The Most Important Ten Minutes

The most important ten minutes for a guest are the first ten minutes.

Start the clock from the time a guest pulls up to the church.  Will Mancini and other church growth experts note that guests decide in the first ten minutes whether they will return for a second visit.

What is so important about the first ten minutes?

When was the last time you decided to visit another church you previously never attended?  A guest is asking all sorts of questions. Where do we park? Are there signs that direct us? Which door do we enter? Where do our children go? Can anyone tell me where the restroom is located? Are we greeted genuinely and promptly? Does it seem as though the people were prepared for guests to come? 

Consciously and subconsciously a lot goes on in the heart and mind of a guest.  Most guests make up their mind about whether they will return before they ever reach the worship center. Most have already drawn conclusions about the church and if it deserves a second look before the first chord of the first song, the first word of the sermon, the first clip of the awesome video, or even the first sip of our gourmet coffee.

How should knowing this guide us?

The preaching of God's truth is extremely important and must not be compromised.  The leading of worship through music should exude excellence and genuineness and be strategic in leading people to worship.  However, when it comes to a guest's first impression and decision to return, these two elements haven't even come into play in the first ten minutes.

What is most important are the people of the church!

We have all been to churches where the sign says "A Friendly Church" but the people communicate "Outsiders Aren't Welcome."

Every person, not just the First Impressions Team, should aim to create an inviting environment that makes those who arrive feeling like outsiders quickly feel like an insider.  Every person can be involved in creating a church atmosphere where guests don't feel like an afterthought but rather feel like a VIP.

This requires adopting the thinking of a guest to anticipate needs and questions that guests have and ask. It also means removing the obstacles that clutter the path for guests to hear the gospel or return for a second time.

Don't Miss the Principle

People matter to God and they must matter to us. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope of the world, but it is an offense to those who are perishing.  There are a lot of things we can do to offend guests and one another.  There are scores of things we can erect to make it difficult for someone to hear and respond to the gospel.

Creating an inviting environment that welcomes in all people is for the purpose that the gospel be proclaimed, received, and believed.