’t have much time to attract their attention and you catch more with honey than you do with vinegar. Ask your Grandmother for help with this one if you didn’t get it.

2. Post the flyers in unchurched places. It always amazes me that I see flyers for the unchurched at Christian bookstores, or in Christian newspapers and saved magazines. To go after the unchurched, you have to meet them where they are. Consider buying ad space in the mall, in the local health club, on the sides of the local bus or other modes of public transportation, or even in the restrooms in the hottest club in town.

3. Use the internet. There are tons of free places online to attract “a new crowd” if you just utilize them. If you are clueless, ask your teenagers their favorite websites and begin there.
Co-sponsor a New Year’s event with your local radio station. The radio mentions and controversy it will stir up alone will far outweigh what you paid.

4. Offer door prizes. Ok, I know you can’t call it this, but you know what I mean. And of course, present them at the end of service. The unchurched understands what it means when you say “you have to be present to win”. It’s the churched that leaves before the benediction.
Host a concert and use secular artists along with gospel artists. Make arrangements with the secular artists to “keep it clean” and the gospel artists to “keep it holy” and you’ll be fine.

Now when “your new crowd” arrives, here’s how to make them feel welcome:

1. Update your voicemail with the New Year’s Eve information. Be sure to include directions, times of service, special details and dress attire. Chances are they will call the day of or even 1 hour before for information.

2. Reserve parking for First Time Attendees. Make sure your VIP and special seating is reserved well before the doors open. It’s embarrassing to ask a visitor to move because they are sitting in Deacon Joe’s seat.

3. Try to prevent First Time Visitors from having to sit in the overflow section. Overflow seating isn’t desirable to most church folks so imagine how a First Time Visitor feels. I know you’re saying they should get there on time but you remember when you went to clubs, it was fashionable to be late. If possible, reserve the last 2 rows until 11pm. Also, ask your Deacons, Elders and Ministers to give up their seats. I’m sure they’ll do it willinglyJ.

4. Print bulletins that are useful and not full of “churchy” stuff that First Time Visitors won’t understand. Give them “meat” that they can chew on well after the service is over.

5. Give out business cards. Consider printing business cards with your church information on one side and the entire 2009 calendar or a Tip chart on the back so they’ll be inclined to keep them.

6. Start on time.
7. End on time.
8. Prevent gaps in the service.
9. Keep the temperature comfortable.
10. Clean the restrooms throughout the service.

Bonus: Serve breakfast or comfort foods (fried chicken, French fries etc.) immediately following service and you may actually get a chance to touch (evangelize) and love on your guests.

If your parking lot has challenges – meaning it may take 30 – 45 minutes to depart – have a plan to increase the number of exit lanes. And, as a sign of your final hospitality, offer complimentary coffee and hot chocolate in the parking lot. It will make a great lasting impression on everyone!

Remember Excellence Matters...!

Robin