Ministry Strategy 201, Class 10
The Strategy of Onboarding Newcomers
Erin Kerr is the New Community Pastor at EvFree
Fullerton. He is passionate about creatively helping
people far from Christ find Him, start following Him
in community and develop ways to mature people into
living on His mission.
Shelly Juskiewicz is the Community Life Pastor at Mariners Church in
Irvine, California, and has been involved in helping the church grow
from 300 to 15,000 people. Shelly helped develop the assimilation
ministry, as well as many opportunities to draw people from the
community into the church.
Guest Lecturers
The “front door” of every church is important. The
front door consists of visitors to your church—
whether they are new to your church, new to your
community or new to Christ.
What are effective strategies of onboarding
newcomers? What are some successes and pitfalls?
What is the difference between “strategy” and what
really happens? How do we measure if one is
achieving the goal?
Class 10—The Strategy of Onboarding
Newcomers
Why Does
Assimilation Matter?
 My Story: Crossfit Tustin
(Me - New, Scared, Alone
& Less Good Looking)
 Clear Steps + Encouragement = Growth
 How much more important is it for the
church to assimilate people well?
Three Reasons
1. It’s personal.
John 17:20–21 (NIV)
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe
in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as
you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may
believe that you have sent me.
Reason #1
2. It’s essential.
Luke 15:3–7 (NIV)
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred
sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open
country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it,
he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his
friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my
lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons
who do not need to repent.
Every SINGLE person matters to God.
Reason #2
3. It’s missional.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.”
Reason #3
Five Strategies for
Onboarding Newcomers
Strategy #1
Develop a
Discipleship Pathway
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said,
“and I will send you out to fish for people.”
FOLLOW as a disciple of Jesus.
CONNECT as a part of a spiritual family.
GO as a missionary.
Strategy #2
Connect Card
Strategy #2
Connect Card
Strategy #3
Follow Up Team/Process
Strategy #4
Rooted (First Steps Class/Groups)
Strategy #5
Celebrate (Baptism/Membership/Stories)