Activate Hits Bookstores!

My latest book (co-authored with Kerrick) hits bookstores today! I’m very excited about this new book on small groups.  The book has been available on-line for a few weeks and is doing great.  In fact, I still think Amazon.com is the best place to purchase the book.

The goal of the book is to help you build a small groups system that motivates 100% Adult Participation. We’ve been using these principles here in NYC for the last 6 years and regularly see 110% of our adults in small groups.  In addition, I’ve seen similar results with several dozen churches that I have coached through the same process.

Kerrick and I hope you find this book helpful and beneficial (especially for those of you who have struggled with groups in the past).

And if you’ve already read the book, I hope you’ll post a review on Amazon.com (they really do make a difference).

Your friend,

Nelson

P.S. If you have small group questions, use the Ask Nelson button on the right – I plan to answer a ton of small group questions in the blog shortly.

Summer Small Groups – Are They Worth It?

This week, our summer growth groups kick-off at The Journey. So far, over 90% of our adults are in a summer group. We should settle in at around 105% participation this summer – a lot of people will wait until this week to join a group. (Our goal is always 100% of our adults in a small group . . . measured against weekend attendance).

For the next few days, you can see an example of how we do online sign-ups for groups by click here (I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t fill out the form, but feel free to steal anything you like).

One of the big questions we get about our semester-based small groups system has to do with summer groups. A lot of people question whether summer groups are necessary at all.

I know where this thinking comes from… Summer groups are usually ‘flat’ in attendance compared with the spring and fall semesters. In fact, we’ve thought long and hard about skipping a summer semester but each year we continue to push summer groups.

Here’s why we keep doing summer groups:

- Summer allows for a lot of creative groups that will attract new people (bible studies in the park, fitness groups, bring your kids groups, bbq/cook out groups, etc.)

- Summer is the perfect time for new group leaders to get their feet wet (this summer almost 50% of our group leaders are new!)

- Summer is a great time for returning group leaders to take some time off. We ‘force’ our group leaders to take one semester off a year to prevent burnout. I’d rather them take the summer off since the spring and fall are the times when we need as many groups as possible.

- Summer is a great time for many people to join a group who otherwise have busy fall/spring schedules

- Spiritual growth shouldn’t stop just because it’s hot outside

Hope this helps answer your question about summer groups. If you have more questions just use the Ask Nelson button on the right or post them below. I’ll answer as many as possible.

Nelson

P.S. For more on the complete Groups system we use to attract 100% of our adult attendance to groups, check out my brand new book Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups.

Little Things Don’t Mean a Lot – They Mean Everything

I went to McDonalds recently . . . because I got a coupon in an Amazon.com order for a free Southern Style Chicken Sandwich. I ordered my sandwich, a small fry and a small soda. The total came to $3.47 – I was a happy camper. I can’t remember the last time I ate lunch for under $3.50!

About two bites into my ‘Chick-Fil-A-look-a-like’ sandwich I glanced at the receipt. And that’s when I noticed it:

Eat-In Tax….. 0.25

I was a charged a QUARTER for eating my meal in the restaurant where I ordered it. I was no longer a happy camper.

Now, before you think this must be a ‘New York City’ thing, I want you to know that this happened outside NYC . . . in a standard suburban McDonalds.

The issue was not the actual 25 cents . . . The issue was not ‘tax’ as I don’t mind paying any legitimate tax (render under Caesar and all that)… The issue was that McDonald’s was charging me a hidden fee to eat the meal I purchased from them on their premises.

Here’s the point: The issue wasn’t the quarter but the feeling the quarter caused. It left a bad impression on me that I’ve been living with for several days now. Over a mere 25 cents, McDonald’s left me feeling bad about the entire experience (and overall the chicken sandwich was pretty good).

In 1988, I heard bestselling author Harvey Mackay speak and he said:

Little things don’t mean a lot – they mean everything!

I’ve lived with that quote for almost two decades! In this case, one little thing at a fast-food restaurant left a huge negative impression on me.

