Engaging Congregational Participation

Invite a Friend Sunday is all about reaching out to those who are unchurched or who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. This becomes most natural when we reach out to people who are already part of our circle of contacts.

You may use the occasion of Invite a Friend Sunday to send a press release to local newspapers or to distribute posters or advertisements in your community. However, most visitors will come from the invitations of your members. Many in your congregation will feel a bit uneasy about inviting someone. You will need to make a concerted effort to help them overcome those feelings of discomfort. 

Here are some ideas to help you engage their support and participation. Be sure to notice where these activities fall in the suggested timeline.

Special Sunday School Class Emphasis
As referred to earlier, the Christian Education Coordinator along with the clergy should select a theme and/or Scriptures for study in the junior high, youth, and adult classes for a two-week or longer study. These lessons will provide an opportunity for persons to begin talking about how the church can become a more inviting and welcoming congregation.  Do not forget the younger children in this process. They are often eager to invite their friends as well, which could very well mean that their friends’ parent(s) would also attend. Consider printing invitations appropriate for children to give to their friends. For sample invitations click here.

Telephoning People in the Congregation
In congregations where there are deacons or caregivers who work with a specific list of members, they should be invited to call all on their list. If you don't have deacons or caregivers, other volunteers should take this responsibility.

Calls should be made to members of the congregation:

• To encourage them to invite others using the invitation cards distributed by the church. A sample conversation could be made available to those making the calls. 

• To encourage them to complete their brunch/lunch reservation or to share the number attending with them, so those planning the friendship outreach and the time of fellowship can prepare accordingly. For a sample reservation card click here.

• Another call should be made the week before the event to support and encourage the efforts of those inviting guests. 

The more contacts that are made, the more successful the event will be for everyone.

Printed Materials
Informational letters should be sent to church members. These letters emphasize the importance of inviting and bringing friends. Click here for sample letter 1; click here for sample letter 2.

Invitations should also be printed for use by the members as they invite others. Click here for examples of invitations you could adapt.

For sample bulletin inserts click here.

Worship Service with Outreach Emphasis
Plan worship with an outreach emphasis on a Sunday three to four weeks before Invite a Friend Sunday, October 5 or 12.

The service should emphasize how important it is to reach out to friends with the good news of Jesus Christ. Drama or short skits and announcements should be used each week in the month preceding the Invite a Friend Sunday. For two exampls, see Skit 1 and Skit 2.

This service might include several ways to encourage the involvement of persons from the congregation. One of these would be to distribute as a bulletin insert a copy of My Circle of Contacts. This will help persons identified by name those they might invite. 

Modeling by Clergy and the Invite a Friend Sunday Leadership Team
The clergy and members of the leadership team should extend their invitations earlier than the rest of the congregation. During the weeks prior to Invite a Friend Sunday, opportunities for sharing how they invited others can be part of the worship service. This underscores their commitment to the outreach emphasis and serves as a positive example to the congregation.

Friendship Outreach
On the Sunday prior to Invite a Friend Sunday, encourage those who will extend an invitation to someone to take with them a small loaf of bread, a plate of cookies, or whatever the committee has decided to distribute to invited guests.

For a sample tag with an invitation to be attached to the food items click here. Giving these items will provide a natural conversation opener with their acquaintances and will put them at ease.

The leadership team and others who are interested will participate in the follow-up contacts as planned for by the team.

Return to the Invite a Friend Sunday home page

S. Joan Hershey, A Guide to an Effective Invite a Friend Sunday: Sharing Hospitality with New People.
© 2004 by LifeQuest, 6404 S. Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46807. Phone 1 800 774-3360.