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It is important to track and analyze where our new parish contacts have come from. It will help us to value our contacts. It will help us to manage them. It will help us to explore new opportunities to connect.
Parish contacts usually come from the following sources:
1) New attendees at service
2) Worshippers invited by friends or family
3) Guests as services for special occasions
4) Baptismal preparation requests
5) Marriage preparation requests
6) Grief ministry
7) Hospital contacts
8) People in crisis referred to the parish for counseling
9) People who have been invited to program activities
10) People who have come to social events (usually invited)
New members will probably come from one of these sources. The rector can set a climate where each new contact is managed and handled well. “Can I get your name and number?” “Can I come for a quick visit to get to know you and your family over the next couple of weeks?” “Can we set up a time to meet now so we both do not forget?”
Phrases that display poor stewardship of these contacts are: “I will call you later.” “Get back to me when it is convenient.” “Call the office and set up an appointment.”
It is good to always look for ways to expand our present contacts. Flyers to the neighbourhoods, ads in community newspapers, area coffee parties, and special events are some of the ways to expand contacts.
Depending on the size of the parish there will be a few dozen to a few hundred new contacts each year. How do we increase those contacts? How do we steward them well?
Item 78
©2008 Ronald C. Ferris
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