Did you know that most families who move to a new city in the U.S. do so during the summer months? According to Google, June is the most popular month. Often, these relocating families spend the summer getting settled and connected to their new community. Traditionally, looking for a new church was put off until the start of the school year. In communities that experience a lot of relocating families, fall can bring a surge of visitors. This "surge" is your congregation's opportunity to connect with first-time guests. Are you prepared to welcome visitors into your church family? Below is a checklist to help you and your congregation get ready.

Website Tune-Up

Is all the information on your website accurate? Is it current? It's better to have a basic, up-to-date webpage than no website at all or one that was popular two years ago when it was first launched. The minimum information you should have on your website is:

1. The address (In a visible placement on the webpage)
2. The time or times of the service
3. A short overview of what visitors can anticipate. The “what to expect” section should briefly cover the worship style, dress code, and childcare arrangements.
4. It is helpful, but not essential, for the website to contain links to the videos of the church service or the pastor’s latest sermon.

Follow-Up Plan

In the early days of my ministry, over 30 years ago, I followed a strict follow-up routine. I would call new visitors on Sunday afternoon and visit them on Monday or Tuesday. However, this approach is outdated in most communities. People now prefer anonymity and value their personal space. Observe the visitor's cues. If they leave their address, send them a personal note to make a connection. Do not pressure anyone into giving their contact information. Provide the means and opportunity, and accept whatever they share. If the guest gives a phone number, make a brief call on Monday. Include an option for the visitor to receive text messages. If they check the text message box, send them a welcome text.

A follow-up welcome or thank-you message should include the next steps opportunity. Consider them at three levels: slow, medium, and fast. People who prefer to take things slow and are cautious about joining a new church might be open to a next-step video orientation of the congregation and its community-based mission activities. They might also be interested in a community event sponsored by the congregation.

People who are moderately engaged are likely to be of the same denomination as your church. They have committed to joining a congregation but haven’t yet decided which one. A good next step for this group could be the community event mentioned earlier. It could be a special gathering held during the Sunday School hour on the fourth Sunday of the month. The event would include some snacks, along with a brief orientation by the Pastor and a lay leader. Although it might seem counterintuitive, you might also create a list of other Lutheran churches in the area, along with their service times and a short description of their ministries. When a congregation provides a visitor with a list of recommended churches, it shows that it cares more about the guest than just its own members. That sends a powerful message.

The final group, the go-fast group, is ready for their next step to be an information class about the church or a membership class.  You don’t want to categorize people into one of the three levels.  The three-level thinking is helpful to ensure that you are reaching the three kinds of potential first-time visitors to your church.  Offer next steps in all three categories to the first-time guest and allow them to self-identify where they are in the decision process by choosing the option that appeals to them.

Small churches without a pastor or staff should consider the “next step” options they can manage with their resources. A small congregation might not be able to carry out all the next steps consistently. However, the sense of community in the congregation is a strength of the small church, so use it by organizing a community-focused service project at the end of September and again at the end of October. For medium or fast-growing groups, guide them to a congregational orientation coffee gathering with the pastor, the head elder, or the chairman of the congregation.

Children’s Ministry

Children’s ministry has long been a key factor in encouraging families to find a church home after moving. While a lively children’s program can still attract families, the bar for engagement has risen because of large churches. Most congregations with fewer than 50 children aged 5-13 attending on any given Sunday will find it tough to compete with these big churches. Still, all is not lost. With intentional effort and consistency, small churches can still be valuable to families with elementary-aged children. The secret is to position your ministry as a trusted partner in parents’ efforts to raise spiritually active children. Instead of focusing only on programming, prioritize purpose. Small churches can effectively connect with families by emphasizing the goal of discipling children in faith. The Concordia Center for the Family offers resources and training to help congregations rethink how children are disciples in the church.

Lead the Surge

In the past, congregations in growing communities didn't need to do much to experience the fall surge of guests. People were motivated to attend church and actively looked for a church home. In most of our congregations, there wouldn't be a true "surge" without effort and intentionality. The simplest step we can take is to welcome newcomers when they move into the neighborhood and invite them to church. It would help if the church prepared a business card or refrigerator magnet with the address and service times, so members can give it along with their invitation. Some congregations have gone further by preparing welcome baskets that might include a treat or homemade bread, along with literature about the community and a brochure about the church. I know of a congregation that asked members for recommendations on local restaurants, entertainment, sites to visit, and car repair shops. They compiled these into a brochure that listed the church's name, address, and service times, which members then handed out to new residents. Another important connection is to welcome newcomers when they activate an account on the Nextdoor App. Although not available everywhere, most towns have their own online portal on Nextdoor. This platform can be used to invite neighbors to an open house or simply to extend a welcome to newcomers. The key takeaway is to be proactive in welcoming people and inviting them to church. Pray as these seeds are sown throughout the summer in preparation for the fall surge.

The surge is coming—are you prepared? Start praying today for those families new to your community, asking God to lead them to your front door. Knowing that God hears our prayers, anticipate the surge. Use the checklist above to ready your congregation.