The Path From Guest to Member

The whole path on one page

Here is the path we walk people down:

1. First visit. The guest gets a personal text and an invitation to Growth Track.
2. Growth Track. Our newcomer class, in four steps: 101, 201, 301 and 401.
3. A team. They shadow a team on a Sunday, then start serving.
4. A Crew. Our small groups are called Crews.
5. Membership. Baptized, in a Crew, on a team, giving, and signed on to the covenant (Resource 3).

Put yours on one page. A guest should be able to see where they are and what comes next.

• Decide ahead of time what the one next step is after a first visit. One, not three.
• Decide ahead of time who sends the personal text and by when.
• Decide ahead of time how often the class runs, so the invitation always has a date attached.
• Name each step in plain words. If a guest needs it explained, rename it.

The first conversation: Connect Four

The path starts with a conversation, not a form. "Go from shallow to the deep waters quickly."

1. What's your name? "Listen and remember people's names."
2. Where do you live? "Find out where people live, work, and play, and go to them."
3. What's your story? "Really listen. Lean in to their past, their present situation, and their future dreams."
4. How can I pray for you? "Discover their needs and then meet them. Commit to pray for them. Reach out to them and check on them. Let them know that you are here to carry their load."

"Relationships flourish when you create margin to listen."

Serving before the class

A person can serve on some teams before they finish Growth Track. Leading a team waits until they have finished it.

• Decide ahead of time which teams are easy entry. Pick roles where a new person serves beside someone, not alone.
• Anyone who will work with children or students goes through your child safety process first, class or no class.
• Tell people plainly that leading comes after Growth Track, so nobody is surprised later.

Belonging often comes before the signature. Let people taste it.

What to teach in each step

By the end of all four steps, a person should be able to answer four questions:

1. What does this church believe?
2. Why does this church exist, and what does it care about?
3. What is being asked of me?
4. What do I do next, and who will help me do it?

Here is one way to spread the teaching across the four steps. Leave out anything that does not help answer one of those questions.

101: What we believe

• Teach your statement of faith in plain words. Give the passages by reference and open a few of them together.
• Make the gospel clear. Do not assume everyone in the room has responded to Jesus.
• Decide ahead of time how a person can respond, and who talks with them when they do.

Teach these plainly, because people will ask:

• We practice believer's baptism. A person is baptized after they have given their life to Jesus.
• Baptism is required for church membership.
• Baptism is not required for communion.
• Communion is for believers only.

201: Who we are

Tell your church's story, your mission and your values. Use your own. Here is our mission, as a picture of how short it can be:

"Meet people where they are and point them to Jesus"

Our values each fit in a phrase: Jesus Is Our Message. Connection Is Our Culture. Generosity Is Our Privilege. Worship Is Our Weapon. Servant Leadership Is Our Calling. Prayer Is Our Priority. Honor Is Our Commitment. Excellence Is Our Pursuit.

Give each value one or two sentences. If it takes a paragraph, it is not clear yet.

301: Where you fit

"Crews are the heart of our community, where relationships are formed and faith is lived out together. We believe in doing life in circles, not rows, building supportive groups that encourage spiritual growth, accountability, and genuine connections."

"If serving is beneath you, leadership is beyond you."

• Show the teams a person can serve on, and what each one actually does on a Sunday.
• Show how to join a Crew, and when the next ones start.
• Walk through what you ask of members (Resource 3), including giving. Say it plainly so nobody is surprised later.

401: Find your gifts and your team

This step has a set run of show. Ours runs about an hour.

Before the class: team huddle. Pray together and hand out the handouts. Some months we send the team a short recorded training ahead of time instead.

Introduction (15 minutes). The pastors open and go straight into explaining the spiritual gifts test. Food is served.

Spiritual gifts test (20 minutes). Everyone fills it out, then you debrief it together.

Testimonies (20 minutes). A table host sits one-on-one with each guest and hears their story.

Next steps (5 minutes). Hand out the post-class survey. Explain exactly what happens next and who will contact them. Pray. Point everyone toward Team Rally.

If you use a gifts test, use one you have the right to use.

Roles to fill each month

• Facilitators: the pastor and spouse.
• Service lead.
• Table hosts.
• Food.
• Childcare.

Food and childcare both remove a reason to stay home.

A blank agenda to copy

Class: Growth Track 401 Date: __________ Location: __________

Team

• Facilitators: __________
• Service lead: __________
• Table hosts: __________
• Food: __________
• Childcare: __________

Before the class: team huddle

• Pray together.
• Hand out handouts. Or send a short recorded training ahead: yes / no
• Arrive by: __________

Run of show

After the class

• Graduate list sent to team leads by: __________
• Next team gathering: __________

Running the class

Decide ahead of time:

• When each step meets. Pick a time a newcomer is already in the building if you can.
• Who teaches each part. The lead pastor does not have to teach all of it, but people should meet him.
• How a person signs up, and who reminds them the day before.
• What every person leaves with: a handout, a name, and a date.