Church Growth/Leadership Development
|
Everyone wants their churches, their ministries to grow--in numbers and in maturity. So what is your church doing to have this growth? Ask yourself these questions:
Bring Kris in to evaluate your existing leadership and offer suggestions on the next step, whether it's a leadership training seminar or short- or long-term consultant training. 
What do people first notice when they come to your church? What would they say they remember most? What leads them to come back?
Who doesn’t want their church to be warm and welcoming to a guest? Everyone wants their churches to grow not only in size but in the personal growth of each member. Perhaps you want to know how to build your church one person at a time. So where do you begin? How do you start? Initial Evaluation To determine what is needed to start making the necessary changes at your church, you need to evaluate where you are now. See below for the process. You can do some of it on your own…or you can invite Kris Swiatocho to help. Here’s the general process she (or you) can use: Survey: You can purchase our survey with over 300 questions on every area of your church. Evaluate where your church is on its own and take steps for change. See a sample of the questions here. Secret Church Shopping: Bring Kris Swiatocho in to secretly visit and evaluate how warm and friendly your church is. From your website to your signs, to how she is greeted, to the layout of your church, to marketing and follow-up, Kris will provide a detailed report covering every area…including pictures if needed. This report will also include your next steps and recommendations in order. Greeter/Usher Training: From the parking lot to the pew and back again, proper and consistent greeting is critical to becoming a warm and welcoming church. Are your current greeters your ushers? Do your greeters represent your church's demographics? Do you have enough greeters and ushers? Do they look at their role as a ministry? Do you know your greeters/ushers can actually build relationships with visitors? Bring Kris in for a one-time or multiple training events. You can also purchase training materials to do your own training day. Article by Thom Rainer on Top 10 Ways Churches Drive Away First-Time Guests. Marketing Your Church: How does your website look? Did you know that your website is the first place most folks will go when looking for a new church? What about your church brochure? Your bulletin? Your logo? How does your church come across to those from the outside? Kris can help with everything from designing to implementing a marketing plan. To see Kris' portfolio, click here. 
I have known Kris for almost 20 years now. She is a tremendous Bible teacher and encourager to Singles and to women. She speaks, leads conferences & Retreats for both groups. I’ve had her in two different churches that I’ve served on staff over these past 20 years. She has great wisdom & insights into God's word. She is like a sister to me and a wonderful Bible teacher & gifted storyteller. Kris uses humor as she shares & is making a difference for the Kingdom & in the lives of Singles & others in the United States and all around the world. |
"The First 15 Minutes: Why Guests Decide to Return Before the Sermon Begins."by Kris Swiatocho
What Happens Outside the Sanctuary Matters Just as Much as What Happens Inside Many churches work hard to create meaningful worship services, biblical teaching, and engaging ministries. However, what happens before a guest ever enters the sanctuary often determines whether they will return. First-time guests begin forming opinions about your church long before the first worship song is sung. They notice your website, parking lot, signage, landscaping, volunteers, children's check-in process, restrooms, and the overall atmosphere. Every interaction either builds confidence or creates uncertainty. Consistency in your church's image, facilities, parking, marketing, signage, volunteer training, hospitality, and communication is critical. The question every church should ask is:
1. They Don't Feel Like They Belong Guests can quickly sense whether a church is friendly or simply friendly to one another. Standing alone before and after a service, not being introduced to others, or feeling excluded from conversations can leave visitors feeling invisible. People are looking for connection, not just attendance. 2. Concerns About Their Children's Safety Parents are willing to overlook many things, but uncertainty regarding their children's safety is rarely one of them. Clear check-in procedures, trained volunteers, visible security measures, background checks, and well-maintained children's areas communicate that children are valued and protected. Note: Most churches believe they are safe, but safety should never be assumed. As someone who has visited tons of churches over the past twenty years, I have repeatedly been able to walk into children's ministry areas without being questioned, despite not being a parent or grandparent. If I can do it, someone with harmful intentions can too. The question is not whether your church cares about children; the question is whether your systems truly protect them. 3. Lack of Intentional Hospitality Many guests have no idea who is on staff, who can answer questions, or where they should go. A warm greeting at the door is only the beginning. Guests need trained volunteers who can walk with them, answer questions, introduce them to others, and help them navigate the morning. 