“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” The evangelistic element of the Resurrection Day celebration places an emphasis on the word “world.” Romans 10:14 states “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” It is the objective of Easter Sunday to declare the hope that is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus. I have no doubt that you have put a great deal of effort into maximizing the impact through the Word and song, now let’s consider ways to draw people to this well-planned presentation of redemption.
6 Tips To Invite People To Your Easter Church Service
Last Updated: February 2017
1. Prepare in Prayer
And no, I’m not over spiritualizing it here. Souls are gained and lost in the spiritual realm, not the physical realm. If you are looking to bring people in to present the message of the gospel, be prayed up. Pray that God would prepare hearts and draw people to your church. Pray for your members and their family, friends, neighbors and associates; pray for the local community; and pray for the lost across the globe. Inviting people to your Easter service is not about bringing in record numbers in order to increase chances of boosting overall church attendance, it is about reaching lost souls and remembering and rejoicing in the victory that we have because of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
2. Start with the congregation
Create and distribute invitations to your church members so that they can easily invite with style, have them take multiple invitations. Encourage the church to write down 3-5 people that they personally know and care about, but are not saved, and ask them to distribute the invitations to the individuals they write down. Be sure to list the details in order for them to physically attend as well as any live-stream options you may have available, also be sure to include your church website URL. Initiate community outreach projects that are specifically arranged to hand out invitations. An example would be a free car wash planned for the opportunity to serve the community and hand out invitations to people.
3. Update your church website
When your church distributes the invitations, you’re sure to receive lots of new visitors on your church website. You are about to invest a great deal of time and resources to draw people to your Easter service, it makes sense then to make sure your website is ready for dozens, hundreds or even thousands of new viewers. Area searches looking for local church and invitation efforts should bring them to a helpful, well organized and visually relevant website. Make sure you clearly list Easter service times, baptism opportunities, and any after-church activities. Update your web banner and wallpaper, and even write a blog on the upcoming service, create excitement! Your address and a link for directions should be on every page. To see a comprehensive list of Easter preparations for your church website, check out this article
4. Alert the Media
Place an ad in your newspaper, nickel, penny saver, and other local publications –anywhere people are reading, viewing or listening and where your budget will allow. If your service is unique, unusual or special consider submitting a press release. By putting the invitation in writing you will have a better chance of it getting published or announced. There are many websites out there to give you helpful tips. Advertising on radio, television and newspaper avenues is a good idea if you have the funds. Some newspapers will offer a special rate to faith-based organizations to help you save money.
5. Distribute Flyers
One thing that every church should do in getting the news around about the Easter service is to print and post flyers throughout the church and greater community. These days you don’t even need to take on the cost of hiring your own graphic designer to convey the right message. Sharefaith, for instance, is about the business of creating quality designs to use in promoting special events, like Easter, as well as all the supplemental material to continue the theme throughout the season.
6. Explore social media options
Prepare an image that can be shared. Make sure it is visual, includes place and time, and offers a link to additional information. Prepare an eCard that members can easily personalize and send to family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Maybe even produce a short, relevant and creative YouTube invitation video; then be sure that your printed invitations, as well as virtual invitations, are directed to it.
Easter presents the most important tenet of the Christian faith. The fact that Jesus Christ died and rose again for the sins of the world should compel us to devote the utmost attention to thought and preparation – to explore the evangelistic potential. We are charged to bring the gospel to the world, starting with our communities. What are some ideas your church has implemented in the past to successfully reach out to your community during the Easter season?