Each week a simple idea will be posted here. Either something to try on your own to engage people with the Gospel, or an idea to try at your church to improve things like your communication or your welcome.
If you have an idea that’s not included below, why not share it by posting in the comments box at the end of this page.
Week ONE
During the notices each week include items about your churches involvement in the wider community. This will help church members know more of your churches impact and make it more likely they will talk to others about your church.
- Week TWO
Get a group together to do a visual check of your church grounds. This need not be a long or complicated process, but a simply check to ensure the outside of your premises look well cared for and inviting. Just weeding regularly and checking your noticeboard is up-to-date can make a big different to how your church is perceived by the community.
- Week THREE
Have a rota of church members to be on the door each Sunday as ‘Greeters’. Not simply people who give out the books, but those in your congregation who are friendly and confident in welcoming people they don’t know. Having someone who’s only job is to greet people, without being distracted by giving out books, putting up hymn numbers, or any of the other pre-service tasks could make a big difference to someone attending for the first time.
- Week FOUR
Consider making it part of the Greeters role to show new people to a seat. This helps the guest to feel welcome and valued – but has the added advantage of ensuring they don’t sit in the usual seat of someone who is likely to complain or ask them to move! If greeters are unsure of where the spaces are they could offer their own usual spot instead!
- Week FIVE
More on seating – ensure that there are some seats free at the back of the church and on the end of isles. People coming to church for the first time often arrive on the last minute so they can slip in without drawing attention to themselves. Many people like to be anonymous while they decide if this is the church for them. This is hard to do if the back row is full or if you have to ask someone to move to let you into a row. If the only obviously empty places in your church are the front row, imagine how self conscious you would feel as a new person if you had to sit where everyone could see you.
- Week SIX
Greeters should also be on the door after the service to encourage people to stay for refreshments, give them a copy of your church welcome pack or news-letter and ask for their contact details.
- Week SEVEN
Try designing a contact info card for your church, asking for the usual stuff like, name, address, phone number and e-mail – but also ask for children’s names, type of church activities they are looking for.
- Week EIGHT
Try holding your Elders meetings at a venue other than the church, meet over a meal in a local cafe or restaurant, or in a local pub. Meeting in public places get you known in the community and can help you focus on issues beyond the church walls.
- Week NINE
Encourage members to bring a friend or neighbour to a special service. Christmas, Easter, Harvest and Remembrance are often good opportunities.
- Week TEN
How does your church smell when you enter? Churches that smell old and musty don’t add character, they just put people off! Can you serve coffee or put plants and air fresheners near the entrance?
- Week ELEVEN
Conserned about ‘bums on seats’ Your more likely to fill them if the seats are comfortable. Do your pews or seats have cushions?
- Week TWELVE
Listen or read your weekly church notices, do they contain jargon or abbreviations, or things like ‘Bible Study will be at the usual time’? Make sure all your forms of weekly communication are understandable and interesting to the first time visitor.
- Week THIRTEEN
How do local people hear about events at your church? Consider leafleting all houses within walking distance of your church.
- Week FOURTEEN
Is evangelism or church growth regularly on your Elders meeting agenda? As one of your Elders and if the answer is no, suggest one of the ideas above is on the next agenda.
- Week FIFTEEN
If new people turn up on a Sunday morning for worship it’s more likely they have come to experience God than to find out about other acivities. Make sure they leave with information about future services, Bible Study groups and Prayer Meetings, not just jumble sales, weight watchers and the knitting circle! People want to know they will grow closer to God in your church, not just meet friendly people.
- Week SIXTEEN
People don’t often like to be singled out, so don’t ask new people to stand and introduce themselves or pick on them to answer questions in a service.
- Week SEVENTEEN
Never start your service on time! New people often arrive on the last minute to avoid being ‘got’ before the service. If you begin the service a couple of minutes late they won’t have to sneak in and draw attention to themselves.
- Week EIGHTEEN
Likewise, always make sure a greeter stays at the door for the first few minutes of the service to welcome anyone who arrives late. (also see weeks 3 to 6)
- Week TWENTY
Have you read a contemporary book on evangelism or church growth? Take a look at the list on the right hand column of the blog, there’s sure to be one relevant to you and your local church setting.
- Week TWENTY-ONE
Do you use your room hire bookings as opportunities to invite people to worship? Could you give invitations to the Carol Service to the weight watchers group, or Children’s Holiday Club flyers to the dance class. Maybe ask the craft group to the Harvest Supper and ask them to contribute the table decorations. There must be losts of ways at your church to invite people who are regularly in the building for other reasons to attend worship or a church fellowship.
- Week TWENTY-TWO
When a couple contact your church asking how to ’book’ a wedding or baptism, always reply that the first step is to come to worship on Sunday and chat to the Minister or appropriate Elder at coffee time after the service. Rather than being put off most people will think this is a perfectly reasonable request and will be willing to come along if they are looking to hold their special occasion at your church. It’s then a great opportunity to expose them to your ordinary worship – just make sure its extraordinary!
- Week TWENTY-THREE
Design a simple welcome pack for your church. Include photo’s of people and activities, not buildings and give current information about what your shared values and mission are, rather than your churches history and doctrinal statements – People can encounter that later!
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