RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

-First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering?


Mr. Mrs. Miss
  6% (21)
Name
  7% (26)
Address
  6% (21)
Phone
  4% (15)
Cell phone
  1% (4)
E-mail address
  4% (14)
First time visitor?
  6% (22)
New Resident?
  5% (17)
Returning visitor?
  5% (18)
Would like a visit?
  4% (15)
Prayer request?
  4% (14)
Would like to know more about this church?
  5% (17)
Would like to know more about being a Christian?
  3% (11)
Guest of:
  4% (14)
Class or service attended
  2% (7)
How did you hear about us?
  4% (14)
Do you attend church regularly?
  3% (12)
What church?
  3% (11)
Age
  1% (6)
Age group (13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)
  4% (16)
Marital status (single, married, divorced, widowed)
  4% (16)
Children's names (4 lines)
  1% (6)
Children's names (6 lines)
  1% (5)
Children's ages
  2% (10)
I don't fill out first time attender cards
  0% (2)
Other
  0% (1)


Total Votes : 335
(last vote on : 4/28/2008 2:53:32 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )


Message

pbaribeault -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 10:59:08 AM)

We are a small Church, so visitors are obvious. The Pastor keeps an eye out and chit-chats with them before service. Then before the service, He either introduces them, "Back there we have Jane and Joe visiting us this week." Or else asks someone who they came with to introduce them, "Sam, would you introduce your friend there?"

As for gleaning information from a check, actually that's mandatory, because a donation given by check must be given a charitable receipt, which has to be mailed to the address on the check. However, it's a bit intrusive to use that information beyond that obligation to send out the receipt - although I can imagine why a Church or organization might assume that someone who makes a donation is interested in continuing information from that ministry.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 11:21:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

Thanks for the tip.

At this point I'm tempted to suggest that our FTA forms be blank, and they can make up and answer their own questions! Lol! [:D]
[sm=Llol.gif][sm=Llol.gif][sm=Llol.gif]

Lisa, I love it!

You could have one question: What is it that you would like us to know about you?

It ought to make for interesting reading. [:D]



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 11:24:50 AM)

Being announced????!!! [sm=eek.gif]

Uhm, no thank you; I would have just turned around and walked back out the church doors and not look back. Seriously.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 11:39:39 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pbaribeault

As for gleaning information from a check, actually that's mandatory, because a donation given by check must be given a charitable receipt, which has to be mailed to the address on the check.
I didn't realize this; thank you for the explanation.



quote:

ORIGINAL: pbaribeault

However, it's a bit intrusive to use that information beyond that obligation to send out the receipt - although I can imagine why a Church or organization might assume that someone who makes a donation is interested in continuing information from that ministry.
Hmmm . . . I'm not sure if I agree with that or not . . . I give money to every church I visit; it's never occurred to me that donating money could be construed as an interest in receiving mailings.

But it does reiterate to me to just make sure to give cash from now on.



quote:

ORIGINAL: trainfan

I would say whatever you end up doing with your first time visitor cards don't make the first time visitor embarassed to be there or fill it out.
This is excellent! [sm=thumbsup.gif]



Lisa - it's no easy task you've got. Me? when I visit a church, I want as little fanfare as possible. I do not want to be publicly introduced (whether that be by a friend or through a deacon, etc.). I wouldn't mind being privately introduced to a perhaps a couple of people; but not to be introduced to the entire church during church services. I don't like to fill out forms of any kind. I'm simply visiting a church. My reasons may be because I'm there with a friend who is a member or that I'm looking for a church. But my reasons are private.

I like genuine warm and friendly individual welcomes, but I like that anyway; not just because I'm a visitor.

On the other hand, some people would feel slighted if they weren't treated "extra special" when they visit a church.
Some people love to fill out forms and really do want the church to have their information.

It's a very delicate balance, isn't it?



dance4joy -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 12:27:21 PM)

I wouldn't mind answering most of those questions, with an exception of the following:

Age (I like the age group idea better)
E-mail (I get too much e-mail as it is)
Names of children (ages maybe but names seems a little too nosey)
What church do you go to? and. . .
Do you go to church regularly? (these both seem a bit nosey)



thomas2008 -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 6:11:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

Thanks for the tip.

