The Easter season is almost here. And hopefully you are already planning how to reach out to your community and maximize this opportunity to share the Good News. But in a post-Christian culture, our challenge is how we we can reach the unchurched with a compelling invitation to an Easter service that is meaningful to those unfamiliar with the real Easter story.
Those of us in ministry know that the death and resurrection of Jesus is one of the key events that define our faith. But the culture around us tells us that Easter is about flowers and chocolate and bunnies – so it’s no wonder that unchurched people in our community may not understand why they should come to church on Easter. How do we engage people outside the church in a way that bridges that gap? Here are a few ideas:
Show them the Benefit
This is a basic business marketing practice but it is applicable anytime you are trying to cause someone to take action, like coming to church. Unchurched people in your community will most likely not come to church just because it’s Easter – they need to see a benefit. We know that because of Jesus’ resurrection, lives are changed. So build your Easter services around a message of life change. What are the felt needs of people in your community?
If you want to talk about how Jesus provides us a fresh start, choose a series like:
If you want to share the Hope of Easter, look for sermon series kits like:
If you want to discuss how God’s unconditional love as demonstrated through Easter, look for sermon series like:
Cater to Their Kids
The stress of being a parent is huge and finding a supportive community that can help provide guidance, show love, and help kids grow up to be good people can be a big motivator for families. So make sure your church is promoting your childrens and youth ministries and any services you provide parents. Talk about these ministries on your social media and other promotional tools and then when families visit make sure they are made aware of programs like:
- Awana or Mid-week Classes
- Upcoming Summer events like VBS, Camp etc.
- Mothers programs like MOPS or Mom’s Day Out events
- Parent-centric small groups
Offer Them a Chance to Make a Difference
Many people are looking for ways to make a difference in their community. By making service outside the walls of your church, you can raise your visibility and be more attractive to Gen Z and Millenials. You may have more success recruiting volunteers for a park clean up project than you will for a Sunday service – but once people know that you have a caring heart you can share God’s heart for the lost too.
Once you’ve decided on your Easter programs, don’t forget that you have to communicate it out to the neighborhoods around your church. Set aside time and budget for direct mail, social media ads, personal invitations and outside promotional banners – these tools will help raise your visibility too. Need help? Call us at 800-991-6011.
