This Easter, Perfect Your Invite Back

With Easter less than a week away, we turn our focus to reflecting on the cross, remembering through communion and celebrating Resurrection Sunday. As pastors, we are ready for our Super Bowl, the biggest Sunday of the year – and the highest in attendance!

Easter is one of the easiest and most effective opportunities to invite someone new to church. We know that if the people in our church invite family, neighbors, co-workers or friends to join them for the Easter service at their church, someone will say ‘yes’ and go with them.

Do they only attend one Sunday each year? How do you get these guests to come back?

Here are three ways to increase your guest rate of return:

1. Connection

A guest will return more frequently when they connected with another person in the seats. This may be the person who invited them, someone they already knew or a new person they met.

Remind your people to invite their guests back again! A return invitation from someone the guest knows and can sit with is the easiest way to get them to return.

2. Clarity

A guest will return more frequently when they are clearly given the next step for someone who is a guest. Your guests have attended a one-time special event, Easter. Invite them back to another one-time special event. After attending multiple events, your guests will feel like they belong and consider themselves a “regular.”

Plan a guest-friendly event two Sundays after Easter and give a clear invitation for your guests to return. Do not assume that they are a regular at your church because they showed up for Easter. Continue to treat them extra-special!

3. Children’s Ministry

A guest will return more frequently when their children want to come back. Parents do not want to battle their kids each Sunday morning and drag them to church. However, if the kids are excited and want to return, the parents are more willing to take them again.

Make sure children of guests are invited to return. Give them an invitation. Tell them about an upcoming event they can get excited about. Make sure the last activity before they leave is one they will tell their parents about.

Chances are your attendance the couple of weeks after Easter will be lower than your Easter Sunday attendance. By prioritizing personal connection, providing clear invites back and creating an exciting experience for their children, more of your guests will return. Now it is your job to continue to share the love of Jesus and the free gift of salvation with them.

If we can help you implement these principles in your church, Excel Leadership Coaching is here to help.

Overcoming Roadblocks to Greater Effectiveness

You have a big vision and a plan, but it seems like something is always in your path impeding your progress. Sometimes, there are limited resources or individuals get in the way. Other times there are distractions redirecting your focus and energy. How do you minimize the negative impact these roadblocks can have?

We respond to obstacles differently. You may run or give in when difficulty blocks your path. Digging in and showing your stubborn streak may be your natural response. Or it could be that you begin to blame others for what you are now having to deal with.

If you could only get past these roadblocks, you know great results await. Regardless of your natural tendencies, these three principles will minimize the hindrance of any obstacle.

1. Remove unnecessary baggage

A friend of our family works at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Through her generosity, we were able to visit the employee store and see all the future products Nike would soon be releasing. I was amazed at the sections dedicated to running shoes and apparel. Signs by each article boasted of its performance. Lightweight, non-binding, breathable and durable were written on many labels. When you would pick up the article of clothing or shoe, they almost seemed lighter than air, like, if you wore them, they would lift you off the ground.

In contrast, imagine running in heavy boots, with layers of heavy clothes, and a rather large and heavy pack on your back.

“...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely..." Hebrews 12:1

We carry a lot of baggage with us through life, weighing us down. This weight makes progress difficult and obstacles appear insurmountable. The sins of our past create doubt and discouragement as we face new challenges.

Follow the wisdom of the writer of Hebrews. Take a breath, think about what is weighing you down and take the opportunity you have been given to take it off and lay it aside. Attacking the obstacle without the weight of the baggage will lessen the burden.

2. Focus on the outcome, not the obstacle

When faced with obstacles, we often focus so much on the obstacle that we do not even realize there is more on the other side.

I spent one summer working on an alfalfa farm. Being from Silicon Valley, I had never seen some of the larger equipment used to harvest the hay. When it was my turn to cut the hay with the swather, I remember the farmer giving me basic instructions and emphasizing that I had to make sure to make the rows straight. Confidently, I told myself that these would be the straightest rows he would ever see.

Looking over the large yellow wheel, I made my way to the other end of the field. I looked so intently at the ground right in front of my tractor that I knew I had done well. As I looked back at the path I had traveled, I was surprised to see an incredibly crooked and wavy line. I tried again. This time sitting up as high in the cab as possible and focusing right over the cutting wheel. I do not think I even blinked!

