Visitor follow up
- Thread starter DTK
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JonathanHunt
Puritan Board Senior
My current church doesn't have a plan As far as I know - it is small and the elders would (I suppose) co-ordinate followup. I won't say any more...
At my last church, The Metropolitan Tabernacle, it was highly organised.
Members would take turns on duty as 'vestibule stewards' and would enage visitors in conversation after the services. Someone would always be outside during the last hymn to catch the quick 'runners' and people would take turns to miss communion so that they could engage those who did not stay.
Conversations would be held, and if these went ok and the visitor was willing, a few details would be put on a 'visitors card'.
If the person was not willing, the member would later write down the name/description of the person and any details, and pass them back to a co-ordinator. This was to keep track of whether people were coming back regularly or whatever. Often after a few weeks someone might leave more details when they were more comfortable doing so, and then (or sooner if appropriate), a follow-up home visit might be arranged.
It certainly used to be the case that visitors from the area (London in this case) would be written to if they had left their address, welcoming them and inviting them to return.
If appropriate, the visitor could be invited to stay for lunch after the service, or to come to the student tea before the evening service.
The job requires a lot of tact and sensitivity - at the Tabernacle people not only have to notice visitors in the congregations nearer a thousand than a hundred, but speak to them without pressuring them, and at the same time keep an eye out for those who are there to cause trouble, such as cult members who have tried to come in and draw away young believers.
My personal take, if you would have it, from the perspective of a small church (lets say between 1-100 members which is probably typical of most on the PB) it should be fairly easy to spot, chat to, befriend a visitor, and all members should shoulder this responsibility. Naturally, a person (we hope) would be offered hospitality and so forth, and the elders/deacons should keep an eye out to make sure that this happens, and that some facts about the new visitor become known fairly early - eg are they saved, where are they from, are they looking to settle, what are their circumstances - do they need some kind of help, etc, etc.
Oh and of course, if they are not baptised, we drug them and dip them when they are 'out' to keep the figures good.
At my last church, The Metropolitan Tabernacle, it was highly organised.
Members would take turns on duty as 'vestibule stewards' and would enage visitors in conversation after the services. Someone would always be outside during the last hymn to catch the quick 'runners' and people would take turns to miss communion so that they could engage those who did not stay.
Conversations would be held, and if these went ok and the visitor was willing, a few details would be put on a 'visitors card'.
If the person was not willing, the member would later write down the name/description of the person and any details, and pass them back to a co-ordinator. This was to keep track of whether people were coming back regularly or whatever. Often after a few weeks someone might leave more details when they were more comfortable doing so, and then (or sooner if appropriate), a follow-up home visit might be arranged.
It certainly used to be the case that visitors from the area (London in this case) would be written to if they had left their address, welcoming them and inviting them to return.
If appropriate, the visitor could be invited to stay for lunch after the service, or to come to the student tea before the evening service.
The job requires a lot of tact and sensitivity - at the Tabernacle people not only have to notice visitors in the congregations nearer a thousand than a hundred, but speak to them without pressuring them, and at the same time keep an eye out for those who are there to cause trouble, such as cult members who have tried to come in and draw away young believers.
My personal take, if you would have it, from the perspective of a small church (lets say between 1-100 members which is probably typical of most on the PB) it should be fairly easy to spot, chat to, befriend a visitor, and all members should shoulder this responsibility. Naturally, a person (we hope) would be offered hospitality and so forth, and the elders/deacons should keep an eye out to make sure that this happens, and that some facts about the new visitor become known fairly early - eg are they saved, where are they from, are they looking to settle, what are their circumstances - do they need some kind of help, etc, etc.
Oh and of course, if they are not baptised, we drug them and dip them when they are 'out' to keep the figures good.
Dear Jonathan,
Thank you for your very helpful response. You mentioned that "all members should shoulder this responsibility." While I agree that this is true, I have found from a pastoral perspective that another little quaint saying of mine is often too true, namely, that "everybody's job is nobody's job." Therefore, I try to get a number of people, specifically, to take responsibility for any given task.
I am grateful that my congregation always crowd our visitors to greet them. In fact, so much so, I've often wondered if a visitor finds that a bit intimidating.
Again, thank you very much for your detailed response.
Blessings,
DTK
Thank you for your very helpful response. You mentioned that "all members should shoulder this responsibility." While I agree that this is true, I have found from a pastoral perspective that another little quaint saying of mine is often too true, namely, that "everybody's job is nobody's job." Therefore, I try to get a number of people, specifically, to take responsibility for any given task.
I am grateful that my congregation always crowd our visitors to greet them. In fact, so much so, I've often wondered if a visitor finds that a bit intimidating.
Again, thank you very much for your detailed response.
Blessings,
DTK
JonathanHunt
Puritan Board Senior
Very wise. I would say 'encourage all' but 'assign some'!
JH
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