Why First Impressions Matter

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” It’s something I was told as a child, it’s something I’ve told my own kids but the reality is we do. When it comes to first impressions we all make them, whether justly or not.

When it comes to your youth ministry you might only get one shot with the majority of your students. That can be a tough reality to swallow and it’s one we cannot ignore. If you want teens coming back week after week you have to make sure you are:

FULLY AWARE OF YOUR HOSPITALITY

How your teens are greeted when they walked in the door matters.  Turning on the lights and unlocking the door is not enough.

Build a team of teens and or adults to help you set up and greet. Make sure when someone new arrives that they are clear:

• Where they need to go.

• What they need to know.

• What’s expected of them.

This will help break down any tension and assure them they are in the right place.

PREPARED AND READY TO GO

In order to greet students properly and make them feel welcomed you need to have your stuff together.  That means being ready to go at least 15 minutes before anyone arrives.  To help you:

• Ask your leaders to arrive early.

• Set-up as if the program begins before you announce it.

• Create check-lists and delegate ownership to different individuals.

If you are ready for a person when they arrive you’ll be able to focus more on relationship building.

READY WITH AN IRRESISTIBLE ENVIRONMENT

If you walk into someplace dirty it doesn’t matter what they are doing.  Clutter, dirt, smells, and poor lighting are a few of the things that create a disengaging environment.

Your physical environment matters.  If someone doesn’t feel comfortable, they won’t open up.  If they don’t feel like they can open up, they won’t want to return.

THINKING OF THEM

Your attention needs to be on the teens who are not sitting in your ministry.  When you design a ministry around someone who is unchurched you’ll be better prepared for them.  To do this you need to:

• Get to know your target audience.

• Challenge insiders to invest and invite.

• Be on the look out for teens who are new.

When you focus on them, they’ll feel like you are excited to see them. When they feel welcomed they’ll be more likely to come back.

PRAYING FOR THEM

You need God to prepare you for new comers.  Many people have the stigma that the church is filled with judgmental individuals.  Some teens that come in will challenge you and you need to be open.

Ask God to prepare you to receive those who are new.  Pray for their families, and their individual lives.  Ask God to make sure you are ready, so that when they come in their first impression is that they are loved.

Sometimes you only get one shot.  You have to ask yourself, “Are we ready?”  Even if you’ve never had anyone new, start acting like it.  Because one day a new teen will walk through your door.