1. Promote, talk about, teach on vacancies in our representation of the community. Who in the community do we NOT have represented among our church? Who haven’t we reached effectively? What can we do, change or add to reach these groups? There are cultural ethnic groups, such as Asians, Hispanics, recent immigrants, etc. What are we doing to find them and link up with them? Also, professionally, what groups are we missing and how can we reach them?

2. Create expectations, hopes and dreams regularly: Challenge, inspire, promote, talk up our regular members our expectation and the normalcy of each one inviting, bringing in and linking with new people. Every member is a recruiter, a fisherman. We need to have each new member bring a guest or sponsor a member as part of turning from "red badge" to "blue badge." Remind members that this is part of what it means to be a Christian.

3. Have special "theme" guest meetings, e.g., a "Church alumni meeting," a "youth leaders in the community" meeting, or simply "bring a friend day" as an opportunity to acquaint prospective members with our church now.

4. Introduce people to the church through public relations – brochures or local newspaper ads highlighting members’ accomplishments and spotlighting community leaders in the church. Or add our church schedule to our local newspapers’ community calendar.

5. Invite local business people, neighbors, co-workers to an "Introduction to Our Church" dinner, where we tell what WE are doing in the community, how beneficial it is and who is involved with us, and let them say a few words about what they are doing.

6. Give a "free lunch" or "free meal coupon" from a local restaurant to the most recent sponsor of a new member.

7. Team effort. Create membership teams within the church, and challenge each team of four people to pray together, strategize, invite and follow up on a visitor or a person who has never been to our church, to bring in one new member.

8. Church Forum. Hold a Church Forum on membership development to discuss ways to seek out potential members. This can be after a regular meeting or before one, or even as a special meeting. Or just take five minutes for a brainstorming session for prospective members – regularly! Remind people regularly (a "Pastoral Minute" during offering time, or announcements) that we’re always on the lookout for quality people to join our church!

9. Train and T-shirt Campaign. In Spring or Summer, stimulate interest with buttons or t-shirts saying "Ask me about The Worship Center." (And wear your Church pin every day!) Train T-shirt wearers some basics on what to say when asked!!

10. Invite recent guests to participate in some of the church activities, functions, special meetings and social activities and let them see for themselves how much we love each other, our fellowship and how much fun we have.

11. Be sure everyone in the church knows who’s eligible to join the church (anyone who has accepted Jesus as Lord and wants to be a part of THIS body of caring Believers) and how to approach a person about joining!

12. Keep a list of local people who do visit, do business with us (Florists, Funeral Homes, Office Suppliers, newspaper advertising people) and invite them to join you for a meeting and learn more about The Worship Center.

13. Have a candid discussion with members about what we would mean if we described our church as being a "quantity of quality people." What is so special about OUR people? What is the value of associating with OUR people in a mutually beneficial relationship?

14. Where else could we seek new members? How about parents of members? Have Grandparent’s Day, emphasizing the value of grandchildren seeing grandparents as Christians and hearing them sing, pray, etc.

1. Invite friends and colleagues to be your guest at a church meeting, to learn more about who you are and what you do as an active member of The Worship Center.

2. Make sure there’s plenty of literature about the church available at our meetings and events -- including copies of our beliefs, uniqueness, and other church promotional material.

3. Make "What is The Worship Center?" wallet-sized information cards available to all members.

4. Ask for their input and ideas and then implement the good ones.

5. Use our Guest Books to a greater advantage. Include space for Email and "who brought you" or "guest of" space.

6. Encourage guests and friends to participate in Worship Center activities or projects

7. Share why YOU are a member of The Worship Center.

8. Remember that there are at least 20 answers to the question "Why Join The Worship Center." Find out what your prospect is interested in, and explore together why The Worship Center might be right for him or her.

9. Offer lively and exciting programs for the Kids and Youth – Chuckee Cheese and McDonald’s know the value of this.

10. Actually ask people if they are interested in joining The Worship Center!

11. Make sure everyone in our church knows how to propose a new member.

12. Provide a potent, honest orientation for prospective new members.

1. Make sure that our orientation/assimilation process is ongoing and supportive. Make expectations clear.

2. Make inductions momentous occasions. Invite spouses to participate, and have the new member’s sponsor and/or mentor there also. Include presentations of The Worship Center pin, Name Badge, The Worship Center materials, Presentation Bible, etc. Make the presentation and induction warm and serious. If possible, ensure that every member greets the new member before the meeting is over.

3. Involve spouses and families of The Worship Center every chance you get -- from orientation and induction forward.

4. Ensure that new members get involved right away. Make participation on church committees -- and in church activities -- a part of the "Red Badge to Blue Badge" requirements. (Support new members in finding a way to participate that matches their "heart" -- their interests and concerns.)

5. Encourage members to sit at different places at different meetings, and to sit with people they don’t necessarily already know.

6. Encourage a practice of greeting at least five people.

7. Have GREAT meetings and effective, interesting messages, lively worship, specials, kids and youth programs.

8. Spread the work around -- have several different people participate in each meeting, leading the opening prayer, making special announcements, sharing a "Thought for the Day," being a Greeter, etc.

9. Include succinct, empowering announcements and reports concerning current Worship Center projects in regular meeting time.

10. Acknowledge people for what they accomplish.

11. Track attendance. When someone has missed two or more consecutive meetings, and you don’t know why, call them to let them know they’re missed and make sure they’re ok.

12. Encourage mingling outside in the Fellowship Hall.

13. Never, never make people feel wrong.

14. Generate an environment of warmth and relationship among our members. Work to maintain it.

15. Have a strong mentoring program for teens.