Why people stay and why they go.

Paul Williams, CEO of The Orchard Group – a church planting organization in the North East, was the presenter today.

What we did: Took the DiSC test, which is a leadership style profile. Talked about the results, and then talked about leadership.

What I learned:
1. 80% of the people who return for a second visit say they identified with the pastors spiritual journey.
2. 72% of the people who come the first time do so because they were personally invited.
3. 50% of the people who return a second time say they liked the worship.
4. #1 reason why people don’t come back is because they perceive the children’s ministry to be inadequate.
5. #2 reason they don’t return is because of the condition of the facility.

Conclusion: Connections to Dean’s story are why people will return, and even though advertising is necessary it cannot be divorced from personal invitation. Worship style is not as big of a deal as was once thought. In fact, many church plants that will reach a younger demographic are instituting “High Church” symbols back into worship (ie. robes, incense, etc.). If our children’s ministry is not a priority then we will fail to attract and keep families. If the facility is not kept clean, neat, and in a state of continual repair or expansion then new comers will not be back. They will notice the stain in the carpet, crooked pictures, misspelled words, etc. that church people will overlook.