Invite Culture Problems? Stop Blaming Your People.

Why people don't invite anymore and what Why people don't invite anymore and what still works. It's Rich Birchmeier from still works. It's Rich Birchmeier from still works. It's Rich Birchmeier from On Seminary. Your people aren't broken. On Seminary. Your people aren't broken. On Seminary. Your people aren't broken. Here's what's really going on. Three Here's what's really going on. Three Here's what's really going on. Three weeks after I got my driver's license, I weeks after I got my driver's license, I weeks after I got my driver's license, I put it in a ditch. This was back when put it in a ditch. This was back when put it in a ditch. This was back when you could walk into the licensing office you could walk into the licensing office you could walk into the licensing office on your 16th birthday, get a learner's on your 16th birthday, get a learner's on your 16th birthday, get a learner's permit, and within a few weeks be fully permit, and within a few weeks be fully permit, and within a few weeks be fully licensed no restrictions, no licensed no restrictions, no licensed no restrictions, no supervision. And that was me. 16 years supervision. And that was me. 16 years supervision. And that was me. 16 years old, license in my wallet, and a car I old, license in my wallet, and a car I old, license in my wallet, and a car I was allowed to drive anywhere at any was allowed to drive anywhere at any was allowed to drive anywhere at any time. It was a Christmas party winter time. It was a Christmas party winter time. It was a Christmas party winter night. I was driving home with a few night. I was driving home with a few night. I was driving home with a few friends and a paved road was friends and a paved road was friends and a paved road was transitioning to gravel and I hit that transitioning to gravel and I hit that transitioning to gravel and I hit that washboard effect. The tires skidding washboard effect. The tires skidding washboard effect. The tires skidding sideways in a way I had never felt sideways in a way I had never felt sideways in a way I had never felt before. My car did something I wasn't before. My car did something I wasn't before. My car did something I wasn't expecting. So, what did I do? I expecting. So, what did I do? I expecting. So, what did I do? I overcorrected overcorrected overcorrected and we ended up nose down in the ditch and we ended up nose down in the ditch and we ended up nose down in the ditch on the wrong side of the road. Here's on the wrong side of the road. Here's on the wrong side of the road. Here's the thing. I was fully licensed. I'd the thing. I was fully licensed. I'd the thing. I was fully licensed. I'd passed the test. On paper, I knew how to passed the test. On paper, I knew how to passed the test. On paper, I knew how to drive. I just hadn't been trained for drive. I just hadn't been trained for drive. I just hadn't been trained for that specific moment. Nobody had taken that specific moment. Nobody had taken that specific moment. Nobody had taken me out to a gravel road and said, "This me out to a gravel road and said, "This me out to a gravel road and said, "This is what washboard feels like. This is is what washboard feels like. This is is what washboard feels like. This is what your car will do. This is how you what your car will do. This is how you what your car will do. This is how you respond." The gap between licensed and respond." The gap between licensed and respond." The gap between licensed and actually prepared put me in the ditch actually prepared put me in the ditch actually prepared put me in the ditch that night. And I think about that that night. And I think about that that night. And I think about that almost every time a pastor tells me almost every time a pastor tells me almost every time a pastor tells me their people won't invite. Listen, your

their people won't invite. Listen, your their people won't invite. Listen, your people are not the problem. Let me say people are not the problem. Let me say people are not the problem. Let me say it again. Stop the quiet Monday morning it again. Stop the quiet Monday morning it again. Stop the quiet Monday morning verdict that your people just don't care verdict that your people just don't care verdict that your people just don't care enough, aren't committed enough, aren't enough, aren't committed enough, aren't enough, aren't committed enough, aren't bold enough in their faith. That story bold enough in their faith. That story bold enough in their faith. That story is wrong and worse, it's leading you to is wrong and worse, it's leading you to is wrong and worse, it's leading you to the wrong solutions. Spiritual guilt the wrong solutions. Spiritual guilt the wrong solutions. Spiritual guilt campaigns don't build invite culture. campaigns don't build invite culture. campaigns don't build invite culture. They build a two-week bump and a long They build a two-week bump and a long They build a two-week bump and a long guilt hangover. Here's what the data guilt hangover. Here's what the data guilt hangover. Here's what the data actually says about your people. Roughly actually says about your people. Roughly actually says about your people. Roughly a third of unchurched Americans say a third of unchurched Americans say a third of unchurched Americans say they'd attend a worship service if a they'd attend a worship service if a they'd attend a worship service if a friend invited them. Number climbs for friend invited them. Number climbs for friend invited them. Number climbs for low barrier community events as well. low barrier community events as well. low barrier community events as well. Meanwhile, three in four regular church Meanwhile, three in four regular church Meanwhile, three in four regular church goers say the sermon content is the goers say the sermon content is the goers say the sermon content is the primary reason they show up. Scripture primary reason they show up. Scripture primary reason they show up. Scripture connected to life actual teaching. connected to life actual teaching. connected to life actual teaching. Here's the translation for you. The Here's the translation for you. The Here's the translation for you. The receptivity is already sitting in your receptivity is already sitting in your receptivity is already sitting in your people's friends group. Let me say that people's friends group. Let me say that people's friends group. Let me say that again. The receptivity is already again. The receptivity is already again. The receptivity is already sitting in your people's friends group.

