Match Guests With Five New Friends and a Starter Ministry Within Three Months

Substance Church in Roseville, Minn., matches guests with four to seven new friends and a starter ministry within three months of attending its church.

“We know that the No. 1 cause of spiritual transformation is how many Christian friends you’re doing life with at any given moment,” says Lead Pastor Peter Hass.

Substance Church’s assimilation process is called the Empowerment Track; counselors work with new congregants to learn more about them and find the best fit for them within the larger church family. Establishing early connections means these people are more likely to call the church home.

ONLINE: SubstanceChurch.com. Adapted from an article that appeared in the September/October 2011 issue of Outreach magazine.

James P. Long
James P. Longhttp://JamesPLong.com

James P. Long was formerly the editor of Outreach magazine and the author of a number of books, including Why Is God Silent When We Need Him the Most?

God Is Doing Far More Miracles Than We Realize—Every Day in Human Hearts

We don’t lack miracles in our lives! What we lack is the vision, the eternal perspective, that allows us to see and experience and marvel at these miracles.

Ed Stetzer: Who We Are

We are called to cultivate human flourishing and societal transformation throughout the world as a testimony to the truth of the gospel.

5 Keys for Sharing Your Faith

We do not need to be contentious and argumentative. We can be kind and grace-filled even when we disagree with others and offer them a whole new worldview.