Newcomers don't come with Velcro already applied. It's up to the congregation to make them stick.
But that's easier said than done. Experience shows that not everyone who attends church once wants to return.
At times, church insiders fail to realize how intimidated newcomers feel when attending church. Insiders, familiar with the traditions, the rubrics of worship, the machinery of church programs, and even the layout of their facilities, tend to forget that outsiders view these efficient functions as intimidating barriers to becoming part of an unfamiliar church.
This Christianity Today article by Calvin C. Ratz explores what it takes to have newcomers stay connected to your congregation.
