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Do you know how people are assimilated into the life of your church?
Looking at how assimilation of new people is happening is a key component of a studying the growth of a local church.
- Who are the last three families who came to your church and stayed?
- Why did these families first attend your church?
- What brought them back the second time?
- Why did these people stay?
- How does the church respond to the first-time visitor?
- What specific things are done at the time of their visit and within a few days?
- What would first time visitors feel positive about? What would they have negative feelings about?
- What does the pastor do to respond to the newcomer?
Assimilation, though a widely used term in the church, may not be the best word. At times I think "assimilation" sounds like we're about to be swallowed by some kind of giant amoeba.
Some other words which could be used to describe the same process include:
- Enfolding
- Connecting to the church and to the Lord
- Fostering active participation
- Guiding believers into ministry
- Finding your niche
- Becoming belongers
- Incorporating newcomers
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Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th, Bethany, OK 73008 | Phone: 405-491-6693 - Fax: 405-491-6658
Copyright © 2000, 2001 - Last Updated: October 15, 2005 | URL: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/unite.htm
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