unSeminary Podcast: Episode Summary
From Guests to Baptisms: Building Clear Next Steps with John Sellers
Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Rich Birch
Guest: John Sellers, Executive Pastor of Locations, Journey Church (FL)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into a practical, step-by-step approach to moving guests from first-time visits to meaningful spiritual milestones—especially baptism—within Journey Church’s multi-site context. Host Rich Birch and guest John Sellers discuss how intentional clarity, consistent hospitality, and relentless follow-up break down barriers for newcomers, ensuring a smooth path toward connection, belonging, and spiritual steps. Listeners gain actionable ideas on next steps classes, communication workflows, and the art of maximizing “boring” consistency.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Context: Journey Church’s Growth & Community
- Journey Church background: Three locations in central Florida (plus a fourth underway and an online campus), not in major urban metros but rather blue-collar, medium-sized communities (03:39).
- Growth journey: Emphasis on slow, steady, year-over-year double-digit growth—over 20 years, particularly in the last 5-6 years (05:06).
"We just learn from other people and learn from other resources... We've been multi site for about 10 years and we're continuing to see God kind of multiplier ministry." —John Sellers (03:39)
The Challenge: Moving Guests to Connected Attenders
- Barriers for guests: High attrition after initial visits; many guests return once or twice but never engage further (06:52).
- Empathy for newcomers: Leaders can forget how vulnerable, confusing, or intimidating it is to show up at church (06:52).
"Anytime God leads people to take any kind of step, the enemy and the flesh and sin want to creep in and use anything as a distraction to... keep them from taking the next step." —John Sellers (06:52)
- Foundational question: Guests are always wondering, “Do I belong here?” — the need for relational, hospitable connection (07:59).
Practical Solutions: Journey’s New Guest Pathway
The First Steps: The "New Here" Tent
- Consistent “New Here” tent outside every location (10:48)
- Clear next step: “Go to the tent.” Guests are celebrated for simply attending.
- Gift bag includes a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop, church info, gifted to celebrate their “step of faith” (12:33).
- Staffed by volunteers who are gifted in hospitality.
Follow-up: 6-Week Communication Workflow
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After a visit: Multi-channel workflow through Planning Center (14:03)
- Week 1: Email from lead pastor with short video
- Phone call/text from location pastor within 2 weeks
- Series of texts/emails over 6 weeks, focusing on vision and invitation to Next Steps class
- Ongoing periodic follow-up for those who don’t connect after initial workflow
“It's multiple, it’s a variety, and it's over the span of six weeks... and if somebody goes through that six week process without taking the next step, periodically we'll check back in with them just to see how we can serve them.” —John Sellers (14:03)
The On-Ramp: “Next Steps” Classes
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Monthly, predictable rhythm (15:32)
- Step 1 (Week 1): Vision, story, gospel presented, chance to respond and sign up for baptism
- Step 2 (Week 2): “Join a Team”—spiritual gifts discovery, connect to serving
- Step 3 (Week 3): Baptism Sunday at every location, every month
- Step 4 (Week 4): No class, but new serve team members start/shadow and are celebrated
“It seems like a small tweak... but taking that step has actually allowed more and more people to take the step when they're ready. When God moves in their life.” —John Sellers (15:32)
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Jump in anytime: No rigid sequence—people can start at any step and cycle through (17:28).
"The communication to the new person is... if they're in the service today, right after service, walk into the next steps room. We've got free food for you, lunch... kids will be taken care of." —John Sellers (17:28)
Weekend Services: Lowering Barriers & Encouraging Next Steps
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Strategic welcome moments: Right after worship begins, explicitly addressing newcomers (18:44)
- Language: “I don’t know how difficult it was to get in the room...but you made it. That's a big deal. You've made it. We've been praying for you, man. We've been expecting you.” (19:17)
- Remind about the tent, gift card, and upcoming class—at the start and end of service
- Visual aids: Signs, team members, clear directions
“I really like the language that you're using there... It's validating to people.” —Rich Birch (20:21)
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Anecdotes for empathy: Stories of first-timers whose life circumstances (including suicidal thoughts) heighten the stakes of a simple Sunday arrival (21:01).
