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Use this proven strategy to increase attendance at church events.
If you are looking for ways to increase event attendance, don’t blame people for not reading the church bulletin. Learn how to use personal invitations to increase event attendance, why they work, and how to do it best. A personal invitation really does make a difference.
For Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Youth Fundraisers, All Church Events, & More
Getting People To Show Up
You make an announcement, put it in the bulletin and the newsletter, you post it on social media. You even email it out to everyone on your list.
Still, not as many people show up! What gives?
How can you get more people to attend and participate in church events? How can you encourage them to be there so you can pour into them?
Leverage The Power Of The Personal Invitation
The single most effective strategy that improved ministry and attendance at my church last year was the power of the personal invitation.
Discover Better Results In Your Small Church
Seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it?
We think (maybe it’s just me) casting the net wider and getting the info out to as many people as possible will bring them in. Sometimes, that’s true.
But, more often than not, you need to take it a step further. Asking individuals and extending a personal invitation will give you better results in your small church.
Make People Feel Loved & Significant With Personal Invitations
Why is that?
People want to be needed, wanted, and known. Deep down, they want to feel like they matter, are special, and more than just a number or face in the crowd. As churches with smaller congregations or ministries, you have the perfect opportunity to create the kind of environment to make people feel significant and loved.
Extending a personal invitation to an event or function will do just that.
With Personal Invitations, You Will Help People Feel Known
When all they ever hear are announcements, bulletins, and mass posts, they feel like just another number, insignificant, and unseen. However, when you individually invite someone, they feel special, one of a kind, and known. Imagine the impact and power to make someone feel unique, wanted, and loved simply by inviting him or her to a function or event.
3 Strategies To Put Personal Invitations Into Practice
1. Everyone Pull Out Your Phones
At your next staff or leadership team meeting, have everyone grab their phones to send texts, Facebook messages, and calls to people who need a personal invitation. It’s not quite as personal as a conversation, but it’s a fast and easy way to get several invitations sent out quickly. We did this for a women’s gathering in the fall and got at least 7 more women to attend because we invited them personally. We focused on inviting women who attend irregularly or haven’t come in a while. Sure, some of them were busy, but others were delighted to get a message. It made a big difference. We had a great crowd at that women’s gathering.
2. Pass Out A Treat
Create little favors with the information about an event and hand them out to people you want to invite. We recently wanted more adults to attend our Cocoa & Carols Sing-a-long for Christmas. I made a gift tag with information about the night and attached it to a candy cane. Then, I recruited the cutest little girl ever to ask all the adults to come sing with us. We went around to every adult class, passing out candy canes, and inviting men and women to Cocoa & Carols. Not all the adults came, but more attended than in previous years. It was a win-win!
3. Have Good Old-Fashioned Conversations
Yes, there’s nothing like just chatting with someone taking the time to get to know them. Building relationships is the number 1 way to make people feel loved and significant. When you take the time to invest in people, they will be more open and ready to embrace a personal invitation for an event. I’ve been chatting with and inviting small group leaders to the next teacher’s meeting. Communicating with each teacher personally, I hope, will make them feel more excited and interested in the meeting.
Bonus! Build Your Small Church Team
Don’t Be The Only One Inviting People!
Get others involved in the personal invitations as a great way to build your team and lead others into more effective ministry. Build into your team culture that personal invitations are an effective way to invest in people.
Besides, the point of your function or event is not only how many people show up. It’s all about the relationships and discipleship which happen through and around the event. Personal invitations are a big part of that process.
- Is it worth it? Yes!
- Is it a bit more time-consuming? Absolutely!
- But, it’s so worth it!
Make Your Small Church Events More Effective Than Ever With Invitations
So go ahead, make all the announcements, bulletins, social media posts, and emails.
But don’t forget to add the power of the personal invitation to make your ministry events more effective than ever.
Let us know how personal invitations made a difference in your ministry. We’d love to hear from you!
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Inviting ladies personally brought more women to our Canvas Paint Party. Several said they wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t asked them personally. They didn’t consider themselves artists. With just a little conversation, I was able to put them at ease, and THEY CAME to our paint party!