Supercharge Your Welcome with “Plan Your Visit!”
- The Rev. Chris Harris
- May 23
- 3 min read
By The Rev. Chris Harris Invite Welcome Connect Instructor
Visiting a new church for the first time is much harder than most of us remember. Many first-time guests will check you out online, explore your website, and have every intention of coming, but when Sunday morning rolls around, hesitation sets in.
Think about it.
When was the last time you thought about going to a big, unfamiliar place, filled with lots of people you don’t know—but who know one another really well? Visiting a church for the first time can feel like crashing someone else's family reunion!
Will anyone talk to me? Will I feel out of place? Will I not know what to do or where to sit? Will I be underdressed? Overdressed?
“Plan Your Visit” removes that barrier!
By offering potential visitors an easy way to schedule their visit in advance through a simple online form, you remove a lot of the anxiety by helping people feel welcome and seen long before they actually arrive.
How it Works
First-time guests fill out a “Plan Your Visit” form, which is automatically forwarded to a designated greeter at the church;
The greeter calls the guest, lets them know how much they are looking forward to meeting them, and sees if they have any questions;
On the day of their visit, the same greeter who reached out meets them at the door (welcome table or similar), introduces them around, and after the service, offers to accompany them to coffee hour, etc.
It’s the same kind of welcome and hospitality that any of us would extend to a friend or family member visiting our church for the first time.
What You Need to Get Started:
Add a “Plan Your Visit” button to the front page of your website (or easy-to-find hyperlinks), on the navigation bar, and anywhere else a first-time guest might see it (“New Here?” page, etc.);
The button (or link) should direct the visitor to a simple form that asks for contact information and the date and service they plan to attend;
The form is then set to automatically forward responses to someone who will reach out later that day.
Responding to the "Plan Your Visit" form the same day lets newcomers know that they are coming to a safe space that truly welcomes them.
Tips and Best Practices
Call and/or text the new guest personally the same day (or within 24 hours at the latest) of their form being completed. Quick follow-up is crucial.
Don't go overboard trying to give them the “VIP” treatment—that’s not what this is about. Showering them with gifts or embarrassing them with public introductions will only make them feel awkward or singled out. Again, treat them like you would a friend or family member visiting your church for the first time.
If you have a Sunday School, you can include the registration information on the form to make their first day go more smoothly.
Don’t expect everyone to use it. Some people are quite happy to be anonymous when they visit a church for the first time. That’s ok; this isn’t for them. But for everyone else, this will help get over the hesitation and jumpstart the relationship you hope to build.
Have you experimented with this kind of welcome? I’d love to hear your experiences and learnings! Email me anytime at charris@christchurchcranbrook.org
Want help generating more ideas like this? Subscribe to Invite Welcome Connect On Demand! “Plan Your Visit” is just one of the many ways we can help your church engage with those looking for a spiritual home.
Under Chris’s article above I think he meant “underdressed” but it says “undressed” 😱 Thanks for the chuckle.