Our Blog

October 7, 2026

Dear friends: October 7

Greetings All,

Last Sunday we welcomed the 47th new member of First Pres into membership so far this year. It is always good news when new members join the roll, but the number 47 is significant because it puts us ahead of the 2025 full-year total of 46. We are working with several more individuals and families who are strong prospects for membership and who we hope will be joining soon.

Here is a brief description of how First Pres follows up with visitors and prospects for membership. The key to this process is for visitors to sign in using the Ritual of Friendship sheets, or online equivalent, during worship. Each Monday morning, the data from the sheets is recorded in the First Pres attendance file, and profiles are created for those who are new to the church. On Monday afternoon, pastoral and program staff members have a brief meeting to discuss the prior day’s activity, and we decide who will follow up with which attendees. Those who have provided contact information receive a phone call, email, text or note shortly after they visit.

Visitors and prospective members are a continuously evolving group, who we refer to loosely as “Prospects,” with different individuals and families requiring different types of follow up timed according to their circumstances.

If you know of anyone-- Prospect or not-- who needs a call from the church, please let me or another member of staff know. In any case, I am always interested in your thoughts on how we engage as a community. I would love to hear from you.

Peace to you and yours!

Chris Bartley
Sr. Director, Engagement & Programs

Posted by Christopher Bartley with

August 5, 2026

in Dear friends

Dear friends: August 5

Greetings All,

Here is a brief report on church engagement as we look forward to fall and the beginning of the school year.

So far this year, 38 new members have joined First Pres, for a current total of 1,685 on the roll. If we consider the various categories of engagement that are tracked both formally and informally at First Pres, we might argue that the size of the community exceeds 3,000. This estimate includes friends of the church who engage regularly in various ways, including many who connect though Community Crossroads but do not formally join the roll.

First Pres does a physical headcount of weekly worship attendance, and results for the first half of the year are trending favorably. To have a third of the roll membership count in attendance is generally seen as an indicator of congregational vitality, and currently our number sits at 764, or 45%. As we head into the higher-attendance season, perhaps we will reach the 2025 full-year average of 792.

Many good things are happening in terms of engagement. Next week, Eric Varnon will conclude an online-only Bible study on the “I am” statements of Jesus, which proved a success. He continues to work with the Communications team to develop new digital content including upcoming online-only and hybrid educational opportunities for the fall semester. Recently you may have noticed online passing of the peace, and virtual participation by First Presbyterian Church of Lake Charles, LA during worship.

First Connections is our visitor and new member class that has met, spring and fall, for many years now. Please be on the lookout for upcoming announcements about this class which will meet during the church school hour on Sundays in September. And remember that all are invited, even if you have already been at First Pres for a while now. Among other topics, we will present ways to connect at First Pres; familiarize students with the various physical spaces on our campuses; and discuss the spiritual discipline of generosity and affirm its importance in church life.