Sitting down with Pastor Larry Brey from Elevation Church felt a bit like stepping behind the scenes at a world‑class hospitality brand. Elevation isn’t a mega‑church because they do flashy events or have the best lighting rig. It’s because they have built a culture where every guest feels known. As one of the campus pastors at Elevation and a key architect of their weekend experience, Larry shared how they’ve created a repeatable system that turns first‑time visitors into family. In this article I’ll relay the highlights of our conversation and offer some practical takeaways for pastors looking to welcome more people through their doors.
Why Guest Experience Matters
Larry started with a simple truth: “People decide if they’re coming back before they ever hear the sermon.” In his view the message doesn’t begin when the pastor takes the stage, but in the parking lot and lobby. Everything communicates—faces, signage, coffee tables, kids’ check‑in, even the smell of the room. “We want everyone to know we were expecting them,” Larry said, “from the moment they pull in. When people feel like they belong, they’ll stick around long enough to meet Jesus.”
That focus on hospitality echoes what other growing churches have discovered. When I spoke with Pastor Robert White of Freedom Church, he told me their explosive growth came after they built systems and empowered leaders to invite and welcome their community. Larry’s comments reinforced that sentiment—guest experience isn’t a gimmick, it’s a ministry philosophy.
Creating a Culture of Hospitality
At Elevation, excellence isn’t about polish but about intentionality. Larry told me they approach the weekend experience like hosting company. Every volunteer—from parking attendants to ushers—is trained to look for new faces and to greet them by name if possible. “We tell our volunteers, you are pastors today, because the way you love people is preaching,” he said.
Some tangible practices Larry mentioned:
- First‑seven‑minutes focus. They believe guests decide whether to return within the first seven minutes of their visit. Those minutes happen before the service starts, so the welcome team carries tremendous weight. Smiling faces and clear signage reduce anxiety. Children’s workers get down on a child’s level and welcome them by name.
- VIP follow‑up. Every first‑time guest receives a hand‑written note during the week and a personal text inviting them back. Volunteers use simple scripts so the follow‑up feels personal rather than automated.
- Expect the unexpected. Larry encourages teams to look for pain points. “When you solve a problem before they complain about it, guests feel cared for,” he explained. Examples include umbrellas on rainy days, someone walking them to children’s check‑in, or providing allergy‑friendly snacks in the lobby.
Follow‑Up That Feels Like Family
Hospitality doesn’t end when someone walks out the door. Elevation’s follow‑up strategy aims to make a large church feel small. Larry shared that they track every first‑time guest and assign a team member to personally reach out. A day or two after the service a volunteer will call or text to see how their visit went and ask if they have any prayer requests. The goal isn’t to sell them on a program but to connect relationally.
This systematic approach to follow‑up echoes advice I’ve heard from other pastors. Pastor Robert White attributed Freedom Church’s growth to “structured outreach” and team collaboration. Larry went further, pointing out that Elevation keeps a scoreboard on metrics that matter—names, not just numbers. Every person they follow up with represents a soul whose story matters.
Empowering Volunteers and Building Systems
One of the most striking themes in my conversation with Larry was how Elevation empowers volunteers. They’ve built a team of lay leaders who carry the weight of the weekend. “If you do everything yourself, you steal someone else’s blessing,” Larry said. He believes pastors should equip saints for the work of ministry rather than do it all themselves.
Here are a few ways Elevation builds systems that scale:
- Clear job descriptions. Every role—greeter, usher, parking attendant—has a written checklist so volunteers know what success looks like. Leaders debrief after each service to celebrate wins and identify improvements.
- Ongoing training. Volunteers aren’t thrown into ministry unprepared. They attend regular huddles where they practice welcoming strangers and troubleshoot real scenarios. Larry said they even role‑play awkward conversations so team members feel confident when the unexpected happens.
- Feedback loops. Volunteers are encouraged to share stories and suggestions. Those insights inform weekly adjustments. Larry compared it to running plays on a football team—“We run the same plays every Sunday, but we watch the film and tweak our routes.”
Advice for Pastors
Toward the end of our conversation I asked Larry what he would say to pastors who want to grow their churches. His advice was both spiritual and strategic:
- Know who you are. Don’t try to copy another church’s style. As Pastor Robert White told me, growth begins when you stop trying to be someone else.
- Build a team. Equip volunteers to lead with you. Elevation’s guest experience is volunteer‑driven; your church can’t grow if everything depends on one person.
- Grow within your lane. Larry reminded me that bigger isn’t always better. Focus on serving people well at the size you are now. Excellence at 200 sets the stage for 400 and beyond.
- Preach the Gospel—and watch the numbers. Larry isn’t afraid of metrics because every number represents a person. As Freedom Church’s story shows, counting people helps you see who you’re reaching.
He also offered a pastoral reminder: “You can be saved and not free,” echoing Robert White’s insight that people need systems and relationships to live free. Good guest experience is part of discipleship because it helps people take their next step toward Christ.
Why Numbers Matter (Without Becoming About Numbers)
Larry is quick to say that attendance isn’t the ultimate goal. At the same time he believes numbers matter because they represent lives. In our discussion he referenced the book of Numbers—a reminder that God cares about counting his people. Elevation sets goals for first‑time guests, return rate, baptisms and group participation not to inflate pride but to ensure no one slips through the cracks. “If 2.7 million people live in our county and there are only 1,200 churches, we all need to step up,” he said. Those words reminded me of Robert White’s conviction that big churches aren’t the problem; the problem is that many more people need to be reached.
Final Thoughts
After spending time with Larry Brey, I walked away encouraged that guest experience is both spiritual and practical. Elevation Church’s growth didn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of intentional systems built around loving people well. For pastors wondering how to attract more attendees and see them become disciples, Larry’s story offers a roadmap:
- Treat every guest as if you expected them.
- Train your volunteers to be pastors.
- Follow up personally and promptly.
- Use metrics as a pastoral tool, not a vanity metric.
Your church doesn’t need a massive budget to make guests feel valued. Start with what you have, empower the people around you, and focus on the small moments that make a big difference. As Larry reminded me, “People make a connection with a person long before they make a connection with the principle”. When you point people to Jesus by loving them well, growth becomes a by‑product of faithfulness.
About The Author
