The Challenge of New Member Retention and Assimilation

1
The Challenge of New Member Retention and
Assimilation
2
Executive Summary
Our goal was to look in the different factors
that positively impact the retention and
assimilation of new members in order to come up
with a series of recommendations that could be
utilized by our churches to create an environment
that lives up to our creed of open hearts, open
minds, open doors. We looked at several
different types of programs within a church that
could create the proper environment that would
allow the smooth assimilation, as well as assist
in the retention of our current congregation
memberships.


3
Church in Smyrna 8 Write this letter to the
angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the
message from the one who is the First and the
Last, who died and is alive 9I know about your
suffering and your povertybut you are rich! I
know the slander of those opposing you. They say
they are Jews, but they really arent because
theirs is a synagogue of Satan. 10 Dont be
afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil
will throw some of you into prison and put you to
the test. You will be persecuted for ten days.
Remain faithful even when facing death, and I
will give you the crown of life.11 Anyone who is
willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and
understand what the Spirit is saying to the
churches. Whoever is victorious will not be hurt
by the second death. New Living Translation
Church in Philadelphia 7 Write this letter
to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This
is the message from the one who is holy and true.
He is the one who has the key of David. He opens
doors, and no one can shut them he shuts doors,
and no one can open them. 8 I know all the
things you do, and I have opened a door for you
that no one can shut. You have little strength,
yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9
Look! I will force those who belong to
Satanthose liars who say they are Jews but are
notto come and bow down at your feet. They will
acknowledge that you are the ones I love. 10
Because you have obeyed my command to persevere,
I will protect you from the great time of testing
that will come upon the whole world to test those
who belong to this world. 11 Look, I am coming
quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one
will take away your crown. 12 All who are
victorious will become pillars in the Temple of
my God, and they will never have to leave it. And
I will write my Gods name on them, and they will
be citizens in the city of my Godthe new
Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my
God. And they will have my new name inscribed
upon them. 13 Anyone who is willing to hear
should listen to the Spirit and understand what
the Spirit is saying to the churches. New
Living Translation
4
The United Methodist Church has declared The
mission of the Church is to make disciples of
Jesus Christ. Thus, the church as a whole has
adopted the Great Commission. The Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2004
edition, states Local churches provide the most
significant arena through which disciple-making
occurs. (p. 87) The mission of the local church
is listed as one of welcoming worshiping
nurturing sending. (p. 88) The mission of the
church at large and the mission of the local
congregation is well aligned with the Great
Commission and the deliberately planned programs
that effective churches offer.
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people
of the United Methodist Church
5
Book of Resolutions The Lords admonitions to
the churches is generally covered in our Book Of
Resolutions. Resolution 77 is entitled
Inclusiveness in All Dimensions. This section
encourages every Conference, District and local
church to develop comprehensive programs that
place emphasis on inclusiveness -- cultural,
racial, lingual, and in regard to gender
--throughout the life and ministry of the Church.
Among other things it provides that each church
become trained and enabled to reach out to
surrounding communities. This includes increasing
their knowledge and understanding of the people
and cultures who reside within their communities.
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people
of the United Methodist Church
6
Survey Results The survey included 16 different
United Methodist Churches with a total of 109 new
members responding.

• Our survey was focused on three different issues
• What brought you into the church for your first
  visit?
• What brought you back to the church for your
  second visit?
• Ranking priority of programs designed to help
  assimilate the new member

7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10

• Observations and Recommendations
• Getting people into the church for a first
  visit
• Personal contact and invitation Personal
  Evangelism
• Community Outreach especially programs for
  children
• Having a visible church thats easy to find

11

• Observations and Recommendations
• Getting people to stay in the church
• Small Group Development
• Bible Based Sermons
• Membership Classes
• Shepherding
• Missions Oriented Church