How Alinea Church Gets First-Time Guests to Actually Come Back (and Stick Around)

How do you turn first-time guests into fully engaged members of your church family? Pastor Jeremy Pickwell of Alinea Church in Murfreesboro, TN, shares what it really takes to create a culture where people feel seen, known, and called into community — and why that starts long before the sermon ever begins.

In this episode, Jeremy opens up about the challenges of launching a church in the middle of COVID, the lessons he learned in the “wilderness” season of low attendance, and how his team built a follow-up system that’s both personal and scalable. From handwritten notes and donut gift cards to practical changes in Sunday rhythms, he walks through the small, intentional decisions that have led to real, lasting growth. He also unpacks the power of their mantra: “We’re a church for anyone, but not for everyone.”

Whether you're a church planter, communications leader, or just trying to build a more welcoming environment at your church, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest encouragement. Jeremy’s approach is theologically grounded, deeply relational, and refreshingly real — and it’s helping guests not only show up, but stick around.