So here’s a question for you. . .what are the little things you are doing at your church that are leaving negative impressions on your guests or regular attenders?

Here are a few things to prime your thinking:

• Are you charging for regular coffee on Sunday? Eat the quarter and give it away!
• Are you being stingy with your printed materials and trying to save a quarter by not printing both sides in color?
• Are you skipping the ‘little things’ in your worship service and not telling people when you are about to pray or when its time to sit down?
• Are there funky odors in the bathrooms that a 25-cent deodorizer would solve?
• Are there lights burned out in the children’s area?
• Are the labels on the envelopes you mail out more than a little crooked? (couldn’t resist mentioning envelopes since Harvey Mackay is in the envelope biz)
• Are you settling for regular paper instead of heavy stock for your connection cards in an attempt to save a few cents?

You get the picture. Let me remind you again:

Little things don’t mean a lot, they mean everything!

What changes do you need to make this week that will remove negative impressions and leave people saying ‘Wow!’ when they leave your church on Sunday?

I’m not saying that I won’t ever eat at McDonalds again but I will probably get my future orders ‘to go.’

Nelson

How close are you to Hartford, CT?

On Friday, Bob Franquiz will be teaching my seminar on Assimilation in Hartford, CT. If you are within driving distance (i.e., within an 10 hour drive!) then I highly recommend you make it to this seminar. Someone told me recently that Bob actually teaches the seminar better than I do – but I’m in denial for now.

Bob is a three time Coaching Alumni and one of a handful of guys I’ve certified to teach my seminars. He is also the founding Pastor of Calvary Fellowship in Miami Lakes, FL, where he lives the Assimilation principles he teaches.

Here are all the details on the event:

The Fusion Seminar: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church
Friday, June 20, 2008, 9:00 a.m. – Noon, Hartford, CT

The Fusion Seminar will include:
- Principles to help you create an inviting environment for first-time guests
- How to ”wow” first-time guests into wanting to come back
- The Journey’s complete ”Assimilation System,” used to follow up with the 30+ first-time guests who attend the service each week
- Plus much more!

Only $39 per person if you register by June 18.

Click Here to RSVP for The Fusion Seminar in Hartford, CT

And, as always if you can’t afford the investment, call the Church Leader Insights office at 1-800-264-5129 and tell them you need a scholarship – they are limited but they are available.

I hope you can make it – it will be well worth your time!

Nelson

A Miraculous Story – New Podcast

Most of you know Roy Mansfield as a Teaching Pastor at The Journey or the Director of Church Leader Insights or my colleague on several resources or the monthly podcasts but how much do you really know about him?

Well, in this month’s new podcast the truth comes out!  No, I’m not talking about his difficulties with the cops or his past stunts as a traveling ‘houdini’ (more about this in a future podcast perhaps) but rather I’m talking about how God worked in his life and church a few years ago when he suffered SEVEN major strokes in a row!

It’s a true miracle story and I hope you’ll listen by clicking here. Go ahead, click here its free (you can also download the file and listen later).

This podcast deviates from our usual focus on church leadership issues but it is a strong reminder that God can and will use EVERYTHING in our life for his glory!

If you want to send a comment to Roy after you listen to it, just post your comments below.  I have it on good authority that he reads this blog every day!

Nelson

P.S. Is there a topic you’d like to see me address in a future podcast?  If so, use the Ask Nelson button on the right to send me your thoughts.

P.P.S. If you haven’t already done so, why not subscribe to our podcast via iTunes . . . its free and you will insure that you never miss an episode.  Click here to learn how to subscribe.

Monday Proflections – June 16 – 21

Here’s at what’s going on this week with me and Church Leader Insights (CLI) that might be of interest to you:

Monday – I’m away today for a writing day – working on my next book (I can’t tell you the title yet but one of the goals of the book is to bridge the gap between attractional and missional evangelism).

Tuesday – My latest webinar will be announced today – I’m very excited about this webinar, which will be ‘for Senior Pastors’ only.  Get a sneak preview here and save $20.00 by registering early.

