2014 BPC Officers AND MODERATORS TRAINING

1. 2014 BPC Officers AND MODERATORS TRAINING How to become better disciples for Christ – Sponsored by: Evangelism Ministry

2. Agenda • Topics of Discussion: • 1st impressions (7minutes to make an impression on guests)To include video • How to evangelize to people who are already members • How to engage consumers (people not affiliated with your church) • Guest Retention – Reasons Guests don’t return and what you can do to repair it To include video • How to recognize 3 types of Guests – Un-churched/Traditional Church/Drop Outs • Making Guests feel welcomed To include video • Unhealthy Church (guests pickup on problems within the church) • Empathy for guests – space anxiety • Have guests connect to your church • Be a church outside of your church building • Be THE church in your neighborhood • Developing Stories – Help people realize their own stories

3. 1st impressions Video • 7minutes to make an impression on guests

4. How to Evangelize to People who are Already Members • Congregational Prayer to invite guests • Equip your members in personal evangelism • Sharing their own testimony of coming to faith in Christ • Sharing the gospel of Christ in clear and simple terms • Improve your hospitality • Your hospitality ministry leaves a lasting impression as they leave • Your hospitality ministry prepares the way for people to enter the worship service • Engage your community

5. How To Engage Consumers Video • Who is the consumer? • People who have not joined Bellefonte, but continue to visit or shop around for a church home. • You are the first loving touch every guest will meet, which sets the stage for people to be open to life change. • People will be more or less receptive to the teaching depending on how they were made to feel on the way in.

6. Guest Retention Video • Why guests don’t return and what you can do to repair it? • Keep a managed record of all guests and follow up within 2 weeks. • Most guests will decide in the first few minutes if they will return, even before the music starts. • It’s easy to walk into church if you’re there every week, but do you remember what it was like walking in for the first time, when you didn’t think you’d know anyone and wondered if anyone would want to know you?

7. How to recognize 3 types of Guests • Un-churched - video • People who don’t know / don’t believe in Jesus Christ • Traditional Church • People who come to church on a regular basis • Drop Outs • People who used to come to church on a regular basis, but have since strayed away

8. Making Guests Feel Welcomed Video • The over-bearing greeter • Loud and aggressive • Does the greeter create barriers? • Greeters don’t show up on time • Do a half-baked job • Rarely make eye contact • Don’t seem to really care • Not informed of upcoming church events to share with guests

9. Unhealthy Church • Guests pick up on problems within the church • Members whispering among themselves about internal problems within Bellefonte • Not greeting guests as they are seated on the same pew • Cleanliness of the church

10. Meeting Expectations of your Guests • How can we meet your needs? • Can we provide you with some information about our church? • Church website • Welcome CD packet • You are a tour guide who takes people to their destination, not a travel agent who sends them there. • Walking parents and kids all the way to the next volunteer in the kids’ worship room is far better than pointing a finger and saying, “it’s down there on the right.” Walk with people and ask them questions on the way. Be genuinely interested in their lives.

11. Empathy for Guests • Space anxiety • Unfamiliar with church surroundings • Where are the restrooms? • Where can I change my child’s diapers? • Is it okay to sit here? • Where is the welcome center for guests? • How do I find out where Children’s Church is being held? • What brought you to Bellefonte today?

12. Be a church outside of your church building Matthew 10:1-8 • Be THE church in your neighborhood • Partner with surrounding schools • Invite people to God’s story while visiting coffee shops…etc • Volunteer at Parks & Recreation events • Community Initiatives sponsored by local, state organizations • Starting new Initiatives • Starting New Initiatives is a process of prayer, discernment, conversation and reflection for congregations to decide how they can best minister in their particular ministries that will support Bellefonte’s mission.

13. Developing Stories – Help people realize their own stories Luke 19:1-10 • Who helped you see Jesus? • What was your life like before you came to know and trust Jesus? • We not only have a story, but we are part of a bigger story . . . God’s story. • Engage people in your community – Video • How do we approach people? • Eye contact when conversing • Goodness must be inside us first

14. Video References Welcome to our Church http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xKUkz0nnp_8 How Unchurched People View the Church http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p_SBgEW7XT4 Bad Church Greeters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xJleNCiiTE&list=PLCFC3B27A630F1963&index=3 First Impressions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDNDTTjNXIw&feature=player_detailpage First time guest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dL8dpPDDJQ&feature=player_embedded Engaging People http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/evangelism/

15. 2014 BPC Officers AND MODERATORS TRAINING How to become better disciples for Christ – Sponsored by: Evangelism Ministry