If You're Going to Do it, Make it Excellent

Описание: Welcome back to Church Staff Book Club with Jonathan Malm and Jason Young*! In *Episode 8*, we’re walking through *Chapter 8 of The Come Back Effect – our book on church hospitality and guest experience – where we challenge a mindset that quietly keeps people from returning:


“JUST OKAY” HOSPITALITY.

Most churches don’t have bad hospitality… they have forgettable hospitality. And “good enough” doesn’t usually offend anyone—

it just *silently convinces guests not to come back*.



In this episode, we talk about the difference between excellence and perfection*, why churches unintentionally settle, and how to make *small upgrades that build trust and help people feel *seen, safe, and truly welcomed*.


WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

Why average experiences rarely inspire return
The difference between excellence vs. perfectionism in church hospitality
5 common reasons churches settle for “good enough”
Why _hospitality is about the welcome_, not the production value
Small, practical upgrades that make church feel intentional (without a bigger budget)
How volunteer presence, warmth, and consistency create memorable moments
Why guests decide to return based on trust, not polish



KEY IDEAS FROM THIS EPISODE:

✅ Excellence isn’t fancy.

✅ Excellence isn’t expensive.

✅ Excellence is care.



People don’t return because everything was flawless—

they return because something felt *intentional*.


SPONSOR

First Impressions helps churches create meaningful connections with guests—from first-time visits to lifelong discipleship.

Conferences, Academy training, coaching, systems, and proven follow-up strategies: http://firstimpressions.church


NEXT STEPS

📘 We’re nearing the end of https://amzn.to/3MWopYR. *Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 are next*, then we’ll move to a new book.

Have a recommendation for what we should read next? Drop it in the comments or message us on social media.



👍 If this episode helped you, like, subscribe, and share with your staff or volunteer team.

💬 Questions about hospitality, guest experience, or volunteer leadership? Leave a comment—we’d love to interact.



See you next week!