Digital Hospitality: A Connection Button

As we continue engaging families online, I’m not sure we’re answering the questions they need answered with the overwhelming amount of text and content that we put out. All good, just alot. I’ve been thinking of a pathway to get those first questions answered, initiate that first personal touch to a family, and make the children’s ministry page of our church website more inviting for non-church or new-to-church folks.

I’ve placed a connection button in the contact box on the children’s ministry page beginning January 1st. We set up a form within our church database where we typically take registrations to obtain (1) best contact information, and (2) a paragraph box for people to say and ask what they need answered.

As soon as the individual hits ‘submit’, I and someone else on children’s ministry team will get an automated email so we can immediately respond and make that first connection much more personal, more relevant, more specific to their immediate needs, and more timely.

Why? It offers a level of digital hospitality that feels personal. It also gives us insight as to what is NOT being answered with all the information already provided. All good, just alot. Sometimes people just need an answer and don’t want to have to dig for it. Or is that just me?

The heading on the connection form reads, “McEachern Kids partners with parents, grandparents, and caregivers of children to resource and cheer you on as you lead your littles to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love their neighbors as themselves. How can we connect with you, get your questions answered, and help you along your way?” We ask for their best basic contact information, and ‘How can we help?’ We put another button along the bottom of the page reading, “How can we help you along the way?” which feeds the same form.

The confirmation response reads, “Thank you for connecting with McEachern Kids. You can expect a response by email or phone call by a McEachern Kids team member within 24 hours. If you require immediate response, please contact the McEachern Kids Ministry Lead, DeDe Reilly, at dreilly@mceachernumc.org or call (insert my cell phone number).

This first connection can help us further connect the family more specifically with our online resources, the various closed Facebook small groups we offer, special events, and the best personal connections to others on staff and in our community.

We will monitor it for the first 90 days and report back to the lead staff our findings.

How are you offering digital hospitality to guests and family in your online house?