sitting in your people's friends group. sitting in your people's friends group. The weekend experience is already a word The weekend experience is already a word The weekend experience is already a word of mouth asset. Your people care. Their of mouth asset. Your people care. Their of mouth asset. Your people care. Their friends are open. The raw materials for friends are open. The raw materials for friends are open. The raw materials for growth are there. So, why is your invite growth are there. So, why is your invite growth are there. So, why is your invite rate the way it is? Because licensed rate the way it is? Because licensed rate the way it is? Because licensed isn't the same as trained. Your people isn't the same as trained. Your people isn't the same as trained. Your people are fully credentialed followers who've are fully credentialed followers who've are fully credentialed followers who've never been taken out on a gravel road. never been taken out on a gravel road. never been taken out on a gravel road. And when the invite moment shows up, a And when the invite moment shows up, a And when the invite moment shows up, a friend at work mentions a hard week or a friend at work mentions a hard week or a friend at work mentions a hard week or a neighbor asks them what they did this neighbor asks them what they did this neighbor asks them what they did this weekend, they hit the washboard and over weekend, they hit the washboard and over weekend, they hit the washboard and over correct. They mumble something vague. correct. They mumble something vague. correct. They mumble something vague. They change the subject. They go quiet. They change the subject. They go quiet. They change the subject. They go quiet. You read that as a motivation problem. You read that as a motivation problem. You read that as a motivation problem. It isn't. It's a training problem. Those It isn't. It's a training problem. Those It isn't. It's a training problem. Those are very different things because one of are very different things because one of are very different things because one of them you can fix. What your people them you can fix. What your people them you can fix. What your people actually need, and it's not another actually need, and it's not another actually need, and it's not another guilt sermon. Three things. Not Not one guilt sermon. Three things. Not Not one guilt sermon. Three things. Not Not one of these, not two of these, all three is of these, not two of these, all three is of these, not two of these, all three is what your people need. First, train what your people need. First, train what your people need. First, train their heads. Most of your congregation their heads. Most of your congregation their heads. Most of your congregation thinks they're passengers. Your people thinks they're passengers. Your people thinks they're passengers. Your people need to understand what role they need to understand what role they need to understand what role they actually play in reaching the community.

