7 Church Trends That Turn Visitors Away

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Many of us are quick to say that that we’d love to see more people sitting in our church pews each Sunday and we want our church membership to expand but when it comes down to it, many churches aren’t ready for the growth. Some churches are so committed to remaining small out of fear that growth will ruin fellowship. They fear when the congregation gets bigger, they won’t know everybody anymore. The idea is that if the church gets bigger, they will become a number. Other people are so committed to the church staying the way it is, they don’t really care if new people are sitting in the church pews because they are comfortable with the people they already know. A sure sign that people have given up on change is that no one is investing in new people who are walking through the church door for the first time. When your church becomes all about personal preferences, you lose the mission. If some of these things are not being done or not being addressed, then the new person that walks through the door may never come back again. Here are seven church trends that turn visitors away.

Programs, Teachings and Traditions That Don’t Follow the Gospel

If the church you’re visiting isn’t Gospel-centered, there’s a problem. Visitors who grew up in Christian denominations can sense when a church is lacking a biblical center and it will turn them away, and for good reason. A genuine Christian church is founded on the life, death, resurrection and Gospel of Jesus Christ. It bases its doctrines and teachings on the Bible. In the early church, creeds were often used to identify the basic beliefs of Christians. What is known as The Apostles Creed has been recognized as perhaps the oldest historic statement of the fundamental beliefs of orthodox Christianity. Such basic beliefs are held in common agreement by thousands of Christian churches, made up of scores of denominations. If a church or minister cannot agree with the statements of the creed, it can be assumed they are not a Christian church, and very likely in the category of a cult. Because our society is peppered with cults and misguided religions, it goes without saying that persons should always thoroughly research any alleged church before getting involved with it in any way.

Unenthusiastic Greeters

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Greeting visitors at church is such an important part of the hospitality ministry of the church. They form part of the first impression that a visitor sees. If a person walks into a church and isn’t greeted from the time they walk until the time they walk in, there’s a really big chance they won’t want to attend your church again as they won’t feel welcome. There is a difference between someone who has the job of greeter and someone who truly loves greeting people. There is also a difference between having a person at the door to greet people and having the right person at the door to greet people. These greeters don’t just shake your hand and give you a bulletin. They are the type of people to ask your name and use it in a sentence soon after. People love to hear their name spoken. It makes them feel like they are being noticed and they are important, which is key when welcoming new members to a church.

Bad Facilities

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First impressions are everything. This includes a person’s first impression of the church facilities. One of the most off-putting things to people who visit a church for the first time is dirty or unaccommodating facilities. There’s no way a person can feel welcomed or comfortable when it looks like the church hasn’t been cleaned in a week or the restrooms look worse than a bad truck stop. Does the church have facilities that accommodate the young and the elderly? Is the church completely handicapped accessible? Is there a comfortable changing area for parents? Is the children’s area safe and clean? If your church does not give high priority to children, don’t expect young families to attend. These things are on the mind of people who are visiting a church for the first time.

When Nobody Tries to Get Your Information

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Does your pastor or assistant minister acknowledge visitors at the beginning of the church service? Does your church have a guest book that visitors have an opportunity to sign, or a registration area where they can share that they are a first time guest? The first-time visitor check in area needs to have a sign so big that it’s not missed. It should not be subtle. Churches that are successful at reaching people are intentional about reaching new people and connecting them to the life of the church and a personal relationship with Christ. These churches often have a redundancy tactic. They will have a welcoming strategy and multiple methods to engage newcomers. This includes everything from having greeters in the parking lot to friendly ushers to attractive bulletins and after-service receptions. If a person walks in and there is no attempt to get information from them, they are going to feel like their presence doesn’t matter.

There is No Follow-Up

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A welcoming church wants to know as much as they can about you so that they can follow up with you. This makes them feel like they’re wanted and can help them envision themselves apart of that church community. The first time visitor who goes to a church for the first time and does everything right has a right to expect some kind of follow-up from someone in that church. The truth is, your church will not grow if your visitors are not returning and connecting with people in your congregation. There needs to be intentional follow up contact. Studies have shown that retention rate is highest when you follow-up with visitors within the first 48 hours. That follow up should be highly relational and focused on the guest visiting your church.

Things Are Outdated

Many people visit a church’s website or view their social media profile before they ever visit the church. Truth be told, there are a lot of horribly outdated sites or church’s with no sites at all, and this can really affect a person’s opinion about the church. Your website speaks to your church’s values, priorities, and activities, without a person ever entering the front door of the building. The most helpful church websites include practical information for visitors, a current bulletin or newsletter that helps people get a feel for the church’s activities and an updated list of Bible study classes and activities with ages and locations. For those who want to get a feel for a church before they walk through the door, having a fresh, active website is everything. This also goes for the church environment too. Does the church feel fresh, alive and vibrant or does it feel like they haven’t made updates since the church was built 20 plus years ago? A church This will also turn first-time visitors away.

Feeling Like You Don't Belong

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Have you ever walked into a church for the first time and gotten the impression that you were sitting in someone else’s pew? During that period of time, did anyone make an effort to learn your name or see if you had a question? Was the only welcome you received a handshake during the in-service time announced in the bulletin. Churches and members of that church send their own signs and signals. Sometimes they are subtle and other times they are blatant. You can read these signs in their faces, smiles (or lack of one), and the tone of voice of members. If a person is feeling ostracized not only before and after the service, but also during the service, they will not only feel unwelcome, but also likely won't want to come back.