As I neared the end of my second pass of the field, the farmer approached me in the large swather. Looking back together, we saw this line was worse than the first. Gently, he put his arm around my shoulder and pointed to the distant trees across the field. He instructed me to focus on a single tree, and drive straight for it. Of course, this created a much straighter row.

"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

This time, the author instructs us to look to Jesus, fix our eyes on Him, just as Jesus had endured so much by fixing His eyes on His Father.

When obstacles block your progress and effectiveness, look past them. Focus on the future and do whatever you have to do to leave the difficulties in your rear view mirror. In other words, focus on solutions and effective outcomes rather than increasing the difficulty of the problem.

3. Keep going!

Super Bowl LI, February 5, 2017 - Late in the third quarter the New England Patriots trailed the Atlanta Falcons by 25 points. Atlanta's lead with just under ten minutes to play in the game was still 19 points. I will admit, I am not a Patriots fan, but I will never forget what unfolded before my eyes that evening. Aided by an unbelievable catch by Julian Edelman, Tom Brady led his team to two touchdowns, two 2 point conversions and a field goal to send the game into overtime. It was no surprise on their first possession in overtime that the Patriots marched their way down the field for the winning score.

When facing seemingly impossible odds and obstacles, the Patriots kept playing.

"Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:3

The author of Hebrews knows we are going to need endurance – the ability to outlast the hard stuff. He points to Jesus and how He kept going through hostility and obstacles.

Jesus chose to continue on, just as the Patriots chose to keep playing hard. Make that your choice during the difficult trials as well.

Obstacles are opportunities for growth or discouragement. Choose to become better by overcoming them.

For Better Results, Ask the Right Questions in the Right Order

Many churches and organizations struggle to come up with specific goals that allow them to increase their effectiveness and impact. Or, they know what they would like to see happen, but do not know how to plot the right path to success.

The next time you set goals, whether it is for a team or as an individual, consider these questions, and try them in this order.

Why?

“Why do we do anything?” In Simon Sinek’s book, “Start With Why,” he encourages leaders to find the motivation before taking any action.

Why am I considering launching a new church or ministry?

Why does our company need another product?

Why do we need to shift direction or the focus of our organization?

By answering the “why“ first, you prioritize the reason you will take action rather than justifying your actions with reactive reasoning.

What?

Now that you understand why you need to do something, ask yourself what needs to be done.

What do we need to value in our church plant or new ministry?

What need do we fill with our new product?

What will the difference be if we shift direction or focus for our organization?

Be careful to differentiate between the “what” and the “how.” The “what” speaks to the outcome, rather than the way it will be accomplished.

When you understand your “why” and your “what,” you discover your mission. Mission is crucial for leaders and organizations because it builds momentum and energy by showing your purpose and vision.

How?

The “how” defines the plan or program that will lead you to your vision. These must be tangible and realistic steps.

How will our values be lived out in our church or organization?

How will we design our new product to meet the need we identified?

How are we going to change our organization to reflect our new direction or focus?

Once you identify these steps, you can determine what kind of leadership is necessary.

Who?

It is said that all organizations rise and fall on leadership. Who you choose to lead is very significant to your success.

Who is going to communicate and demonstrate our values and lead our church or organization?

Who will lead the development of the new product or program?

Who will we follow as we shift direction or focus in our organization?

Developing and growing a pool of trained leaders will increase your capacity and options to answer the “who.” Therefore, every church or organization needs a way to identify and equip future leaders.

When?

“When do we start?” needs to be the last question we ask. Execution must occur after setting a goal, developing a plan and choosing a leader. Timing depends on having everything ready (including the leader) and when we can communicate our mission.

These last three questions determine our model, which is the tool we are going to use reach our desired mission. For most churches and organizations, the mission remains constant while the model changes over time. Andy Stanley put it this way:

"Marry your mission and date the model."

One of the most common mistakes is beginning with the “who” (leader) or “when” (time). Deadlines for completion are set before a project is even chosen, or an ambitious individual proposes an idea that is not in the mission. It can be hard to say no to such an influence, but is easier when we begin with the first two questions.

Example:

Excel Leadership Coaching is helping a new church through their start-up process. They have developed their mission and model by answering the questions...

Why plant a church? Because it is the most effective way to reach the unchurched and engage our culture.

What are we going to do? We will invite people to Jesus. We will connect them with God and others in church our community. We will develop them into leaders and influencers.

How are we going to connect people with others? We will develop and implement a plan to get people into small groups where connection can occur.