actually play in reaching the community. actually play in reaching the community. Not abstractly, not just a sermon Not abstractly, not just a sermon Not abstractly, not just a sermon illustration. It's a job description. illustration. It's a job description. illustration. It's a job description. Most people in the seats on Sunday don't Most people in the seats on Sunday don't Most people in the seats on Sunday don't believe they have a meaningful role in believe they have a meaningful role in believe they have a meaningful role in the impact your church will have in your the impact your church will have in your the impact your church will have in your community. They think it's the pastor's community. They think it's the pastor's community. They think it's the pastor's job, the staff's job, the outreach job, the staff's job, the outreach job, the staff's job, the outreach team's job. When an invitation comes up, team's job. When an invitation comes up, team's job. When an invitation comes up, they nod along, but in their head, they nod along, but in their head, they nod along, but in their head, they're a passenger. You're the one they're a passenger. You're the one they're a passenger. You're the one driving the bus, not them. Training driving the bus, not them. Training driving the bus, not them. Training challenges that mental model. It teaches challenges that mental model. It teaches challenges that mental model. It teaches your people that they are the most your people that they are the most your people that they are the most persuasive communication channel your persuasive communication channel your persuasive communication channel your church have, more than your Instagram, church have, more than your Instagram, church have, more than your Instagram, more than your website, more than any more than your website, more than any more than your website, more than any ads you can run. The research backs this ads you can run. The research backs this ads you can run. The research backs this up repeatedly. People don't get invited up repeatedly. People don't get invited up repeatedly. People don't get invited by buildings, they get invited by by buildings, they get invited by by buildings, they get invited by friends. When a congregation genuinely friends. When a congregation genuinely friends. When a congregation genuinely understands this at the head level, like understands this at the head level, like understands this at the head level, like it's fully comprehended, their posture it's fully comprehended, their posture it's fully comprehended, their posture begins to shift. They stop waiting for begins to shift. They stop waiting for begins to shift. They stop waiting for the church to simply grow itself. Okay, the church to simply grow itself. Okay, the church to simply grow itself. Okay, number two. Equip their hands. Your number two. Equip their hands. Your number two. Equip their hands. Your people freeze because nobody gave them a people freeze because nobody gave them a people freeze because nobody gave them a script. Now, give them the tools. What script. Now, give them the tools. What script. Now, give them the tools. What are the actual words they say when a are the actual words they say when a are the actual words they say when a friend asks them what they did this friend asks them what they did this friend asks them what they did this weekend? Or what do you text someone weekend? Or what do you text someone weekend? Or what do you text someone after they mention that their marriage after they mention that their marriage after they mention that their marriage is struggling? Or what's the language is struggling? Or what's the language is struggling? Or what's the language for inviting a coworker to Easter or to for inviting a coworker to Easter or to for inviting a coworker to Easter or to any other day without sounding like a

any other day without sounding like a any other day without sounding like a pitch? Or what do you share on social pitch? Or what do you share on social pitch? Or what do you share on social media and when and how often? This is media and when and how often? This is media and when and how often? This is where most churches frankly fall off the where most churches frankly fall off the where most churches frankly fall off the cliff. cliff. cliff. We train people at a conceptual level, We train people at a conceptual level, We train people at a conceptual level, then send them into real conversations then send them into real conversations then send them into real conversations with no scripts, no prompts, no practice with no scripts, no prompts, no practice with no scripts, no prompts, no practice reps, and they freeze. Of course they reps, and they freeze. Of course they reps, and they freeze. Of course they freeze. We freeze, too, the first time freeze. We freeze, too, the first time freeze. We freeze, too, the first time we tried to explain what grace is to a we tried to explain what grace is to a we tried to explain what grace is to a skeptical relative on Thanksgiving. We skeptical relative on Thanksgiving. We skeptical relative on Thanksgiving. We froze. Of course our people are going to froze. Of course our people are going to froze. Of course our people are going to freeze. Equipping means giving your freeze. Equipping means giving your freeze. Equipping means giving your people specific language, specific people specific language, specific people specific language, specific triggers, specific training, specific triggers, specific training, specific triggers, specific training, specific tools, shareable social posts, invite tools, shareable social posts, invite tools, shareable social posts, invite cards that don't feel weird, text cards that don't feel weird, text cards that don't feel weird, text templates. They reduce the friction of templates. They reduce the friction of templates. They reduce the friction of the actual moment. Language without the the actual moment. Language without the the actual moment. Language without the tool is just theory. The tool without tool is just theory. The tool without tool is just theory. The tool without the language is track left on a diner the language is track left on a diner the language is track left on a diner table. All right, number three, motivate table. All right, number three, motivate table. All right, number three, motivate their hearts. Guilt is not vision. And their hearts. Guilt is not vision. And their hearts. Guilt is not vision. And finally, there's the why. Not guilt, not finally, there's the why. Not guilt, not finally, there's the why. Not guilt, not you should be doing this, not barely you should be doing this, not barely you should be doing this, not barely veiled implication that better veiled implication that better veiled implication that better Christians invite more people. Real Christians invite more people. Real Christians invite more people. Real motivation is about vision at its core, motivation is about vision at its core, motivation is about vision at its core, at their heart. It's the moment your at their heart. It's the moment your at their heart. It's the moment your people see that this, inviting their people see that this, inviting their people see that this, inviting their co-worker, their sister-in-law, the co-worker, their sister-in-law, the co-worker, their sister-in-law, the single mom down the street, is how their single mom down the street, is how their single mom down the street, is how their community actually changes. This is how community actually changes. This is how community actually changes. This is how the marriage that's quietly falling the marriage that's quietly falling the marriage that's quietly falling apart gets a Tuesday night small group.

