by Matt Robertson, Scott Long Construction
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Let’s face it. Do you go back to any restaurant or place of business where you don’t have a good experience? Not likely. From the time someone enters your campus to the time they leave, think about how your church is creating that WOW experience that would make someone say, “I can’t wait to come back.” Otherwise, your church may experience the revolving door affect with newcomers.
1. Nowhere to park – Just imagine, mom, dad, and the kids barely make it to church on time. They arrive at 10:50 am for the 11 am service, with a few minutes to spare. By most, that would be on time, right? Unfortunately, they pull into the parking lot only to find every spot taken. Now add the stress of navigating the parking lot between services with people everywhere. But eventually, they do find a parking spot for the minivan. Even though you many have enough parking by code, you may not have enough by church standards. With families driving multiple cars to church, I find that a church typically needs to have one parking space for every 2 to 2.5 people on campus. (typical church parking ratio 2.5 or 2:1, 1000 people = 400 to 500 spaces). Have you established a parking team? Do you have designated parking for first time guests? If your parking is a major pinch point, have you considered buying adjacent property or even relocation? Have you looked for neighbors to establish a parking agreement?
2. Insufficient space for their kids – Once the family gets parked, they now have to find the entrance and where to take their children. Go out into your parking lot and ask yourself, If I were a new family, would I know how to get to the kid’s areas? One of the biggest problems I see on church campuses today is terrible directional signage both outside and inside. Sometimes there is none. Once the family makes it to the kid’s areas, imagine the uneasy feeling, when parent’s see old, worn out furniture that was “donated” to the church, old worn out toys, walls that haven’t been painted in years, colors that are outdated and unfriendly for kids. I have seen all of these at church’s that “say” they want to reach families with children, the un-churched, etc. Remember how an un-churched guest is thinking. How do you think about a new place of business you are trying out?
3. Nowhere to sit – Now the kids are dropped off, mom and dad try to find a place to sit. Unfortunately, the second song is already being sung and every seat seems to be taken by now. Wow, mom and dad never thought going to church could be so stressful. They already have enough of that during the week and this is just more on their weekend. You know dad is thinking this, he got drug to church to start with. Having seats available at optimal times is key. Have you considered another on-site venue? A church plant, church merger, or multi-site? There are over 3000 multi-site churches in America
Bonus reason – unfriendly, unwelcoming people. This goes without saying, but it’s really a heart issue. Having volunteers that are smiling, excited, and passionate about their role in making an impact on the Kingdom is essential. We’ve all had a waitress that just loved their job and others what were just going through the motions. Which one makes you want to come back?
By the way, all of this post is based on a true story from a neighbor. Recommended reading First Impressions and Lasting Impressions by @MarkLWaltz .
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