Elevation Church’s Guest Experience Strategy

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How does one of the fastest-growing churches in the world make new guests feel welcomed and seen? In this episode, I sit down with Larry Brey, associate pastor at Elevation Church, to uncover the guest experience and follow-up strategy that has helped them connect with thousands of new visitors.

We break down the exact steps Elevation takes to ensure first-time guests feel at home and how any church—big or small—can apply these principles to grow and retain their congregation.

📌 In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ The secret to making guests feel valued from the moment they step in
✅ The follow-up process that keeps visitors coming back
✅ How to create a culture of hospitality in your church
✅ Practical tips any church can implement today

If you want to improve guest retention and build a thriving church community, this episode is a must-listen!

00:26 - What a New Guest Experiences at Elevation
02:38 - Defining a "Win" for Guest Experience
04:01 - Origins of Elevation’s Guest Experience
05:37 - The "One Day" Principle
09:56 - Personalizing and Intentionalizing Guest Experience
12:34 - Training Volunteers to Avoid Awkward First Impressions
14:36 - Consumer Church vs. Purpose-Driven Serving
16:16 - Addressing Criticisms of “Big Church” Culture
19:08 - Motivating Congregation to Serve
22:00 - Prioritizing Serving in the Church
26:03 - Elevation’s Guest Follow-Up Strategy
30:43 - The Impact of Personal Follow-Up on Church Growth
32:00 - Common Mistakes in Guest Follow-Up
33:50 - Training Volunteers for Effective Guest Engagement
34:46 - Desired Qualities in Leaders at Elevation
36:19 - Maintaining a Strong Guest Experience Culture

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Follow Larry on Instagram: instagram.com/lbrey