We believe Billy Joel said it best:

"Get it right the first time, 'cause that's the main thing

Wo-oh-oh-oh

You can't afford to let it pass. Get it right the next time, that's not the same thing

Wo-oh-oh-oh

Gotta make the first time last.

La la la"

We're pretty sure Billy didn't have youth ministry in mind when he wrote the song (and we've never quite understood the WOs and LAs), but this much is true: You don't get a second chance to make a first impression. What happens during the first 60 minutes a student spends at the first youth meeting he or she attends is crucial in determining if there ever will be a second 60 minutes. What can you do?

Post Greeters

Most youth pastors are hyper-extroverts in need of substantial amounts of Ritalin. Most people aren't, and the very act of walking into a room full of strangers is enough to cause many of them to hit tilt. How can you help? Make sure they never walk into the room alone. Post a couple of greeters at every door. If someone is new and alone (something that probably won't happen often), have one greeter leave his or her post and escort the person inside, make some quick introductions and casually hand the newbie off to someone who's not only naturally warm but who understands the assignment: to sit with the person, answer questions and make sure he or she feels welcome. You can recruit relatively new students to serve as greeters. Actually, it's a great way to get them involved; but you need to exercise care in selecting the people to whom newcomers are handed.

Name Tags

"What is his name? Scott? Steve? I can't ask him again because I already asked last week. Maybe if I sit over here he won't see me." Admit it. You've avoided people because you couldn't remember their names. Yet it's a problem easily solved—make name tags a part of your culture. If everyone wears one, including you, it's not hard to get guests to pin one on, as well.

"Who Likes Chunky Monkey?"

At some point early in the meeting announce: "OK, everyone has two minutes to greet a new person and find out:

• What his or her favorite flavor of ice cream is;

• Her favorite Star Wars movie;

• The worst grade he's ever gotten on a math test."

Ask different questions every week, and train your leaders to use this time to meet anyone new and make sure no one is sitting alone.

Prepare the Room

It should be clean and relatively clutter-free. Pictures from recent events (the fall retreat of '96 doesn't count) should be posted around the walls so newcomers have something to look at and help them get excited about future events. Signs pointing to the bathrooms and exits should be prominently displayed.

Avoid Inside Jokes

There are few things more embarrassing than spending an evening listening to other people laugh at jokes you don't understand. Because you as the youth pastor are the quintessential insider, you may not realize just how out of the loop most people are. So ask the entire leadership team to be sensitive to this trap.