Millions of people in North America choose not to become part of a congregation. The majority of those persons self-identify as Christian; what they have given up on is not Christ but the church as an institution. The majority of church members feel uncomfortable talking about their faith and rarely if ever invite people to worship or other church activities. "Beyond the Church Door" provides practical, tested strategies for reaching out to people outside the church in comfortable, nonmanipulative ways. Readers will learn:
- Why it is important to reach out to people who do not belong to any congregation. (Chapter One)
- How to understand people outside the church, respecting the faith they may already have and recognizing the hurt they may have experienced in a faith community. (Chapter Two)
- How to share in acts of servant evangelism that bring people into positive connection with the church, relying more on actions than on words. (Chapters Three, Four, Five)
- How to comfortably invite family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others to church activities. (Chapter Six)
- How to comfortably talk about their faith with people both inside and outside the congregation. (Chapter Seven)
- How to practice the kind of biblical hospitality that will result in guests becoming members and growing in discipleship. (Chapter Eight)
- How to expand their circles of friendship in ways that include persons they may previously have avoided. (Chapter Nine)

The book includes a guide for class and group study.

Within a year of officially joining a congregation, 62% of new members are less active in the church than at the time they joined. Twenty-five percent simply stop coming within the first year of official membership. Evangelism and outreach are important, and growing churches have learned how to practice warm hospitality to new people. But new members don't continue involvement unless they are thoroughly assimilated.

In this new book, you'll learn that the level of hospitality in many congregations just doesn't go deeply enough to connect with people at a level that will keep them coming--and the level of hospitality isn't wide enough to help newer members really feel that the are as much a part of the community of faith as longer-term members.

This book includes guidance on reaching new people, involving them in the initial weeks and months, and truly assimilating them into the life of the church. The book talks frankly about the many ways people can get hurt in the life of the church and offers suggestions for making the church a safer place. The authors also give guidance on how to respond when people have been hurt.

The book includes a study guide and is excellent for individual, small group, or congregation-wide study. This book can make your church a warmer, more hospitable place for new members and long-time members.

Now in its 4th edition-revised and expanded! Pastor Fred Bernhard, convinced that hospitality is an essential part of the Gospel, developed a comprehensive model of a welcoming congregation which has had a dramatic impact. his congregation, located in rural Ohio, had a 19% increase in worship attendance and a 36% increase in Sunday school attendance in the first three months using this model-and the growth has continued! This book gives you step-by-step help for transforming the hospitality of your congregation. A guide for group study is included. Recommended in Net Results.

Greeters and ushers are the "first contact" with the congregation for many who visit. The number one question visitors want answered is: "Is this a friendly congregation?" This booklet offers clear training for greeters and ushers, with an emphasis on hospitality. Giving copies to all greeters and ushers in your church can help widen your church's welcome.

Media exposure and publicity can play a valuable role not only in a church's evangelistic efforts but also in its outreach ministries. This practical kit, which comes with permission to photocopy, shares how the Internet, newspapers, radio, television, direct mail, the yellow pages, the telephone, the appearance of the church, and the attitudes of people can all contribute to the church as a place of hospitality.

Looks at worship through the lens of hospitality. This book is an effort to move beyond the tension among traditional, contemporary, and blended worship to create worship which speaks to the deepest needs of people and builds up the church as the body of Christ. A guide for individual or group study is included.

This book deals directly with the tough questions raised by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and reveals that the answer to fear is not turning inward but turning outward. Learning to recognize the presence of Christ in others can have a liberating impact on all that we do and can enable us to move past the fears which threaten to immobilize us. This book offers practical help in cultivating hospitality as a part of the spiritual life not only in the church but also in the home, at work, and in the community. Includes discussion questions for classes and small groups. Another Net Results recommended book.

The Invite a Friend Sunday Kit is a practical guide to having an effective Invite a Friend Sunday in your church! Joan was for many years the executive director of New Life Ministries and has had extensive experience taking congregations through the Invite a Friend Sunday process. This can be a fabulous outreach opportunity for your church. The kit includes five copies of the new booklet A Guide to an Effective Invite a Friend Sunday. You’ll find practical guidance on:

• Establishing a realistic timeline for the event.
• The role that each person on the leadership team should play.
• How to engage the congregation in participation.
• Developing effective publicity materials.
• Creating the right worship service and brunch or luncheon for the Sunday.
• Following up so that visitors are drawn into full participation.