How do you motivate your congregation to bring friends and family each week?

I like the vision statement of Community Christian Church in Ohio: "Helping people find their way back to God.” It’s simple, easy to remember, and generally inoffensive. It is worth investing in dreaming and planning, how Eastside leaders can do a better job of motivating our people to invite their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. People matter to God, and to us! So here are a couple of suggestions to help you invite others:

Ask every week. We often overlook the most obvious solution—ask them! When is the last time you stood in front of your church and said, "Next week is going to be a great series to invite your friends, neighbors, family and co-workers to join you. Will you join me and ask someone who doesn't go to church to come with you?" We complain that people in our churches do not invite others, but do we ask them? So don’t be surprised when we ask Eastsiders to invite and include new people.

Invite someone to a specific Series. Periodically we do a series that will attract new people to Eastside. Summer 2007 was, “If God is God…” Next came “Facing the Giants” series, with an emphasis on our Celebrate Recovery Ministry. Beginning October 6-7, our next series is called “Outside the Gates”. We are going on a spiritual journey together, to discover God’s heart for the poor, and foster compassion to needy people right here in our own community.

Aim for the "Wow." The "wow" is the reaction that we want from people who visit for the very first time. The "wow" will show up in every area of ministry—the "wow" of over-the-top hospitality from the time you pull into the parking lot to the time you leave. The "wow" will show up in our Children’s Church and cause the kids to insist that they come back next week. The "wow" will be seen in our celebration service as we use our very best musicians, artists, and message presentations. Everyone on our ministry teams takes everything up a notch to make sure we create a "wow." We challenge you to bring three people with you during this “Outside the Gates” series in October/November. Remember that 50 percent of all people who are asked to go to church will say "yes." Isn’t that encouraging? People will say yes, if you will invite them! God will use you in "helping people find their way back to God" all year long!