Making sure newcomers feel included is vital for ministries looking to grow, which is why your church needs to use church welcome packets. Once a person responds to a church invitation text message, church invitation letter or face-to-face invitation, you want them to feel at home in your church. Church visitor packets give newcomers materials that show what your church is about and helps the guest feel appreciated.
Church visitor packet folders can vary from church to church, but there are always two key components.
Church information packets - The church welcome packet often include info cards, a schedule of church groups and church events and where to watch past sermons online. These materials are often assembled by the hospitality ministry and don't cost a lot to produce or buy, but work to outline a path for newcomers to join the congregation in future activities.
Gifts - From coffee mugs to candy, the gifts you can include in your church welcome packets can vary, but the intent behind them is the same. You want newcomers to feel welcome and appreciated. After all, it can be hard for visitors to put themselves out there and join a group of people they might not know at all. Giving these people a small gift shows your church feels honored that the newcomer chose to visit your congregation.
These two components combined create the church welcome packet, which is designed to turn newcomers into members. If you're looking for ideas on what to include in your church visitor packets, check out the ones below.
Table of Contents
Visitor connection cards should be included in church visitor packets. These cards serve several purposes.
First, they help the welcome committee to collect the visitors’ information. The cards also enable the church to share specific information with the visitors. Connection cards can also help you get to know the visitors interested in joining your church.
The cards should include a brief message welcoming new members. They can also explain the services offered throughout the year and other amenities.
Today's visitor information cards are updated with the latest technology. They may feature a QR code taking new members to the church's online giving platform or registration pages. Many churches also direct visitors to the church's app, which can facilitate engagement by hosting a member directory or a listing and signup for groups.
Once visitors are registered with the church, they understand they have committed to practicing their faith. It also makes them eligible for spiritual guidance, baptisms, communions and marriage ceremonies. Churches can also use the registration information to stay in touch with members and inform them about upcoming plans.
Here are some tips to make your visitor information cards more effective.
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New visitors will also want general Information about the church. They may want to know about the church’s values and services. You may present Information in your church welcome packets in the following manners:
Many churches integrate a combination of these approaches.
Be sure to include the following:
Statistics show the benefits of gifts and promotional items. An Everything Branded report reveals that 70% of people feel more appreciated when they receive a promotional item. It also produces an 80% ROI, considerably higher than other forms of advertising.
When placing promotional items in church welcome bags, you can make them even more effective by decorating them with text reminding people how to donate. For example, you may provide text-to-give Information or inform them about your other platforms. Ensure the design looks attractive to enhance the item’s appeal.
A statement of faith is a written declaration regarding a person’s or institution’s beliefs about God. Churches can create an attractive handout that expresses their beliefs and religious goals. They can pass them out to new members during services and include them in church welcome folders.
This asset should be included in church welcome packets because it promotes a sense of unity among church members. It will make new members feel like part of the church community. A statement of faith also provides a unifying language to explain doctrinal truths, further establishing the church as a reliable community landmark.
A statement of faith also increases engagement. It expresses what the church stands for, connecting members with shared beliefs. It promotes an open dialogue for discussing theological issues within the church community.
Churches can make engagement efforts even more effective with Vanco's Engagement Software. It offers customized templates, personalized messages, centralized donor lists, and group tagging functionalities. Our system provides everything you need to keep your community active.
Thank you notes are an effective way to show appreciation. They offer the following benefits:
For optimal impact:
Now you know all you need to know about sending out thank you notes, except what to write. Vanco has your back. Sign up for our free 105 Amazing Church Letter Samples eBook for Thank you letters and other communication templates.
Or, if you're looking for how to create effective thank you letters, we did a video on how to use AI to make it easy.
And if you're interested in more AI tips and shortcuts for creating vital church material, check out our guide with advanced prompts!
Video is a popular tool for digital marketers, and it can be a powerful way to boost engagement and loyalty among members. According to Social Shepherd, 96% of people use videos to learn about a product or service. 73% of consumers have been influenced by a brand’s video on social media.
When sending out emails with video, include a link to the church’s video archive. Members can go down the rabbit hole to learn more about your organization. If they like what they see, they may remain loyal for life.
