It’s the Easter season, and church teams are working hard to prepare for all the expected guests. As a secret shopper or mystery worshipper of churches around the country, I’ve found there are some reasons I will tell a church I would not return for a second visit, and some may be news to you.

Whether I’m working with a church plant of 60 people or a megachurch of over 15,000, some things are universal and should be present regardless of church size. Throughout this post, we’ll look at actions and areas every church needs to address.

1. The Front Door

Before a guest ever steps foot on your church’s physical campus, he or she has probably already checked out your church website. What every church should have clearly visible on their homepage is a section or button for first-time guests. Once clicked on, this should take you to a page that addresses FAQs, service times, directions, parking instructions (for instance, is there a side of the building that is better to park on if one has kids?), what to expect (for instance, is it upbeat music and relevant, practical, biblical preaching in a come-as-you-are atmosphere?), what to wear (are jeans OK? are shorts OK?), and encouragement for them to be sure to stop by Guest Central or your church’s information booth to pick up a first-time guest packet.

2. What Stinks?

It’s important that no church ever underestimates the sense of smell. While sight is the strongest sense for short-term memory, the sense of smell is the strongest and most vivid for long-term memory. If you’ve ever smelled something and had memories you hadn’t thought of in years come flooding back, that’s your sense of smell in action.

Every church has the potential for positive or negative smells. Mold is a bad smell. Coffee is a good smell. Bleach is a bad smell. Citrus is a good smell. Many churches have restrooms that are disgusting and smell like urine. This lack of attention to detail can be costly and discourage many from ever returning. As best you can, try to walk into the lobby or entrance of your church with a new nose.

3. Park Here

One of Tim Stevens’ three “growth lids” that he thinks every growing church should have is someone who is constantly watching is parking. Tim says, “This is why visitor parking is so crucial. If it’s difficult for newcomers to go to your church, they won’t go.”

Some would argue that guests want to remain anonymous and don’t want special parking. Of course some want to go unnoticed and will choose to park in regular parking (a minority), but for the rest of newcomers, they are appreciative for a close parking space; it’s a kind gesture in an already intimidating and nerve-racking experience of attending a church for the first time, especially a large one with a huge campus.

4. This Way, Parents

One way to ensure guests will not return is to have a confusing, long or hard-to-find process for getting their kids registered and in the right classroom. Wise churches have signs for first-time guest kids’ check-in and make the process quick and painless.

Regular attendees may know to go up to the check-in kiosk and enter their phone number or swipe their card, but guests will be clueless and need a manned station that is clearly marked for guests and has a volunteer to walk them through the registration. Then have that person or another helper walk them to their kid’s class, explaining what will be going on and how to go about picking their kids back up.

If they must have a sticker with corresponding number on it to get their kids, this needs to be explained to them. Signage for the kids check-in should start in the entryway of the guest parking. Do not assume people know where to go once they enter the building.

5. Give It Away

Something subtle but powerful is a church that has a generous spirit. Chris Hodges at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Ala., is big on this. They have a coffee shop, but they also have a designated area where people can get free coffee and not pay anything. They also give away their message CDs. Too many churches charge for everything and wonder why no one buys CDs of the message.

If you want to bless people and create a generous spirit throughout your church, give away free coffee and message CDs (and other surprises throughout the year). Chris Hodges will have ice cream trucks pull up outside the church doors and give away free ice cream to congregants leaving on a hot, summer day.

6. Security Counts

One issue that is huge to a secret shopper and visiting families is security. If a parent is worried about their child’s safety, they will not enjoy the service and will likely not return. A children’s classroom must be clean, safe and secure.

Security also includes the checkout process. If anyone can walk into a classroom and pick up a kid, you’re asking for trouble and will turn off potential newcomers. It’s important that your kids’ volunteers are trained well and know to ask for the parents’ sticker when picking up their kids. This is vital and goes a long way to ensuring a tragedy doesn’t occur and a parent has peace of mind.

7. The Visible Pastor

Accessibility of the senior pastor is another subtle and powerful statement of a church. Even pastors of the largest churches in America make an intentional and strategic effort to be seen, greeted and hugged after a service. They may have a bodyguard present for security reasons, but they are available and willing to pray with people that need to speak to their pastor.

Some churches have a designated “Guest Central,” like Steve Stroope at Lake Pointe in Rockwall, Texas, or Brady Boyd at New Life in Colorado Springs, Colo. Some have a “Meet and Greet,” like Charles Hill in Utah. Some pastors stand down at the altar and meet and pray with people, like Kevin Myers at 12Stone in Atlanta. Some walk around the campus shaking hands, like Don Wilson at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Phoenix. Erwin McManus at Mosaic LA has an “After Party,” at which the pastor is present and available to meet with newcomers.

This, especially in a large church, goes a long way toward countering the rock-star or unavailable-pastor stigma that so many guests walk into the church expecting.

8. Finish Strong

It’s simply not enough for greeters and parking lot attendants to say “Hello” or “Welcome” when one walks into their church. To go to another level, have your first impressions team stationed at their posts when the service ends to say “Goodbye” or “Have a nice week.” This goes a long way to wrapping a bow around the entire morning experience and will send them off with a lasting positive impression.

Do these eight things and you’ll see a greater return and higher percentage of second- and third-time guests.

Author and international speaker Greg Atkinson has been in ministry for two decades and has been writing, speaking and training thousands of church leaders since 2000. In late 2003, Greg launched MultisensoryWorship.com (mSw)—a website geared to encourage, network, resource and equip Christian pastors, media ministers, artists and worship leaders—after having served the previous 11 years as a worship pastor himself in the Carolinas and Washington, D.C.

For the original article, visit gregatkinson.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.