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10 Steps to Effective Easter Preparation

By New Churches Team

Easter is one of the most important times of the year in the life of the church. Biblically speaking it is when Christ arose. But also, in terms of reaching visitors and unchurched people, there is not a better time of year. It’s important to be prepared for that. Here are ten steps to help you as you prepare for Easter.

1. Decide on the times of your services.

Are you going to add any additional services or are you sticking with your regular schedule? Decide as early as possible to help your church prepare.

2. Decide on the specials that will occur.

Are you going to use special curriculum in Sunday School? Are you going to offer any special programs for first-time guests? Are you going to do anything special in your kids ministry?

3. Get the website ready.

This is very important. Most newcomers check out your website before they ever come to your church. Think through the website. Do you need to do a countdown, evites, a button, or a banner? Highlight Easter as early as possible so people can start talking about it.

4. Create a promo package.

Your promo package could be branding the Easter service or Easter week or the weeks leading up to Easter. Put that branding on postcards, emails, invite cards, social media, and on your website.

5. Train your people.

Train ushers, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, and anyone who might encounter guests. It’s important that they know what to expect and how to help when newcomers attend Easter Sunday.

6. Plan a service that is comfortable.

Hold as normal as a service as possible. Easter Sunday needs to look pretty close to a normal Sunday so that guests know what to expect and feel comfortable coming back.

7. Give familiar service elements.

Singing “Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace” works well on Easter Sunday. Don’t be afraid of being traditional. It’s important that guests are able to connect with something that is familiar to them. If service elements are unique and harder to understand, take the time to explain them. Let them know why you are doing what you are doing.

8. Give information about the church.

Put in guests’ hands a bulletin or brochure that points them to the website or social media where they can get more information after they leave. Newcomers want to know who you are and what you stand for.

9. Tell guests what’s next.

If you have a series, special event, or vibrant ministry that they shouldn’t miss, highlight it. Let them know what’s coming up and important in your church.

10. Follow up with visitors.

This may require a special team of volunteers, but it is critically important that you follow up with Easter visitors. Make a bigger deal out of it than you do regularly.

This article is adapted from a Ministry Grid training video by Ron Edmondson. Check out a free Easter planning guide here. 

By New Churches Team: Every church needs an effective way to assimilate guests into the church and get them plugged into ministries and groups within the church. Here are three practical tips to do so.

1.Map It Out:

A healthy way to do that is to map out where you want people to go. Make sure that every place in the church has a next step that is easy, obvious, and strategic. For many churches, getting a guest into a group is the stickiest way to assimilate them. While a person might attend church an average of two times a month, they are likely to attend a small group three times a month.

2. Follow Up:

Once you have a map in place, create a follow-up plan. For example, the day after their first visit they get an email. Later that week, call them on the phone in the middle of the day when you don’t expect them to be home and leave a voicemail. Create a communication workflow that works for your church.

3. Extend An Invitation:

Offer a welcome or membership meeting, but don’t force them to attend an hour long class. This gathering should be limited to 8 to 12 minutes and should happen frequently – even as often as once a Sunday or after every worship service. Extend an invitation from the stage and then take at least a few minutes to come by every meeting. This gathering should quickly overview the church’s mission and values, give them something, collect their contact information, and then steer them into an easy next step.

Though you should make an attempt to attend every welcome gathering, you don’t have to lead it. Find someone in the church who works in the hospitality industry and would excel in serving in this area. Take time to read up on hospitality and guest experience to get a better idea of what makes the best first impression and then train your entire staff. Or check out ourGuest Services course on NewChurches.com for 12 modules to help you learn and grow in church hospitality.

Adapted from the New Churches Q&A Podcast Episode 80: Creating Clear Next Steps for Guests. Click hereto listen to more to church planting, multisite, and multiplication tips.