Some churches manage YouTube channels that can breed engagement across social media, attracting new members to their congregation. This video provides Information on mastering your YouTube channel for optimal reach.
Videos are also good for church announcements. However, you must have the right announcement content and video structure.
A welcome letter from the church staff is ideal for new members. It can include contact information and staff bios so members can connect names and faces when they go to church. The letter to visitors will make them feel more comfortable when they visit.
A personalized letter will be even more effective and inspiring for welcoming purposes. You can personalize your letter by:
The letter can also include giving options. It can educate members on how they can donate, and the causes your organization supports. The letter can discuss your flexible and convenient options. Vanco delivers a platform for online giving, making donating more manageable than ever.
Vanco makes giving simple and accessible with flexible online and mobile donation tools. We offer options for contributions and recurring gifts to help you engage donors and inspire generosity.
Here, you show the visitors other things your church engages in to consider for your church welcome packets. These may include community service, trips, picnics, missions, women's ministry events, and leadership training.
Share information about all events that create fun. By this, you’ll capture the visitors’ attention and make them committed members. A church event invitation letter is a great tool for accomplishing this goal.
There is specific church event information to convey to the visitors. First, let the visitors know the theme of the event. It is a way of keeping the visitors enlightened about what will happen during the events.
You should also be clear on the goal of the event. This will help the visitors and the church prepare for the event and achieve the set goals.
Lastly, be clear on the event budget. Communicating the budget will help determine the money each participant will raise for the event.
Vanco offers tools that make events more successful. Visit our Sell Church Event Tickets page to learn more about our services. We provide online registration, customized event pages, data and analytics, secure payments, and attendee management.
This video provides more information that will ensure your event is successful:
Storytelling is a powerful way to build a connection with new members. It triggers emotional responses to create engagement. When used in marketing, it yields 30% higher conversion rates.
Churches must start by building a storytelling platform. They may have a YouTube channel or dedicate a page for members’ stories on their website. Members can discuss how the church has helped them or their experiences participating in church activities.
The church may also consider setting up a podcast. Podcasts can deliver sermons, conduct member, staff, and colleague interviews, and discuss other church-related and religious events.
Churches can ensure members become engaged through storytelling by providing links and QR codes that take them directly to their archives. They may also connect them with the church app, a handy tool for relating stories and building engagement. Apps may also be used for giving purposes.
Mobile giving is effective for churches. Donation requests go directly to members’ cell phones, boosting engagement and ensuring they are seen. Donors can follow the link for a convenient giving process.
Statistics show the benefits of mobile giving. For example:
Vanco supports mobile giving and engagement with our Mobile Church App. The app handles event registration and management, recurring gifts, and other donations. It also provides analytics like giving history.
Church visitor gifts are an ideal way to make members feel welcome at your church. Food can be the perfect item to fuel your church's growth.
Food provides comfort and builds feelings of connection. It can be influential on an emotional level.
Here are some rules to follow when giving food items:
You may include inspirational materials in your church welcome box such as books, devotionals, and newsletters in your welcome packet. Depending on the material and content, they can inspire spirituality or discuss church-related activities. The main goal is to build a connection with the church and God.
Deciding to include inspirational materials in your welcome packages is the easy part. The next step is determining what content to include. Vanco has your back. Check out our video on how to Create Church Newsletters Quickly with AI for Free:
Or learn how to Create Daily Devotionals Customized to Your Church for Free:
We also offer a Free Church Newsletter Guide with templates, best practices and examples.
Include a brief overview of your other church ministries in the church visitor packet folders. This makes it easier to connect the visitors to the ministries.
The information should include the location of other ministries. You can also include the leadership and members of the ministry.
This idea is only necessary for the visitors attending the church welcome center. It may not be best for visitors attending the ministries.
Be clear about how the visitors can find your other ministries. In short, the information should be according to the needs of your visitors.
This is a great idea for church welcome packets if you have a children’s ministry. These are great tools for teaching children the word of God.
You can include crayons in the church visitor packets. They are good for sharpening the kids’ drawing and writing skills.
The coloring book should be related to the bible. It can be about a special miracle in the bible or even a Bible story.