4. Poor Directional Information Visitors should never feel lost. Churches need visible welcome centers, campus maps, clear signage, easy-to-read directional markers, and updated websites. If someone cannot find information online or reach someone on Sunday morning, frustration begins before they ever arrive. 5. Parking Challenges and Confusing Arrival Experiences The parking lot is often a guest's first impression. Insufficient signage, unclear visitor parking, poor lighting, lack of handicap accessibility, and no parking attendants can create unnecessary stress. A guest who arrives frustrated may already be disengaged before entering the building. 6. Unfriendly or Unprepared Volunteers Volunteers are often the face of the church. Guests remember how they were treated far more than what color the carpet was. Friendly, informed, and engaged volunteers create confidence and help people feel at home. 7. Dirty or Poorly Maintained Facilities People naturally associate cleanliness with care. Overflowing trash cans, dirty restrooms, worn-out children's areas, and neglected grounds can communicate that details—and people—do not matter. 8. Insider Language and Assumptions Churches often forget that guests may not understand ministry terms, acronyms, traditions, or church culture. When visitors constantly feel like outsiders trying to decode what's happening, they become exhausted and disconnected. 9. No Clear Next Step Guests should know exactly what to do after their first visit. How do they connect? Join a small group or Sunday school class? Learn more about the church? Meet staff? Sign up to serve? Churches that clearly communicate next steps are far more successful at helping guests become connected members. 10. They Experience a Lack of Authentic Community People are not looking for perfection; they are looking for genuine relationships. They want to see people who love God, love others, and are willing to welcome newcomers into their lives. Every church has blind spots. The best way to discover them is to view your church through the eyes of a first-time guest. Ask trusted outsiders to visit anonymously and provide honest feedback. Walk your campus as if you've never been there before. Remember: People often decide whether they will return before the sermon begins. Excellence in hospitality, communication, safety, and connection does not replace the Gospel—it helps remove unnecessary barriers so people can hear it. To bring Kris to your church to be a shopper, contact her at 919.434.3611 or [email protected] |
Creative Small Groups/Sunday School TrainingEach Sunday morning every church in America gets an opportunity to make a “first impression” on the visitors that come through their doors. People either find them friendly and warm, or they don’t. It’s a one-shot deal that cannot be recaptured- no second chances.
Most of us think we are doing a good job and spend very little time actually evaluating one of the most important things that happens on Sunday mornings. We were a church that thought we were doing a pretty good job until I asked Kris to come be a “secret shopper” and evaluate our work. She was given the freedom to evaluate everything: our greeters, signs, parking, worship experience, restrooms, etc. She then reported back to us what we were doing well (there was a lot), but also what we needed to improve on (there was a lot more than we could have imagined). Kris met with our church leadership and gave a very honest yet encouraging report filled with the unique humor that only she can provide. We were both encouraged and challenged to make the “first impression” a higher priority at our church. If your church is serious about getting visitors to come back, then I encourage you to invite Kris to be a “secret shopper’ at your church. --Pastor Freddy Johnson, North Point Church, Columbia, SC Sunday school and small groups can sometimes become generic. People come and go, and we aren't sure why. No matter what you do, there seems to be a lack of individual commitment or growth. So, do you want your classes to grow? Do you want to be the church known for dynamic Sunday school and/or small groups? Do you want your members to feel like they belong? Bring Kris in to evaluate your Sunday school program and small groups, and help them take the next step. She will observe: •Location of the room/meeting place •Present methods of reaching people, connecting, and keeping people •Present methods of marketing •Present methods of follow-up •Purpose/goals of the class, including organization •Teaching style •Class environment •Present leadership of the class/structure, such as greeters, care groups, prayer, social, etc. •Problems/Issues in the class and offer concrete suggestions for improvement and change. Kris Swiatocho is available for consultation (one-time, short-term, and long-term), training events, seminars, and conferences. If there’s something not listed or if you would like some training customized to fit your style, feel free to contact Kris at 919.434.3611 or by email at [email protected]. |
|
Check out these great resources:
300 plus questions to ask to see how warm and welcoming your church really is.
|
Icebreaker, Skits and Games for your ministries.
|
Walk the Line Bible study for all adults.
|
Leaders That Last 6-week Training curriculum.
|
FAQs of Singles Ministry Leadership Book.
|
