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Improving the weekend experience helps you expand the “front door” of your church. But on-ramps and next steps are what “close the back door.” In ministry, the word “assimilation” is often used to describe the process of integrating a new person into the life of a church. A good assimilation process provides a path for people to take. Most assimilation processes flow something like this: First time guests are sent to the welcome center for a gift where their contact info is gathered. The church sends an email or text to follow up, usually sharing more information about the church and its programs, or an upcoming event, like a Bible study. If they return, they are asked to mark "Returning Guest" on their card. If they take that step, the returning guest is usually asked to attend a class, at which the church invites the guest to become a church member. Do you notice any issue with this process? There’s an subtle but underlying assumptio

Even if you have no idea what Christmas looks like today, it’s not too late to put something on the whiteboard and start brainstorming. Planning can be a struggle for pastors. Especially when it comes to Christmas. Last month, I spoke with several pastors who had not yet had a conversation about Christmas (which is right around the corner). I totally get it. I remember the days as a lead pastor. Every Monday morning, we are reminded that Sunday is coming… again. Unfortunately a lack of planning can result in missed opportunities to impact people with the gospel. Late planning usually means poor planning, which leads to frustration among volunteers that are trying to pull off last minutes ideas (that are under-resourced and unorganized). In the blink of an eye, Thanksgiving will be over, which is when many pastors start thinking about Christmas. If that’s your normal planning rhythm, keep reading. Having early conversations about Christmas can result in gospel impact. It