Perhaps not the best solution but it was quite an insight. 

 

We do get lots of first time visitors - people who actually come to church for the first time with us.

 

They are locals and looking for a church. Each week we’d see at least 3 or 4 adults (This doesn’t count the 40 or so extra who might appear for a baptism). 

 

So over a year we’d see a couple of hundred people - that’s more than the number who actually attend each week.

 

In a small church like ours they are easy to spot, welcome and you would think integrate. 

 

I haven’t yet done the numbers well enough to know how many we keep but it would probably be less than 10%.

 

But if we were able to improve this and we saw 10% of people move from being first time visitors to being committed members we’d see an extra 20 people!

 

We need to ask hard questions about why (say) 90% of people who make the big decision to cross the threshold don't come back - surely there is something wrong with what we are doing?

 

Kicking the tyres

 

I know some of them will settle somewhere else but I am more concerned with those who are just trying us. 

 

My warden’s idea of roping them down probably raises ethical objections. What then will work? How can people be welcomed and assimilated? 

 

A good welcome is important. We’ve also found a newcomers lunch or me doing ‘tyre kickers coffee’ to welcome and explain giving, service etc is helpful. 

 

But I’ve realised we’ve got a lot to learn on this front. A lot to learn. So what works where you are? How do you assimilate well? What have you done or what have you changed to do this better?