“I just don’t want you guys to forget, like, the people who walk through your doors on Sunday... I was ready to end my life, and I was given one last shot, and I walked through the doors.” —John Sellers (21:01)
Baptism: The Milestone Step
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Integration into the Next Steps Pathway: Step 3 (Week 3) each month is Baptism Sunday; every location, every service offers the opportunity (23:26).
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Process: Indicate interest during Step 1, pastoral & volunteer team follows up, confirms understanding, may have gospel conversations.
“We offer it every single month. But depending on the size of the location and the congregation... that doesn’t mean that’s happening in every campus, every service, every single month. But a lot of months there are because we offer it.” —John Sellers (23:26)
Big Events: Two Annual All-Church Baptism Opportunities
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After Easter and October “Church at the Park”
- Largest participation; thousands attend, several hundred baptized (31:45).
- Heavy behind-the-scenes prep (shirts, shorts, towels, logistics), but little prescheduling—faith-based open invitation.
“On the day it literally feels like you've created the altar and you're praying ‘Lord, let your fire fall.’” —John Sellers (29:44)
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Testimonies: Stories shared in private with team for comfort—public speaking is optional to lower barriers (28:00).
Balancing Motivation with No Pressure
- No coercion or guilt; openness to God’s timing
“If they're not ready, there's always next month... Encourage them to have the conversation, but if the Spirit’s moving in your life, don’t hesitate.” —John Sellers (33:43)
Adapting to New Growth & Spiritual Curiosity
Noticing increased spiritual hunger and unplanned attendance surges: (36:19)
- Newcomers asking for “that thing you guys do” (baptism) without knowing the term.
- Responded by quickly creating a short-term question-driven group for those with doubts or curiosity, meeting immediate needs (“We didn’t plan on it…God just kind of laid it in our lap.” —John Sellers (38:03)).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On understanding guests:
"When someone walks through the doors of your church, it means God is working in their life. The Holy Spirit is doing something to create a desire for them. Anytime God leads people to take any kind of step, the enemy... wants to creep in and... keep them from taking the next step." —John Sellers (06:52)
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On clarity of next steps:
"You cannot make this too clear. It's literally a bottomless pit of like, we just got to keep making it..." —Rich Birch (09:34)
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On the power of baptism events:
"We've had over 400 people take the step of baptism. And those are just students and adults... It just feels like God has breathed on that in a way that we, we didn't expect." —John Sellers (26:53)
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On empathizing with first-timers:
"When he came in, was absolutely broken. And he's like, I just don't want you guys to forget... I was ready to end my life, and I was given one last shot, and I walked through the doors." —John Sellers (21:01)
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On flexibility and adapting to demand:
“We created just… a new group environment... not a long commitment... so you can ask those questions and process with other people for a short term... It was like God just kind of laid it in our lap.” —John Sellers (38:03)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:39 — Journey Church context, growth story
- 06:52 — Why next steps are a challenge for guests
- 10:48 — The “New Here” tent and first steps for guests
- 12:33 — Gift card rationale and details
- 14:03 — Six-week guest follow-up workflow
- 15:32 — Details and philosophy of Next Steps classes
- 17:28 — Jumping into Next Steps at any time
- 18:44 & 19:17 — Welcome moments: Language and strategy
- 21:01 — The importance of empathy: real guest stories
- 23:26 — Monthly baptism rhythm
- 26:53 — Big baptism events and outcomes
- 28:00 — Why not every baptism includes a testimony
- 29:44 — Preparation and philosophy for major baptism weekends
- 31:45 — Scale and logistics of large church-wide “park” events
- 33:43 — Balancing invitation and pressure for major decisions
- 36:19 — Adapting group environments to meet increased demand
- 38:03 — Launching a new short-term group “on the fly”
Resource Links
Conclusion
John Sellers offers a practical, battle-tested model for helping new guests bridge the intimidating gap between first visit and committed, baptized participant. The keys: ruthless clarity, personal follow-up, consistent rhythms, low-barrier entry points, and a deep respect for what God might be doing in the life of every newcomer. “Boring stuff grows churches”—implementing these next steps in your context could be the game-changer for your ministry’s effectiveness.