Who will lead this? We need to find someone with a passion for small group connection and train them to lead others. We also need to raise up small group leaders.

When will this happen? After we find the right leader, we will train at least 2 small group leaders. After they are trained, we will put together a plan to communicate to our people the importance of a small group and how they can join one.

Whether you are a new start-up or an existing church (I have launched church plants and my current church is almost 150 years old!), the time to begin asking these questions is now – it is never too late.

Need someone to process with you as you ask the questions for your church or organization? Excel Leadership Coaching is here to help.

Three New Year’s Resolutions Every Church Should Keep in 2017

At the beginning of each year, we are presented with an opportunity to start fresh, write some new goals and even make resolutions for the coming months. For a church, January can be a time to share its vision, set its priorities for the coming year and communicate purpose with its people. While we often laugh at how quickly we break our resolutions to exercise, eat healthy, read our bibles or pray, there are a few resolutions church leaders can make that can promote real community impact and church health.

1.     Invite More Guests

“In the future, about the only way non-Christians will keep showing up at Christian churches is via personal invitation.” – Carey Nieuwhof

Churches that encourage their people to engage with the community around them by opening their personal lives will more effectively share Jesus. With the presence of a constantly-growing collection of online sermons and Bible studies, the need for fellowship continues to grow.

Do you share from the platform stories of inviting others?

Do you provide easy to use, quality invites to your people that they can share with their friends?

2.     Connect More Through Deeper Relationships

Why is the personal invitation becoming so important? The most effective way to retain guests is to connect them through relationships with others in the church community. Guests want to know that they have someone to sit with when they attend. They want real, relevant conversations.

The historical functions of Sunday mornings – the worship music and the sermon – are instantly and abundantly available online. For a church to grow in 2017 and beyond, it must offer something beyond online offerings: personal, relational connection.

Are your attenders regularly learning how to engage in meaningful relationships?

Is your church culture one that continues to invite newer people in vs. pushing them out?

3.     Develop More Leaders

One of the key priorities of every church should be raising up leaders. This development consists of two emphases. First, you must train and equip to succeed. Then, you must provide opportunities for leadership.

One major hurdle in many churches is the inability or refusal of a leader to put others into decision-making positions. They are invited as “collaborators,” but decisions continue to be made by only one or two leaders or teams.

“Delegate tasks and you create followers. Delegate decisions and you build leaders.”

The goal is to raise up leaders, but by not empowering them to make decisions, we are really raising up loyal followers. Not everyone is made to be put into this position, but for those who are gifted in leadership, we must position them to lead.

How do we identify potential leaders and encourage development?

Do we provide a clear path for leadership development?

At Excel Leadership Coaching, we can help you develop and implement a custom strategy to effectively invite, connect and develop more leaders in 2017.

Retaining Guests During High-Attendance Seasons

We all love those Sundays when the energy is high, everything goes as planned, the guests show up and we know we are taking a huge step forward as a church. Those Sundays are especially exciting when you are a new church plant or just went through a season of plateau.

Christmas Eve comes and the auditorium is full of family and guests, the mood is overwhelmingly positive and everyone has a candlelit smile on their face as they close the service singing Silent Night together. This is what church is supposed to be like.

Then it happens…

“Where did everyone go?” you wonder if you were the only one who did not get the memo that church had been cancelled. The guests did not return and the “regulars” seem to be missing as well. What happened?

Guests who show up for a one-time special event are not yet church regulars.

 

One of the common mistakes church leaders continue to make is to assume that guests turn into regulars after one visit. When they show up for your special event, they most likely are not ready to jump into your next sermon series or regular worship service, no matter how good it is. What they are looking for is another special event for them to attend. After attending multiple events, they are more likely to want to become a regular.

For better guest retention, rely on personal invitation over mass advertising.

 

Guests who know they have someone to sit with are more likely to return. Prioritize personal invites from your regular attenders and increase effectiveness of these invites by:

• Make sure the person doing the inviting knows what their guest will experience if they attend. No one wants to risk inviting someone and having them experience a poorly planned or executed event. Build credibility and trust. Save the element of surprise for another time because surprise can easily turn to embarrassment.
• Provide a tool to assist with the invite. Print professional looking invite cards (they are inexpensive) and attach them to a coffee mug, bag of candy or other creative element promoting your event.

If you are expecting guests and high-attendance this Christmas Eve, how are you going to keep them?

Excel Leadership Coaching is here to help!