apart gets a Tuesday night small group. apart gets a Tuesday night small group. This is how a lonely senior gets a ride This is how a lonely senior gets a ride This is how a lonely senior gets a ride to church and a coffee after. This is to church and a coffee after. This is to church and a coffee after. This is how the teenager who parents just got how the teenager who parents just got how the teenager who parents just got divorced finds one adult who just keeps divorced finds one adult who just keeps divorced finds one adult who just keeps showing up. This is how we change the showing up. This is how we change the showing up. This is how we change the world. Not from the stage, but from the world. Not from the stage, but from the world. Not from the stage, but from the seats. Motivation isn't about making seats. Motivation isn't about making seats. Motivation isn't about making your people feel bad. It's about letting your people feel bad. It's about letting your people feel bad. It's about letting them feel the weight of what their life them feel the weight of what their life them feel the weight of what their life is worth when they spend it in this way. is worth when they spend it in this way. is worth when they spend it in this way. All right, here's why this matters All right, here's why this matters All right, here's why this matters specifically for you. The pastor who specifically for you. The pastor who specifically for you. The pastor who thinks, our people just invite, builds a thinks, our people just invite, builds a thinks, our people just invite, builds a culture around guilt and just shallow culture around guilt and just shallow culture around guilt and just shallow inspiration. Neither of these compound. inspiration. Neither of these compound. inspiration. Neither of these compound. You'll see the same spike in September You'll see the same spike in September You'll see the same spike in September and wonder why the baseline never moves. and wonder why the baseline never moves. and wonder why the baseline never moves. The pastor who thinks, our people need The pastor who thinks, our people need The pastor who thinks, our people need to be trained, they need to be equipped, to be trained, they need to be equipped, to be trained, they need to be equipped, and they need to be motivated, builds and they need to be motivated, builds and they need to be motivated, builds systems. And you know what? Systems systems. And you know what? Systems systems. And you know what? Systems compound. Year one looks modest. Year compound. Year one looks modest. Year compound. Year one looks modest. Year three looks like a different church. One three looks like a different church. One three looks like a different church. One of these leaders is still running the of these leaders is still running the of these leaders is still running the same spike and drop cycle into 2031. The same spike and drop cycle into 2031. The same spike and drop cycle into 2031. The other isn't. The question isn't whether other isn't. The question isn't whether other isn't. The question isn't whether your people care. They do. Question is your people care. They do. Question is your people care. They do. Question is whether you ever built a gravel road for whether you ever built a gravel road for whether you ever built a gravel road for them to practice on or whether you keep them to practice on or whether you keep them to practice on or whether you keep handing out licenses and acting handing out licenses and acting handing out licenses and acting surprised when people get in the ditch.

