As a society becomes more technologically advanced, people seek out things that are more personal and familiar. It is not uncommon for a computer to be housed in a roll top desk or an antique wardrobe to serve as an entertainment center. People look for the familiar as they are in the midst of change.

They also look for personal contact as their world becomes more impersonal. Would you rather listen to a computer voice say “For customer service press ‘one’ now” or talk to a real person? That principle carries over into other areas. Because people are increasingly dehumanized by technology, they seek affirming relationships.

People are looking, often desperately, for stability and meaningful relationships. This works together causing people to hunger for personal contact. For this reason, many are seeking out churches.

Your guests have made the first step and they are expecting something from you

Usually a person visits a church for the first time with a friend or relative. They are trying, in part, to find a place where people will accept them. They rightly expect God’s people to treat them different than they are treated by the people of the world. Most of the time they will come to your congregation in stressful periods of transition in their lives such as the loss of a loved one, the birth of a child, moving to a new area, or a serious illness. These are the times people visit a church for the first time. During these periods, they are looking for you to touch their lives. They really want Jesus to touch them and they look to your congregation as the embodiment of Jesus. That is exactly what we are to be as the body of Christ.

The people who visit your congregation come because they are hungering for relationships with you and with God. It is difficult to take the step of visiting a church for the first time. When they take that step and overcome their natural tendency to continue to stay away, you have an opportunity to minister to them and to share the Gospel with them.

Remember this important principle, when you follow up with guests to your worship services, you are responding to them. They have sought you out and you are helping them get what they really want. Often churches are afraid to follow up with guests. They do not want to seem pushy. That is unfortunate. Your guests have made the first step and they are expecting something from you or they would not have come in the first place.

Plan to follow up with love and help until your guests are either a part of your church family or they let you know they do not want any more of your care and help.

This article is from REACH OUT! Your Congregation’s Complete Guide for Turning Guests into Members by Curt Gunz.