Failure to Have a Secret Guest: The Unforced Error Series

The Church Answers Podcast

An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one’s own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom examines one of the most common unforced errors in this podcast: failure to have a secret guest.

• • A secret guest is someone who visits the church anonymously and provides honest, outsider feedback.
  • Churches often become blind to their own flaws, and fresh eyes reveal issues that regular attendees no longer notice.
  • Insights from a secret guest can address areas like signage, greeting, cleanliness, and service clarity.
  • One or two visits per year can provide a powerful pulse check on the guest experience.
  • Simple observations from a first-time perspective often lead to some of the most impactful improvements.

Resources:

• Chaney & Associates

• The Church Advisory Podcast

• Upward Running

• The Amazing Growth of Sports Ministries to Reach Communities with the Gospel

• More Than Money Podcast

• The Hope Initiative

• Church Answers Membership

• FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights

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