surprised when people get in the ditch. surprised when people get in the ditch. That's why we're running the invite That's why we're running the invite That's why we're running the invite culture audit on May 12th. On Tuesday, culture audit on May 12th. On Tuesday, culture audit on May 12th. On Tuesday, May 12th at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, I'm May 12th at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, I'm May 12th at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, I'm hosting a free workshop called the hosting a free workshop called the hosting a free workshop called the invite culture audit workshop. It's not invite culture audit workshop. It's not invite culture audit workshop. It's not a pep talk. It's a diagnostic. For 20 a pep talk. It's a diagnostic. For 20 a pep talk. It's a diagnostic. For 20 years, I've had a front for over 20 years, I've had a front for over 20 years, I've had a front for over 20 years. I wish it was just 20. I've had a years. I wish it was just 20. I've had a years. I wish it was just 20. I've had a front row seat to what's actually front row seat to what's actually front row seat to what's actually working inside growing churches all working inside growing churches all working inside growing churches all across North America. And here's what across North America. And here's what across North America. And here's what I'm seeing. The churches that are I'm seeing. The churches that are I'm seeing. The churches that are growing aren't doing more. They've just growing aren't doing more. They've just growing aren't doing more. They've just made invite normal. In 60 minutes, made invite normal. In 60 minutes, made invite normal. In 60 minutes, you're going to walk away with three you're going to walk away with three you're going to walk away with three things. You're going to understand why things. You're going to understand why things. You're going to understand why healthy churches get stuck, the hidden healthy churches get stuck, the hidden healthy churches get stuck, the hidden reason your church is doing all the reason your church is doing all the reason your church is doing all the right things, yet guest flow stays right things, yet guest flow stays right things, yet guest flow stays inconsistent and big day spike and then inconsistent and big day spike and then inconsistent and big day spike and then return back to normal. We're going to return back to normal. We're going to return back to normal. We're going to talk about the five gears of invite talk about the five gears of invite talk about the five gears of invite culture, the specific systems that culture, the specific systems that culture, the specific systems that growing churches use to move people from growing churches use to move people from growing churches use to move people from hoping people invite to actually hoping people invite to actually hoping people invite to actually expecting they will and seeing that they expecting they will and seeing that they expecting they will and seeing that they do. And then finally, you're going to do. And then finally, you're going to do. And then finally, you're going to walk away with a 90-day invite culture walk away with a 90-day invite culture walk away with a 90-day invite culture blueprint. A practical plan to mobilize blueprint. A practical plan to mobilize blueprint. A practical plan to mobilize your people, multiply invitations, and your people, multiply invitations, and your people, multiply invitations, and build real momentum heading into the build real momentum heading into the build real momentum heading into the fall of 2026. You'll walk out with the fall of 2026. You'll walk out with the fall of 2026. You'll walk out with the invite culture scorecard, a clear invite culture scorecard, a clear invite culture scorecard, a clear picture of where your invite culture is picture of where your invite culture is picture of where your invite culture is strong, where it is leaking, and which strong, where it is leaking, and which strong, where it is leaking, and which of these three, train, equip, and of these three, train, equip, and of these three, train, equip, and motivate, is a dominant blocker for your motivate, is a dominant blocker for your motivate, is a dominant blocker for your church right now. Not a generic answer, church right now. Not a generic answer, church right now. Not a generic answer, it's really we're we're to focus on for it's really we're we're to focus on for it's really we're we're to focus on for you to help you to be as helpful as you you to help you to be as helpful as you you to help you to be as helpful as you possibly can. Check the link below.

possibly can. Check the link below. possibly can. Check the link below. There's not going to be a hard pitch There's not going to be a hard pitch There's not going to be a hard pitch here. There's no, you know, giant sales here. There's no, you know, giant sales here. There's no, you know, giant sales pitch. Uh we are going to talk about a pitch. Uh we are going to talk about a pitch. Uh we are going to talk about a way that we could continue to work way that we could continue to work way that we could continue to work together uh at the end of the together uh at the end of the together uh at the end of the conversation, but click the link below, conversation, but click the link below, conversation, but click the link below, register for the free invite culture register for the free invite culture register for the free invite culture audit workshop. One last thing about audit workshop. One last thing about audit workshop. One last thing about that ditch. When the police pulled me that ditch. When the police pulled me that