Our church has a pretty extensive follow-up sequence for first-time guests, including phone calls, personal notes, emailed invitations to open houses, welcome letters and so on—each of them inviting the newcomer to a “next step” of some kind.
But for the last year I have been experimenting with a series of three simple texts that have truly been a game changer! These simple messages help build a meaningful rapport and have easily outperformed our other communication channels, resulting in a noticeable increase in response rates, return visits, and next-step engagement.
Why Texts?
Study after study shows growing preference for text-based communication:
● Americans check their mobile devices more than 47 times per day
● 80% report texting as their primary mobile activity
● Texts have insanely high open rates—90% versus email, which can be as low as 20%
This means that a significant portion of newcomers are likely to engage more readily with text messages than emails or phone calls, allowing you to more quickly and more intentionally foster a sense of personal connection following their first visit.
However, these high open rates come with a responsibility to be respectful of new visitors’ time and space and not to abuse or overwhelm them. Here are some simple pointers when texting newcomers to your church:
Tip 1: Less is more
There’s a reason elevator talk begins with the weather. It’s not a real topic, but a social cue designed to see if others are interested in striking up a conversation. In the same way, keep your initial texts simple, casual, and—most of all—let their responses drive the conversation. Remember, you are striking up a relationship with a near stranger, so a light touch is best.
Tip 2: Keep it about them
You want to develop authentic connection and trust, so resist the temptation to promote your next event or volunteer opportunity and instead keep the focus on them. The goal is to build a meaningful, pastoral relationship, and that begins with genuine curiosity and concern about them and their needs.
Tip 3: Follow up immediately!
Regardless of your follow-up method, it's absolutely imperative to follow up with guests either on the day of their visit or the following day. Immediate follow-up demonstrates how much you value them, helps them to feel noticed, and builds on the momentum and good feelings from their visit. Texting is the most natural, and also the easiest way to ensure quick follow-up.
Ok, with the precautions out of the way, here are three simple text messages that can help to quickly establish a rapport with a first-time visitor and help them feel valued, seen and heard by you.
Text #1: A Simple Hello!
Whether I met the newcomer in person or not, I send our first-time guests simple hello either on the night of their first visit or the following morning:
“Hey [NAME], Rev. Chris here from Christ Church Cranbrook. So glad to have you with us Sunday! I hope you enjoyed the service. Have a blessed week!”
Notice I haven’t invited them to anything. It’s a simple message that affirms they were seen and appreciated, while opening the door if they do want to text back or have any questions.
Text #2: What can I pray for?
Remember, you want to build a relationship and keep the focus on them. What better way than to ask newcomers if you can pray for them? On the Friday after their first visit, I send this message:
“[NAME], we are putting together the prayer list for Sunday services, and I thought I'd ask if there is anything we can pray for?”
There is probably no single communication that I send newcomers that’s had a more powerful impact than this simple question. It demonstrates that our first concern is them and their family’s well-being, and can lead to valuable pastoral conversations. (I follow it with an email the following week giving them a link to our website where they can submit their own prayers in the future.)
Text #3: Can I offer a brief tour after church?
Churches can be confusing places with strange names and unfamiliar terms. What better way to break the ice with a newcomer than to offer to show them around? Plus it’s a great time to get to know them and hear some of their story as you do. On the second week after their first visit (roughly 10 days later) I send this text:
“Hey [FIRST_NAME], has someone shown you around the church yet? If not I’d be happy to offer a brief tour after church this Sunday.”
Again, you’re demonstrating that you are concerned about their needs and helping them feel comfortable. Plus, statistics show that newcomers who come to your church a second time, have a much higher chance of becoming regular attenders. So getting them back for that second or third visit is crucial.
Have a lot of visitors? Automate!
If your church sees too many weekly visitors and this feels overwhelming, programs like Text in Church or Clearstream can help you automate the entire process I just described. But try it for yourself! Experiment with different messages.
I’d love to hear your experiences and further ideas! Email me at charris@christchurchcranbrook.org or you guessed it, text me at 619-995-9600!
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