Participate
The Benefits of Participating
Save the Date - The next Back to Church Sunday is September 16, 2012!
We're excited that your church is interested in participating in the 2012 National Back to Church Sunday!
In just four years this event has grown tremendously! Back to Church Sunday is based on the simple principle that most people will come to church if invited by a friend and yet in only 2% of church members invite unchurched friends to church (Lifeway Research).
Back to Church Sunday gives your church members the inspiration and tools to invite someone and at the same time makes it easy for those thinking about coming back to church to come. It was so successful in 2010, the surveyed churches reported on average a 26% increase in their weekend attendance and some reported their largest attendances ever!
"82% of the unchurched are likely to attend church if invited.. yet
only 2% of church members invite." - LifeWay Research
A Word to Pastors
Why Participate in National Back to
Church Sunday?
• It works – Last year, on average churches saw a 26% increase in attendance on Back to Church Sunday.
• It's free – You can sign up your church for free on the roster. There are optional resources available to help you plan and equip your members to invite your community.
• It's easy – Any church of any size can participate as it happens on one Sunday and can be combined with any other sermon or event you are doing.
• It's the right time – September is when school starts and when most people think about going back to church or trying a church.
• It's simple – All churches, one date, one clear message - come back to church!
• It's personal – It empowers members to make a personal invitation to church.
• It's grassroots – It's powered by the people in your church, not a program.
• It's collaborative – It is great for whole denominations to do or for groups of churches in cities to do. Imagine if all of the churches in your city invited everyone to National Back to Church Sunday!
How do we do Back to Church Sunday?
Step 1 - Register Your Church For Free On The Roster
Click here to register your church on the roster. As Back to Church Sunday approaches, all of the local and national media will draw people to this website to find participating churches. Make sure those in your community will find your church on the map. By registering you will also receive emails with tips and ideas to make the most of your Back to Church Sunday event. Most churches will participate on September 16th, to take advantage of the national media, but Back to Church Sunday can be done at any time during the year.
Step 2 - Get The Kit and Start Planning
We can't stress enough that being prepared for Back to Church Sunday is just as important as hosting it. Start by purchasing a Church Kit. (2012 Kit available early Spring 2012) It is an incredibly valuable tool and includes an updated campaign planning guide, two suggested sermons, new promotional video, digital banners for your website or social media, loads of ideas and tips to help you prepare and promotional tools such as posters and booklets. There is also a free online outreach assessment you can take to see how prepared your church is for Back to Church Sunday. You might also think about joining other churches in your city to do a city-wide BTCS campaign - visit the Citywide Initiative page to learn more.
Step 3 - Plan a Follow-up Series and Small Groups To Connect Visitors
One of the largest requests from last year's Back to Church Sunday was for a follow-up series to help connect all of the visitors to the church and into small groups. We are excited to announce this year a brand new six week sermon series with matching small group dvd study (great for Sunday schools) called the GodQuest. It is perfect as an after Back to Church Sunday series as it focuses on the core foundations of Christianity and will help seekers and believers takes the next steps in their faith journeys. It features teaching and interviews from Sean McDowell, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel and others. Learn more about GodQuest!
Step 4 - Build Excitement In Your Church & Empower Members
Your members are your most effective outreach tools, so make sure they know weeks in advance that your church is participating in National Back to Church Sunday and equip them to become inviters. Start by showing the Back to Church Sunday promotional video available on DVD in the church kit. Your Back to Church Sunday kit also includes posters you can put up in the church and invitational booklets that both share the gospel and act as an invitation to your church. There are National Back to Church Sunday banners available for your lobby, windows, walls and doors. Shop our store for more ideas - click here.
Step 5 - Invite Your Community to Attend
Let the community know they are invited to your Back to Church Sunday event. Supplement the personal invitations your members are making, by putting a Back to Church banner in front of your church and by sending a postcard invitation to your community. The Back to Church Sunday kit includes a press release template for getting free press in your local media and graphics you can upload up onto your church website.
Greater Communication = Greater Participation