Don't Let Your Efforts Go to Waste: Why Every Church Needs a Follow-Up Plan
One of the most ignored opportunities we have in the church is following up with people we have worked extremely hard to bring to church. When someone visits your church, whether online or in person, you want them to know that you see them and that you care. One of the main reasons people leave churches is because they don’t feel like they’ve been seen or heard. It’s important that we help our people feel needed and known and following up with them is a critical part of that process.
You don’t want their first visit to be their last because of our lack of follow-up. We want our guests to come back. Guest retention rate is highest when you follow up with people quickly and strategically.
In other words, an effective follow-up process is one of the most crucial processes you can have in your church.
Why does a follow-up process matter for a church?
Here are a few reasons:
- It makes people who visit your church feel cared for.
- It increases the likelihood that a first-time guest will come back again.
- It confirms in a very practical way that when they heard someone from the stage say that they matter, they were actually telling the truth.
- It builds a system that reflects who the church really is and helps make sure no one falls through the cracks.
Many churches put a great deal of time and energy into planning and executing an outstanding weekend service or event. However, the focus is often on the first half of the event, leading up to the guests' arrival. It's crucial to follow through after the event and ensure that your efforts are not wasted. While attracting people to your church is critical, it is equally important to develop a follow-up plan that allows you to engage with those who attended your service. Unfortunately, many churches get caught up in the excitement of welcoming new guests and forget to follow up with them afterward. It's essential to reach out and inquire about their experience, offer prayer, and provide opportunities for them to get involved in the community. By creating a follow-up plan, you can build stronger relationships with your guests and encourage them to become a vital part of your church community.
Close the gap between first-time attendance and long-term engagement by revisiting that neglected (or nonexistent) follow-up process in your church. Creating a solid follow-up process is like creating a river that leads people toward deeper engagement with your church. You don't want any dead ends or obstacles in the way that could prevent them from continuing on their journey. Remember, every person who walks through your church's doors has a next step, and it's up to you to help them take it.
Let me give you an example:
When you ask someone if you could pray for them, a lot of the time, they will say yes. Most people don’t refuse someone praying for them. It’s one of the best opportunities we have to care for someone and stand with someone in their moment of need. The same is true when it comes to Online Ministry. We now have the opportunity to pray for someone irrespective of where they live, what language they speak, or any other barrier because of technology. Here are two ways this can play out:
- Someone asks for prayer and we pray for them. If it’s through chat, we type out a prayer and after we pray for them, we let them know that we are glad they came to a service and will continue praying for them.
- The second way this could play out is by praying for them and then figuring out what their next step should be. Everyone has a next step. When we pray for someone, instead of just praying for them and closing that chat out, how can we follow up with them and find out what their next step could be? Maybe they asked for prayer cause they have a doctor's appointment coming up. What if you asked them if you could follow up with them on the day of their appt? Imagine how it will make them feel. The church is no longer this video they are watching online, but it becomes real to them. They will see that there are real people who really care for them.
This is just one example of what a next-step plan for people who request prayer could look like.
What other opportunities do you have?
- Someone who attends for the first time
- Someone who checks in their child for the first time
- Someone who downloads your church app
- Someone who reads a blog post
- Someone who signs up for email
- Someone who is interested in hearing from you weekly
- Someone who is interested in serving
- Someone who is interested in missions
- Someone who is interested in small groups
Our goal is to show our church visitors that we value them personally, without overwhelming them with messages or calls. It's important for new members to feel supported in their spiritual journey, whether they need prayer, help to join a group, or guidance in their church involvement.
Instead of solely focusing on attracting new members every week, it's crucial to prioritize retaining them. Gone are the days of just looking at attendance and giving numbers. We need to prioritize building relationships with our people and helping them take next steps and our data needs to support that intention. (Read more about data in my blog post The Role of Data in the Church: Making Informed Decisions for the Congregation.) We must strive to prevent anyone from slipping through the cracks by excelling in hospitality, intentionally collecting contact information, and reaching out through personal phone calls or texts.
It's worth noting that sometimes traditional methods can be the most effective. So don’t overthink it. Just do what you would normally do when you would want to follow up with people if you were in person. If you’d like to talk through ideas you may have for effective Next Steps, I’d love to chat. Just click this link to set up a time to talk. Looking forward to hearing how you are leveraging this opportunity to connect with your community.
