First impressions are important and last a long time. Think about some of the people and organizations you have met or experienced for the first time lately. In a very short period of time you are forming an impression of what that person is like or what that business is like. Your favorite restaurant became your favorite because of a good first impression that caused you to want to go back. Over time you developed a greater appreciation for the food and atmosphere and the people that work there.
It’s the same way at church. When someone visits NewPointe Community Church for the first time, they are forming an opinion or impression of what the church is like. If that impression is more favorable than unfavorable, they are more likely to come back. If they come back, they will begin to form deeper connections with the people and the way in which we do church. As people continue to come back they are exposed to the spiritual truth about Jesus Christ and will begin to grow in that relationship.
As a church we want to do everything we can to remove the distractions that could cause someone to not want to come back to church. We realize that we are not for everyone, which is OK. Our target is the person that has been away from church for a while or who has not been to church before. Each person that calls NewPointe their home church can play an important role in creating an experience in which people feel loved, welcome and accepted. Here are some practical ways in which we can create that environment:
- Allow the best parking spaces for guests, and be courteous to others in the parking lot.
- Sit near the front and move to the middle of the row to allow the end seats and back rows for guests and those arriving late.
- Smile and acknowledge the people around you
- Don’t contribute to congestion in the hallway or back of the auditorium by blocking the flow of people.
- Pray before you come to church for all the new people that will be coming or for the people that are coming back.
- Volunteer for one of our many teams, to serve those attending.
- Help keep the building looking clean and neat by picking up litter and being watchful for ways to improve the appearance of the building.
First impressions really do matter, our goal is to be authentic, real people who are friendly, personable and approachable. We want to bring glory to God through the way we treat people and the way in which we do church. The local church really is the hope of the world, so let’s work together to make a great first impression and then serve and love each other well, so that the community around us will notice and be drawn to what we have to offer.