We sometimes talk about the front door (people who visit) and back door (people who leave) of a church.

I am struggling with closing the back door at Marysville with folks that visit a few times or even a few months but then exit. Folks that visit once and don't come back don't bother me as assume we just didn't click for them. I will be meeting with my DS and a couple of other pastors in a few weeks to kick around ideas.

My last church was small enough that I could do a lot of assimilation myself but at Marysville that is not possible. I have to have a program.

My question is this. What programs for assimilation have you seen in medium sized churches that you thought were really effective? I am especially interested in ones that were effective with people under 40.

Any examples I could look at would be greatly appreciated. - Thank Much,