Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church

by Gary L. McIntosh

All churches like to think that theirs is the friendliest in town. But do visitors see it that way? Church consultant Gary McIntosh invites readers to take a look at their church through the eyes of visitors and potential visitors. His starting point, grounded in an understanding of God as a "welcomer," is that churches should see those who enter their doors as not merely visitors, but as guests, and themselves as gracious hosts. This practical book offers sound advice on assessing and improving the ways in which churches attract people, welcome them, do follow-up, and bring them into the church family. It also offers suggestions for making a welcoming attitude part of the very fabric of the local church.

Genres: Church, Evangelism, Leadership

188 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Joe Cassada · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, let me share what I liked about the book: it really has some great ideas for welcoming visitors. Also, it's helpful to be reminded to look at your church through the eyes of a first-timer and really see your ministry from their perspective. Lastly, the book has some stellar ways to follow-up on visitors and a particularly wise method of focusing on the second-time guests.

Now, here's what I didn't like about the book:

McIntosh writes from the usual church-growth mentality: "give 'em what they want." In chapter 4 he comes very close to teaching that to reach the materialistic you have to be materialistic. When I was in a church-growth minded Bible college, one common mantra that was thrown around was "if you're not first class, then you have no class." With such a mentality, it's easy to go from approaching ministry with an eye on details, cleanliness, and appropriateness to becoming obsessed with having the best, biggest, newest and most expensive. Materialistic churches might gather materialistic attenders, but we have to remember that our goal is not attendance, but transformation. Doing ministry with such a fleshly philosophy produces big churches with little spiritual transformation. The worship service becomes an entertainment product, and the church is reduced to a business and the attenders to customers.

Another quibble I have with the book is the pandering to the Emerg*** church in chapter 13. I got about halfway through the chapter and gave up. I can only swallow so much vomit. Of course, this somewhat shows the date of the book (2006). The Emerg*** church has pretty much been relegated to the trash heap of American Christian movements.

But in spite my qualms with the book, McIntosh has many good ideas that can be implemented without buying into to the purpose-driven consumer-driven church philosophy. So, for those reasons I recommend it.

[Keith Beasley-Topliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good guide to hospitality for churches that want to welcome guests at worship and help them become connected to the congregation. The author's advice probably is more applicable to large churches than the small ones I serve. And the book could stand an update, particularly in sections about direct-mailings (internet presence is barely mentioned) and emergent churches. Amazing how much has changed in the last decade since the book was written.

[Michael Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a bit dated (2006), McIntosh gives some helpful and thoughtful advice on how to connect visitors to your church family. A good book to go through with your leaders or connection team to create discussion and get ideas. His chapter on the "Emerging Church" somewhat nullified what he had said throughout the book about developing an intentional strategy, but we do have to be careful of being too systematic in welcoming people. Many good reminders about seeing your church family and facility as a visitor sees them.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little things make a big difference. It's so easy to get caught up in programs and splash events and neglect the little touches that make people feel welcome. This book is a great reminder of all the pieces and parts that need to come together to truly welcome people into the church.

[Chris Workman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great insights on guest follow-up and assimilation for churches. Unfortunately, many of the ideas and references are dated. The actions outlined in this book are not "one size fits all" when it comes to churches.

[Tyler Eason · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some helpful tips, but they’re often clouded with pragmatic, church growth drivel.

[Daniel Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good practical advice

[Mitch Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful resource to evaluate how truly welcoming your church is.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motivational and practical

[Alvir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary L. McIntosh’s book “Beyond the First Visit” is a practical handbook that any ministry leader should have available on their shelves. As the president of the McIntosh Church Growth Network and a professor at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, McIntosh has a wealth of experience and education he draws from in the area of ministry growth. His book contains very practical steps that one can implement in their church to better steward the visitors that step through their doors.

I appreciate how the book is meant to be very practical. It is written in such a way that you can easily refer to it at whatever stage your outreach program needs to grow in. He provides enough biblical philosophy to be able to back his approaches. His ideas make a lot of sense.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve or grow their outreach program.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book builds a solid theological foundation for developing a culture of hospitality in the local church and then gives good, practical suggestions for churches of all sizes to intentionally welcome guests into the community of faith. Perhaps the best concept put forward in the book is that we should eliminate the word "visitor" from our vocabulary and replace it with "guest." Visitors just drop by and are not always welcome. We expect, prepare for, and welcome guests. This is a good book to consider if you want to begin or improve your church's hospitality ministry.

[John D. Bain · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you missed the 1980s or the Church Growth Movement of the last part of the 20th Century . . . this book will help you get up to speed. How to turn visitors to your church into members of the family!

[Gerry Czerak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good reference on church marketing ideas; better as a bookshelf item to be consulted than as a read-through tome.

[Dustin Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic "church growth" information. Some useful and thought-provoking; some that reduces church community to a business type model.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good concrete steps to help welcome visitors

[Amy]

well...i have misplaced this book. so whenever find it i'll start reading it again!

[Randy Elster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, but a little dated.