Wednesday -I’ll be in Tampa for the second meeting of my brand new Coaching Network there.  I’m very exited that Bob Franquiz will be co-leading this network with me.  Also, watch your CLI email for the latest Podcast with a miraculous story that will leave you shaking your head saying ‘Only God!’

Thursday – Happy 2nd Birthday to Alexander Searcy!  Eat some birthday cake for my son!

Friday – The ‘official’ release date of Activate: A Totally New Approach to Small Groups.  I’m very excited about this new book (co-authored with Kerrick).  It’s been available online for a few weeks, check it out here.

Saturday – I’ll be hanging with Advanced Coaching Alumni Jamey Stuart as he’s leading a mission team from his church to work with us in NYC.  Their primary focus will be touching thousands of people in New York City through Servant Evangelism.

I also have some great stuff to share here each day on the blog.  Have a great week!

Nelson

P.S. Last week I answered your questions on Assimilation (see below).  Remember, if you have any questions, just use the Ask Nelson button on the right.

A Sunday Thought from Dale Carnegie

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

A Big Party Today

Kelley and I are in Atlanta today where our families are all coming together for Alexander’s 2nd Birthday (which is officially June 19).  Alex is enjoying life in suburbia as you can tell in this pic:

Answering Your Assimilation Questions – #4 and #5

This is two-for-one “Assimilation Friday!” For the last several days, I’ve been answering some of the most common assimilation questions I get in response to my Assimilation Seminar and Fusion – my new book on assimilation. I’m going to wrap this up today by answering two more questions about Connection Cards. Here goes:

#4 – How do you measure your Connection Card completion rate?

After each service, we count the Connection Cards that were turned in and divide that number by the estimated number of people in the room. We constantly compete against ourselves, trying to get the number higher than the week before.

#5 – How do you get both a husband and wife to fill out a Connection Card?

The first step is to make sure that every person gets a bulletin – not just one per couple. Train your greeters to hand a bulletin and pen to both the husband and the wife. But beyond that, you have to understand why individual cards are so important – and then relay the importance to your attenders…

First of all, each spouse probably has their own email address. You want to be able to follow up with both of them. Secondly, you want each person to take the “Next Steps” they most need to take… Too often, husbands want to leave it up to their wives to fill out one card and consider themselves covered. I purposely challenge the guys on this – to connect on their own and to take their own steps toward growth.

Hope this week’s assimilation Q&A has been helpful to you! If you missed any of the questions, just check below. And don’t forget – to go more in-depth with how to turn your first-time guests into fully engaged members, check out my Assimilation Seminar and my book, Fusion. Have a great weekend!

- Nelson

Answering Your Assimilation Questions – #3

Question #3 – Do guests have to hand their Connection Cards in to someone in exchange for the free gift?

We don’t ask guests to do anything that would make them uncomfortable – that includes handing their Connection Cards directly to someone in order to get the free gift we offer them. Instead we ask everyone, including guests, to put their Connection Cards in the offering buckets as they are passed at the end of the service. And we let them know that if they do that, they can pick up their free gift (currently, the book One Month To Live by Kerry Shook) on their way out.

We keep the books stacked on a table by the exit. No one hands them out. The guest can simply grab one as they walk by. (You may want to have a volunteer stand off to the side to restock the table or answer any questions, if approached.)

Why do we operate this way? Experience has shown us that if you allow guests to remain comfortable and anonymous, they will be more likely to do what you ask and they will be more likely to return. They don’t want to be the ones not turning their cards into the offering bucket when everyone else is. They don’t want to have to talk to anyone to get the free gift. If you require them to speak to someone, or to hand a card directly to a staff person or volunteer to get their gift, you will have far fewer Connection Cards turned in. Guaranteed.

Keep it simple, keep them comfortable and you’ll keep them coming back.

- Nelson

P.S. Check back tomorrow for more on assimilating your newcomers! And, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to take a look at my Assimilation Seminar and my new book on assimilation, Fusion.