The 48-hour rule that turns guests into members

Most churches lose people not at the front door, but the back one. The single biggest lever you control is speed of follow-up.

The research is striking. When a first-time guest is contacted within 36 hours, about 85% come back. Wait 72 hours and it drops to 60%. Wait a full week, and it falls to around 15%.

Why it works

People decide whether they belong long before they decide what they believe. Active newcomers make about seven friends in the church within their first six months; those who drift away made fewer than two. Friendship - not programming - is the strongest bond holding people to a new church.

A cadence any church can run

Capture every guest's name and a way to reach them.

Same day: a warm, personal thank-you text - not a mass blast.

Next day: a real, human note or call from a member (a layperson's call often works better than the pastor's).

Week two: invite them to one specific next step - a meal, a group, a serving role.

Keep it personal, keep it fast, and track it so no one slips through. Start a Visitor Follow-Up tracker and watch your return rate climb.