At this point I'm tempted to suggest that our FTA forms be blank, and they can make up and answer their own questions! Lol! [:D]


I will find out tomorrow what company we get our bulletins from with the tear off sheet. The company is out of Missouri I think, so they might be affiliated with Assemblies of God. But then again our church is with Church of God (Cleveland).



thomas2008 -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/27/2008 8:28:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God




I found the company that does our church bulletins....with the response tabs with the bulletins....

http://gospelpublishing.com/store/startcat.cfm?cat=sBULLETIN&mastercat=&path=sBULLETIN

Their not bad priced either. 50 bulletins for $4.10 or 100 for about 8 something. Obviously the prices would vary depending on the size of your congregation. They have other stuff there too that you might find an interest in for your church.

Like I said, the response tabs on the bulletins are really helpful. Their good for keeping track of attendance, visitors. People can even put prayer requests down. Also the tabs will ask basically the things that you had in the poll.



Consecrated2God -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/28/2008 8:47:06 AM)

Your link isn't working for me. [:(]



JimboFletch -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/28/2008 8:51:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

Your link isn't working for me. [:(]

Maybe it's a backwards link. Try this one:
LINK



Consecrated2God -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/28/2008 8:52:41 AM)

Much better! Thanks!

You all have given us so much help. My husband came on and read all that you have written. Thanks for letting us pick your brains!



redeemedsaint -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 11:28:04 AM)

I don't have a problem with answering these questions. It just helps the staff to get to know someone better who visits their church.



HisLamb26 -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 8:09:21 PM)

I would most certainly NOT return to a church that sent out unannounced visitors!

You know Consecrated...You might want to add Ms. or just leave the title thing blank. Most folks will fill out the salutation of choice before their name IF they prefer one at all. (ie...don't force it on people). IMO just a name slot would do. Nothing personal, but I think it rude to ask for marital status of female visitors only. (Which is in essence what you are doing by including Miss or Mrs for females, but only Mr. for males.) Some folks would find the implication of only questioning females regarding their marital status to be sexist.

Also-some people don't like to give up their age, their childrens information, etc. I think just the basics are best on a visitor card. Name, Address, Phone, Email, Would you like to be put on our mailing list? Would you like a call or visit from the Pastor? Prayer Requests? and then a spot for "additional information you would like us to know" with some blank lines. If you ask for too much information up front it may turn folks off/come off as a hard sell.



HisLamb26 -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 8:13:15 PM)

Also-Make sure you have pencils available where the visitor cards go, and have the deacons check the pews every week before service to make sure they are well stocked with cards and pencils. ESPECIALLY the last few rows, where visitors are VERY likely to sit. [:)]



thomas2008 -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:13:23 PM)

At my church we give each visitor a welcome packet which includes information about our church, how to become a Christian, it's got a CD of the Pastor welcoming the new visitors. At New Hope, we want our church to a be place where people will come back to. We work from the inside out, not the outside in. For example, if someone visiting walks in with a Budweiser shirt on, well most churches would be at whits end. At our church we welcome people no matter what. We accept people as Jesus would.

We don't turn away any visitors. Jesus said that he didn't come for the righteous, but for the unrighteous. Only those who are sick need to be healed. At New Hope we are a church where people can find healing and be restored.



Consecrated2God -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:19:55 PM)

quote:

You know Consecrated...You might want to add Ms. or just leave the title thing blank. Most folks will fill out the salutation of choice before their name IF they prefer one at all. (ie...don't force it on people). IMO just a name slot would do. Nothing personal, but I think it rude to ask for marital status of female visitors only. (Which is in essence what you are doing by including Miss or Mrs for females, but only Mr. for males.) Some folks would find the implication of only questioning females regarding their marital status to be sexist.


I'm pretty sure that the form that had the Mr./Mrs./Miss part also had a marital status question, so I'm pretty sure the former question was not to determine marital status, just preferred title. Of course, there are many other titles besides those three, so it's pretty limiting. I've seen forms before that have several options. I think just a simple space for name would suffice.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:22:48 PM)

off-topic: Who is doing y'all's avatars, Lisa? Ez?

I've seen hers (originally), yours, Emily's, Ellie's and Ben's so far.

I love the individualizations of them! [:D]



Consecrated2God -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:33:46 PM)

You can have one too, if you'd like to be assimilated! [:)]



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:34:55 PM)

LOL; what would the special line read as?



Consecrated2God -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:37:12 PM)

Whatever you'd want it to say--Ezri's got a lot to pick from and she does custom ones as well. [:D]



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:40:18 PM)

I'll hafta give it some thought.


I'd also entertain suggestions. [sm=icon_smile_tongue.gif]



Consecrated2God -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:44:43 PM)

Hop over here, Shar-Mar, and we'll fix you right up!



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: -First time attender forms--what questions are you comfortable answering? (3/31/2008 9:50:04 PM)

Thanks, Lisa; I was trying to find where it all originated!



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