ditch. When the police pulled me out of the snow that night, they asked out of the snow that night, they asked out of the snow that night, they asked me where I wanted to go. My parents were me where I wanted to go. My parents were me where I wanted to go. My parents were out for the night. It was Christmas. I out for the night. It was Christmas. I out for the night. It was Christmas. I knew enough that I shouldn't go home to knew enough that I shouldn't go home to knew enough that I shouldn't go home to an empty so they drove me to Pastor Dave an empty so they drove me to Pastor Dave an empty so they drove me to Pastor Dave Lewis's house, my senior pastor, a Lewis's house, my senior pastor, a Lewis's house, my senior pastor, a really good man. Plus, if I'm honest, I really good man. Plus, if I'm honest, I really good man. Plus, if I'm honest, I figured they'd come when they came and figured they'd come when they came and figured they'd come when they came and picked me up at Pastor Dave's house, picked me up at Pastor Dave's house, picked me up at Pastor Dave's house, that would soften any initial parental that would soften any initial parental that would soften any initial parental pressure. pressure. pressure. Well, he opened the door in whatever a Well, he opened the door in whatever a Well, he opened the door in whatever a pastor wears at 10:00 p.m. on a winter pastor wears at 10:00 p.m. on a winter pastor wears at 10:00 p.m. on a winter night, and he wasn't angry. He wasn't night, and he wasn't angry. He wasn't night, and he wasn't angry. He wasn't disappointed. He was just kind. He let disappointed. He was just kind. He let disappointed. He was just kind. He let me sit on his couch, shake a little, and me sit on his couch, shake a little, and me sit on his couch, shake a little, and eventually called my folks and tell them eventually called my folks and tell them eventually called my folks and tell them what happened. My parents expressed what happened. My parents expressed what happened. My parents expressed concern, but honestly, they didn't freak concern, but honestly, they didn't freak concern, but honestly, they didn't freak out. They were incredibly loving. They out. They were incredibly loving. They out. They were incredibly loving. They just were grateful I was alive. Then the just were grateful I was alive. Then the just were grateful I was alive. Then the police showed up at the front door the police showed up at the front door the police showed up at the front door the next day with the real consequence, a next day with the real consequence, a next day with the real consequence, a 1-month license suspension. No driving.

1-month license suspension. No driving. 1-month license suspension. No driving. Here's the truth. I didn't want to Here's the truth. I didn't want to Here's the truth. I didn't want to drive. I was 16. I'd scared myself drive. I was 16. I'd scared myself drive. I was 16. I'd scared myself badly, and that month off did something badly, and that month off did something badly, and that month off did something that the license test never did. I came that the license test never did. I came that the license test never did. I came back to the road different, slower, more back to the road different, slower, more back to the road different, slower, more careful, more aware of what I didn't careful, more aware of what I didn't careful, more aware of what I didn't know. To this day, I drive slower than know. To this day, I drive slower than know. To this day, I drive slower than my wife. You can ask her, she'll tell my wife. You can ask her, she'll tell my wife. You can ask her, she'll tell you that I drive slower than her. She'll you that I drive slower than her. She'll you that I drive slower than her. She'll cheerfully tell you that. I think about cheerfully tell you that. I think about cheerfully tell you that. I think about this sometimes when I talk when I'm this sometimes when I talk when I'm this sometimes when I talk when I'm talking to a pastor who invite numbers talking to a pastor who invite numbers talking to a pastor who invite numbers are flat. Because your people aren't are flat. Because your people aren't are flat. Because your people aren't reckless. They're not uncommitted. Most reckless. They're not uncommitted. Most reckless. They're not uncommitted. Most of them are quietly in the ditch. They of them are quietly in the ditch. They of them are quietly in the ditch. They tried and they tried it once. It went tried and they tried it once. It went tried and they tried it once. It went sideways. They stopped trying, and now sideways. They stopped trying, and now sideways. They stopped trying, and now they're just driving to work and back. they're just driving to work and back. they're just driving to work and back. The audit isn't a lecture, it's closer The audit isn't a lecture, it's closer The audit isn't a lecture, it's closer to Pastor Dave's couch. We'll figure out to Pastor Dave's couch. We'll figure out to Pastor Dave's couch. We'll figure out what actually is going on at your what actually is going on at your what actually is going on at your church, we'll name the specific thing church, we'll name the specific thing church, we'll name the specific thing that's going wrong and then together that's going wrong and then together that's going wrong and then together we'll build training that your people we'll build training that your people we'll build training that your people should have had all along and that's how should have had all along and that's how should have had all along and that's how we'll get them back on the road. We'll we'll get them back on the road. We'll we'll get them back on the road. We'll see you May 12th.