How does the saying go? "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression." Wise words the church needs to embrace! You can have the best band or organist. You can have an inspiring speaker. You can have the nicest facility. But if your church lacks hospitality, first time visitors might not make a second appearance.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Jason Young & Jonathan Malm have written a new book, "The Come Back Effect," that every pastor and church leader needs to read. Implementing their suggestions could make the difference for your church as it reaches people with the good news of Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the certainty of eternal life.
According to Young and Malm, having hospitality greeters is not a church program. It's a culture - a culture of hospitality - that must be introduced and cultivated. A spirit of hospitality is something that is felt by first time guests.
Another important point stressed in the book is that hospitality is "valued from the top down." It's an important guiding principle stressed by the pastor; it's a ministry that is equipped with resources from church leadership; it's having team leaders valuing the volunteers who make or break the culture of hospitality in a church.
If your church has lots of first time "tire kickers," who never show up again, "The Come Back Effect" is the book your leadership needs to read - today!
Book provided for review by Baker Books.
