This is part of a series of interviews with pastors of churches whose attendance has grown 20% or more in 5 years. We hope this series will be a resource of ideas to help increase worship attendance at your church.

Pastor Michael O’Bannon lists some of the key elements attributing to the growth in membership of First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, along with a little narrative.  Visitors receive very special attention.

• We have learned from what people tell us that they are initially attracted in one of two ways.  The first is through the internet.  Almost everyone who responds tells us that they looked at us first on the internet.  We have reduced our exposure in the Yellow Pages and newspaper and have put most of our resources in a webmaster.  We have hired someone to work on the website each week, adding links as necessary.  We regularly test the website to see if it is clear and up to date.  The second way we attract people is that they drive by and are intrigued by the beauty of the building.  People continually tell us that they are looking for a church that looks like a church.  The facility is relatively new, and there is something of the “new look” that must factor in the decision to visit.

• In every bulletin for the traditional services, there is a slip of paper that asks for information.  We changed that slip to ask for the e-mail right after the name.  It has been a great boon in contacting people.  In the contemporary services, we ask everyone to fill out a registration of attendance.  We also ask for e-mail in those services.  In addition, we have a “Welcome Home” packet that has more information.  Visitors are welcomed and asked to take a packet home, plus a loaf of homemade bread.  The bread is located at a “Welcome Center” in the narthex.

• We have a very specific process for handling visitors. Our Associate for Evangelism (Rev. Miriam Seyler) receives a typed list of those who indicate they are visitors.  Our Administrative Assistant produces this early on Monday mornings.  Basically, there are two types of visitors.  The first is long term.  The second is newcomers.  We host a coffee for newcomers each Sunday morning in the pastoral suite.  One or more of the pastoral staff are there to greet visitors.  This is during Sunday School.  We have guides who are trained in taking people on tours of the facility.  We are convinced that many visit the church several times before signing in.  However, once they sign in and are on the visitor list, they are contacted by our Associate for Evangelism.  She has learned to write an e-mail that is concise.  Usually, an initial e-mail is only three to four lines, welcoming the person.  She has offered home visits, but only one person in two years has asked for a home visit.  Some will say that they want to visit in an office, here at the church.  Most prefer to communicate totally by e-mail.  The list of visitors also goes to volunteers who will call the newcomers and welcome them.  We are told by many, many people that we are the first church they have visited who has made the effort to contact them.  We also have a group of greeters who wear special badges and are located by many doors.  We have not tried having greeters in the parking lot.  When we receive a comment from a visitor, it almost always says, “Thank you for your warm welcome.” All of the contact is usually done within 24-48 hours following Sunday.  E-mail has greatly increased the speed in which we can contact visitors, handle questions, and follow up if there is more interest in our programs and ministries.  If no e-mail is available, we send personal information through the postal service.  (This is relatively rare, however.)  The Associate for Evangelism will always ask visitors to meet her at Wednesday night supper (when in season).  Once they have met, she eats supper with them and tries to connect them with age appropriate persons or activities.  When the Wednesday evening suppers are suspended for seasonal reasons, she tells them where she will be on Sunday morning and asks them to find her.  This has been very effective.  Volunteers also send personal notes and make calls to members who miss a number of Sundays in a row.

• We are open to using the building for community events.  We are the host for the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra.  We work with Middle Tennessee State University in hosting some of their music events.  We also provide opportunities for other classes at the University to work with children and youth.  We host a variety of Scouting programs, AA and similar programs, a Community Bible Study, One-Goal Sports, and ESL classes (English as a Second Language).  We have a Hispanic staff person whose job title is Pastor of Multi-Cultural Ministries.

• In our worship services, we try not to have any secrets.  In the traditional bulletin, we have rubric that says, “Standing, as able” (instead of simply placing an asterisk).  We also have rubric that tells what happens at the offering time, at communion, and for other things as Baptism, expressing a desire to join the church, or for prayer at the chancel rail.  Our worship bulletin is colorful and fairly easy to navigate.  The traditional service has a fairly simple bulletin.  However, all bulletins have an insert that is color-coordinated to the liturgical season and serves as a kind of weekly newsletter.  We only mail out a newsletter once a month.  We use the internet and the weekly insert to keep people reminded of programming.

• One thing that we feel has helped us is that we are one of the very few churches in town that still offers a strictly traditional service.  Many have gone to blended services or are completely contemporary.  We have kept the two separate.  Most of our membership growth has been through the traditional services; however, the contemporary services are beginning to see membership growth, as well as growth in attendance.  All of our services are strong Christian witnesses.  We preach the Gospel, but are always careful to remember our commitment to ministry for social justice and needs.

• We have great programming for children and youth.  And, the people involved in the programming are sensitive to coordinating with each other so as not to “compete.”  For example, the youth and music ministries dovetail on Sunday night instead of compete for time and space.

• We have a strong mission program that ministers to the community, the region, the nation, and in international settings.  We have a full-time Mission Director (Rev. Dewey Smith).

• We have a strong music program in both worship settings.  Both services have worship design teams.

• Finally, we have a staff that works well together, respects one another, and enjoys one another.  We have a diverse staff and have had an African-American as an Intern.  Right now, our Intern is a second-career female.

Michael O’Bannon, Pastor – mobannon@fumcm.org

Church website: www.fumcm.org