Whether you're church planting or simply working to open again after moving locations as a portable church (or covid restrictions lift) you'll want to make it as easy as possible for church visitors to navigate your building, find their kid's classroom, and get to your auditorium.

Most church visitors don't give themselves much time before your worship service starts. Just sit in the movie theatre and consider how many people trickle in during the first 5 minutes of the movie, or see how many parents are standing at the back of the school auditorium because they arrived right as their kid's performance was starting.

While you can't do much (other than encouragement) to get people to come 10 minutes earlier on launch Sunday, you can use signage at your church plant to help them find their way as quickly as possible once they do arrive.

Here your Church Plant Signs (or reopening) Checklist:

Signs To Help Church Guests Find Their Way As Quickly As Possible

Welcome sign in the parking lot

Let them know they've found the right place with flapping feather flags, or a vinyl sign (especially if this is launch weekend when you're church planting). 

You may not have to display your logo on all of your signs, but get that logo front and center on these!

Make sure your fabric is high quality so your colors and design are vibrant in direct sunlight and your banner is durable outdoors.

People need to know they've found the right place, and since most church visitors will have already been to your website (or checked you out on Instagram), they'll recognize your logo.

Directions in the parking lot to the Main Entrance

Pool all of your first-impression volunteers in one area for maximum impact, and create signs that points everyone to use that set of doors at your church (or high school, or movie theater). 

To gain attention, give your team an extra pop: handheld signs.

This is even more important if you're church planting and your volunteer team is still growing. 10 people at one main entrance is much more exciting on launch weekend than 2 or 3 people at 2 or 3 doors around your church.

Wayfinding signage inside the doors to 3 important locations

Kids Check-in. Restrooms. Auditorium. Make sure these welcome banners are high enough to be seen over the heads of people in a crowd.

Display Directional Signs in your children's ministry area

Create signs that kids can understand, even if they don't read - think colors or shapes like paw prints, and put the information at a height intended for kids to see.

Have your first impressions team talk directly to the kids and involve them in getting to their class. "Since you're 5, we're going to follow the blue arrows. Can you watch for the blue arrows with me?" This can work with paw prints also: "Would you help me follow the bear paws to your class?"

This can help children follow along in the process of getting to their class, not just following along while someone talks to their parent, and signs that allow for this type of conversation create a comfort level for both the kids and parents.

If your childrens ministry pickup area is different from their drop-off area...

...make sure parents leaving the auditorium have clear directions each step of the way to picking up their kids. Can a guest leave the auditorium out of any of the available exits and see directions to pick up their kids?

Directions to get back out of your children's ministry area to the parking lot after service

Leave a positive impression with your guests as they're leaving by making it easy for them to find their way back to the car. Start at the further classroom from your parking lot and have a sign at every turn. There should never be a "which way now?" moment.

Everything a guest needs during their experience at your church should be on display on a sign.

If a guest doesn't have kids, what is their next step after leaving your auditorium?

Maybe a church guest's next step to pick up a gift from your information desk, or grab a free coffee. Signage showing those options will help them stay around and build community rather than not sure what's next and heading straight to the parking lot.

Signage leaving your church parking lot (Many churches miss this!)

You've got one last chance to emphasize the importance of making church a routine. Leave your church guests with a reminder like "See you next week" or "Bring a friend next Sunday."

These may seem like obvious statements for someone who is used to going to church, but for someone who is coming to church for the first time, they have to change their life-long habit of 'sleeping in' on Sunday, and this could be a reminder they need to help them understand the culture of your church.

Your Church Plant Signs Serves 3 Functions:

Let them know they've found your church, help them find their way around your church, and reminding them to come back to your church!