Church engagement is a highly coveted thing. Only 43 percent of all Evangelical Protestants are considered active Christians, according to a study conducted by Pew Research. Considering the amount of time and effort churches put into every time they open their doors, this statistic is staggering. However, what if there was a way for your church to increase engagement and create faithful followers of Christ?
We work steadily alongside churches, and as a result we’ve discovered a few events that consistently make an impact on those attending your church. Check out our list of events we’ve seen drive ministry results.
Time Commitment: As often as desired
Church Cost: $
People Needed: 5-10
A church movie night is a great way to draw in families, teens, or any age group that wants to gather together. The cost is relatively inexpensive and really only requires time for marketing. To learn more about this event, check out How to Host a Church Movie Night found in Sharefaith Magazine. They provide some great tips to make sure it’s a successful event.
Make sure at least three staff members approve of the movie choice before committing to it, because you hate to host a movie night for teens to discover one inappropriate scene that caused backlash from parents.
Since allergies are common these days, make sure you purchase snacks that are allergy-friendly (i.e. no peanut oil, nuts, etc.)
Time Commitment: Once a year
Church Cost: $$
People Needed: 20-30
A Harvest Festival is a strategic event that draws in regular and new families to your church. It is also allows specific ministries to get involved. Ask different ones in your church to create to lead a game during this event. It will not only showcase your ministries, but it will also broaden the number of volunteers asked because each attracts different types of people.
Make sure there is a wide range of activities and treats for all ages under 18. Expanding the range will attract families and make parents feel more appreciated and welcomed.
Hire security and make sure there is only one way open for people to come in and out of your Harvest Festival. There should be additional emergency exits, but keeping things flowing through one entrance is a great way to ensure children don’t get lost during your event. Also, purchase snacks that are allergy-friendly (i.e. no dairy, nuts, etc.) and clearly label them as such so those children and parents feel included and valued.
Elmbrook Church effectively uses Ekklesia 360’s Events 4 Layout to promote their events, including their upcoming Harvestfest. It’s easy for people to grab the information they need. This layout comes with a campus filter (hello, multi-site churches) and color-coding options for event categories. Featured events can be shown at the top and there’s an option for list view or calendar view below, which helps visitors see all upcoming events but not miss the most important ones. Visitors can swipe through featured events when viewing on a mobile device.
Time Commitment: Once a year
Church Cost: $$
People Needed: 1-5
Hosting a Friendsgiving before Thanksgiving is a fun event for ministries to host for their staff, volunteers, and families involved. If finances are a hindrance, only provide the main dish and ask everyone who comes to bring a side dish.
Don’t buy decorations. Ask the event team to gather decorations they already have at their house. You can even cut off tree limbs with green leaves to use as a long centerpiece. Setting up a children’s table with crayons and coloring sheets is a great way to engage children.
Make sure to provide a boneless main dish. Even though it’s Thanksgiving and a whole turkey is customary, spare the potential choking hazard from adults and children and simply serve already carved meat.
Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma hosted a Friendsgiving for their Foster and Adoption Ministry. By using green leaves found outside, orange cuties, pumpkins, and brown paper, they made a beautiful, but inexpensive centerpiece for their guests.
Time Commitment: Monthly
Church Cost: $
People Needed: 10-20
What’s a more attractive event than a night for parents to drop off their children and have a date night? Hosting a Parents’ Night Out can be a fun event for kids, too, by planning games, movies, and other fun activities to do while their parents take some time for themselves.
Keep in mind that Parents’ Night Out will be held before and after children’s bedtimes. This means the kids will get cranky if there aren’t enough activities or snacks to keep them distracted. Plan accordingly.
It’s important to keep safety in mind when hosting an event that involves checking kids in and checking kids out. Hiring an off duty security guard during each Parents’ Night Out will help better protect your children from predators or unwelcome guests. Use your church management software’s check-in function to keep everything organized. Hint: Ekklesia 360’s ChMS integrates with our websites, so you don’t have to duplicate efforts. Not only can people register online, check-in will be then be streamlined because they'll be in your system.
Time Commitment: Once or twice a year
Church Cost: $$$
People Needed: 5-10
Gathering people to enjoy a meal outside is a great way to encourage your church family to get together and invite people to come. Make it simple with meat, buns, chips, and water. The focus should be on the people, not the food.
Having yard games for people to play helps stimulate activity during the cookout.
With any outdoor event, make sure there are first aid kits readily available. It's also important to have a backup location inside your church in case it starts to rain. Keeping people safe from lightning is important for any event.
Time Commitment: Daily
Church Cost: $
People Needed: 1-5
A community garden can be a strategic opportunity for people to come to your church again and again. By having a community garden you can host “planting days” or “pruning days.” It’s a garden that allows you to have recurring events all throughout the year.
Purchase the right soil. Don't skimp on the cheapest soil, because often other soils have nutrients your garden needs to thrive. A thriving garden is what will keep people coming back.
Make sure you protect your garden from unwanted animals (i.e. deer, rabbits, insects, etc.). Use proper bug repellent methods and chicken wire to keep these unwanted critters away from your garden.
One of the most important pieces to any church event is marketing. You have to get the word out in order for people to know what’s going on. The easiest way to do this is through your Church website. One layout that we’ve seen work particularly well is this Events 4 Layout. It’s easy to use and easy for readers to navigate. Both Elmbrook Church and Church of the Incarnation have implemented this layout and seen great success.
Once you have this information uploaded on your church website, it’s easy to link to social media accounts and send via email to inform people of what’s going on at your church. You can even screenshot your website for your church bulletin on Sunday mornings so people know exactly what to look for when they logon.