how to get your church members to invite their friends

7/28/2019 How to Get Your Church Members to Invite Their Friends

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How to get your church members to invite their friendsby Richard Reising

Heres a truism: People that have had a life-changing experience with God want others tofind God in a life-changing way. This is surely true. It is also true that most people thatsat in church pews last year never invited one single person to their church. So where isthe disconnection?

I think one of the biggest disconnects we have in the church is that, as leaders, we oftenforget what it was like to go to church for the very first time. The intimidation factor for a

lone visitor in a new church is simply huge. But it is nowhere close to the stress andvulnerability that is put on a churchgoer who invites a visitor. All inviters put theirreputations on the line every time they invite someone to church. You can rest assuredthat your church members will not invite someone if they do not expect a positiveoutcome. And most of the time, thats why one church isntgrowing and the churcharound the corner is. It has led us to say that People are not ashamed of Christ, theyare ashamed of their church. Ouch!

I asked a young friend how he was enjoying his church; he admitted that he loved it but

was bothered by the fact that the church wasnt growing. I asked him why it wasntgrowing; he acted bewildered and said, I have no idea.

Yes, you do, I challenged him. You know why its not growing.

After a silence, I asked, When was the last time you invited someone?

Well, its been a long time, he said ashamedly.

Why dont you invite people?

He shuffled his feet and said, I dont know.

Yes, you do, I said. The reason you dont invite people is the same reason why yourchurch is not growing.

I could tell that bells went off on the inside. He responded, Yeah, I know why. He hadknown it all along. He just had never connected the dots between the challenges ofinviting people and overall church growth.

It might be simple. A congregant might be embarrassed about the church decorations,the woman who shouts from the back of the church, the inexplicably deep or dry

All inviters puttheir reputations

on the line everytime they invite

someone tochurch. You can

rest assured that yourchurch members will not

invite someone if they do not

expect a positiveoutcome.

Richard Reising, author ofChurchMarketing 101: PreparingYour Church for Greater Growth
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20


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sermons, or the pastor telling jokes about his wife. The harder it is to invite people, themore challenging church growth is.

You see, I knew my friend loved God and wanted others to experience Christs love.Unfortunately, most people are not intimidated about being Christians. They areintimidated about inviting people to their church.

The simple truth is that if an invitation is hard to make, forwhatever reason, fewer people will be invited. The battlefor growth is first fought in the hearts of churchgoers who

want to better the lives of those around them. This isactually the desire of the vast majority of churchgoers.

I cannot say this emphatically enough all true Christians want other people to becomeChristians. It is planted in them when Christ is planted in them. This means if yourchurch has to beg, push, cajole, offer incentives, or even just remind people to inviteothers, it is a telltale sign that, for whatever reason, they do not believe the ministry thattakes place will make a successful connection with the people they would invite.

This is where the rubber hits the road. Is your church connecting with your community?The main link is through your congregation, and if they think youre not connecting, you

wont.

It is no wonder Paul challenged us in advance to become as one to win one. The ability

to relate to our communities and church growth go hand in hand. When a ministry cansuccessfully relate to the people in its congregation in a way that reassures them thattheir guests will be connected with, the churchgoers will be willing to invite othersbecause they know it will relate to those they invite.

By analyzing the temptations and challenges associated with inviting people to church,we found the following to be true. If a churchgoer can answer these questions positively,

then inviting friends and family will not only be easy, it will become a lifestyle. Thechurch will explode with growth! As a side note, my guess is that none of these topics

would ever show up on a visitor survey. They require us to look closely in the mirror, aseven our closest allies would have a hard time advising us of some of these issues.

1. Will my friend feel welcomed?Principle: Hospitality The atmosphere, nomenclature, and style of service should beinviting and not intimidating to the unchurched.

2. Will my friend fit in?

Principle: Comfort and compatibility Like it or not, invitations and visitor comfortdecrease when social or cultural gaps exist.

3. Can I feel confident that I know how the service will turn out?Principle: Consistency People need to know what to expect, because they will inviteaccordingly.

2006 Purpose DrivenChurch conference, May16-19

Learn how to develop a church wheremembers enthusiastically invite theirfriends to services. Dont miss theupcoming Purpose Driven Churchconferenceheld at Saddleback Church.Besides learning the basics of thePurpose Driven model of ministry, youllalso have the opportunity to sign up forseminars on preaching, small groups,stewardship, and more.
http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htmhttp://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htmhttp://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htmhttp://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htmhttp://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htm


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4. Will my friend get something out of it?Principle: Relevance The message should be relevant and powerful for people at allspiritual levels.

5. Will my friend understand it?Principle: Understanding Jesus taught through practical illustrations. The songs andmessage should be understandable for people at all spiritual levels.

6. Will everything that could seem strange to the unchurched be explainedthrough Scripture?

Principle: Sensitivity Scriptural actions should be carried out with clarity andconsiderate explanation.

Having said all this, I am convinced of one thing. If members walk out of your servicesaying, I wish my unchurched friend had been here, they will start to think aboutinviting their friend. If a member walks out of your service three weeks in a row and saysevery time, I wish my unchurched friend would have heard that, nothing will stop thatmember from dragging that friend through your doors. The challenging thing is thatoften, when members walk out of churches, the only thing they can say is, I wish my

other church friends would have heard that.

Its time to evaluate. Are we creating an atmosphere that fosters growth or are we just

ministering unto ourselves?

This article is adapted from Richard Reisings book,ChurchMarketing 101: Preparing YourChurch for Greater Growth.

Recommended resources

Purpose Driven Church conference on DVD

Free How to Grow a Church conference, May 11

The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren

Article by Richard ReisingRichard Reising is the author ofChurchMarketing 101: Preparing YourChurch for Greater Growth (Baker Books). Reising is a recognized authorityon church marketing and branding and the founder and president of the

Dallas-based Artistry Marketing Concepts, an organization that helpschurches and ministries make wise use of marketing, design, and

technology. He has helped hundreds of ministries in the United States and

worldwide through speaking engagements and training seminars. Used with

If a member walks out ofyour service three weeks in a

row and says every time, 'Iwish my unchurched friend

would have heard that,'nothing will stop that member

from dragging that friendthrough your

doors.

Richard Reising
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/http://www.pastors.com/pcom/conferences/pdcconference.asphttp://www.pastors.com/RWMT/Free%20How%20to%20Grow%20a%20Church%20conference,%20May%2011http://www.pastors.com/pcom/books/http://www.pastors.com/pcom/books/http://www.pastors.com/pcom/books/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.artistrymarketing.com/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/http://www.pastors.com/pcom/conferences/pdcconference.asphttp://www.pastors.com/RWMT/Free%20How%20to%20Grow%20a%20Church%20conference,%20May%2011http://www.pastors.com/pcom/books/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801065925/pastorscom02/%20http://www.artistrymarketing.com/


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permission of Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

how to get your church members to invite their friends

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