{"id":32649,"date":"2022-09-10T16:17:50","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/52-ideas-for-your-church-this-year\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:17:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:17:50","slug":"52-ideas-for-your-church-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/52-ideas-for-your-church-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"52 Ideas for Your Church This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Diana Davis<\/p>\n

A Lifeway Research study of unchurched Americans found those outside of our churches are often more open to spiritual conversations than we realize.<\/p>\n

How will God use your church in the coming year? Here are 52 easy ideas to inspire you:<\/p>\n

1. The 52 Challenge:\u00a0Members commit to personally invite one person\u2014friend or stranger\u2014to church every week this year, and write the names on their personal calendar.<\/p>\n

2. Snow Day:\u00a0Build dozens of snowmen on the church lawn. Decorate snow-families with creative props and signs inviting folks to church.<\/p>\n

3. Plan a baby shower for a local pregnancy center on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, the third Sunday in January.<\/p>\n

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4. Sunday Brunch:\u00a0Deliver invitations to homes located near the church building inviting them to worship services and to a Sunday brunch beforehand with their neighbors (and some friendly church members).<\/p>\n

5. Pray for Leaders:\u00a0Invite local government leaders to your worship service. Recognize those who are able to attend and pray for them.<\/p>\n

6. Community-Wide Blood Drive:\u00a0Support your local blood bank.<\/p>\n

7. Date Night:\u00a0Provide complimentary childcare for unchurched couples on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

8. Nearly-Wed Seminar: Invite engaged couples to an 8-week seminar before church or during the week. Each session is a topical Bible study about marriage, with homework and handouts. At completion, couples get a certificate and promote to newlywed class.<\/p>\n

9. Mission Trip Mania:\u00a0Plan several mission trips for the year\u2014local, national, international\u2014and challenge members to either participate personally or help sponsor another participant.<\/p>\n

10. Interactive Missions Fair:\u00a0Educate the entire church about how your church does missions both locally and globally. Invite missionaries your church supports and local ministries you partner with to set up booths.<\/p>\n

11. Biggest Workday Ever: Plan dozens of projects, involving all age groups. Challenge members and regular attenders to commit at least two hours for planting, painting, cleaning, and other DIY projects.<\/p>\n

12. Host a Kite-Flying Day:\u00a0Encourage kids, teens, and adults to participate and invite friends. Give awards for highest, longest in flight, and most creative kite.<\/p>\n

13. Community Easter Egg Hunt: Provide kids\u2019 music, candy-filled eggs, snacks, and a puppet show about the meaning of Easter. Distribute bookmarks or refrigerator magnets that list weekly and special events for kids. Don\u2019t forget to invite everyone to Easter worship.<\/p>\n

14. 1-2-3 Serve! Each small group in the church plans a servant evangelism project on the same Saturday, blitzing the entire community with good works in Jesus\u2019 name.<\/p>\n

15. Friend Day:\u00a0Encourage every member to bring an unchurched friend to worship.<\/p>\n

16. Car-Care Clinic:\u00a0Enlist the help of some men in your church to set up a free oil and lube change and general car maintenance operation at your church for the single moms and widows in your community.<\/p>\n

17. Stop & Pray Day:\u00a0On the National Day of Prayer, use an outside banner to invite the community to come inside and pray. Play background music, light some candles, and provide a simple prayer guide, sign-in-book, and printed invitation to worship.<\/p>\n

18. Mother\u2019s Day is perfect for a baby dedication and to promote the launch of a small group for new parents.<\/p>\n

19. School\u2019s Out Celebrations:\u00a0Host three last-day-of-school parties. Elementary kids\u2019 ice cream party, middle school pizza party and treasure hunt; high school sand volleyball tournament and Christian concert. Then, provide a summer calendar of church events for each age group.<\/p>\n

20. Welcome Wagon:\u00a0Deliver welcome baskets to people who move into your community. Include baked goods or pantry items, information about your church, as well as coupons to local businesses. The Chamber of Commerce can provide you with the names and addresses of people who recently have relocated to your area.<\/p>\n

21. Be Festive:\u00a0As a church, participate in the town\u2019s annual fair or festival. Wear church T-shirts and have fun. Make a parade float, host a diaper changing station, or offer to be the cleanup crew.<\/p>\n

22. Neighborhood Cookout:\u00a0Encourage church members or small groups to host a neighborhood cookout one Saturday and invite their neighbors to church.<\/p>\n

23. Cool Comfort: Open your facility to those in the community who may not have air conditioning. Provide play areas for moms with young kids. Set up a workspace for college students with free Wi-Fi access.<\/p>\n

The summer heat is especially dangerous for seniors. So, providing a cool place for them to spend their days may even save a life. You may need to arrange transportation to and from their homes.<\/p>\n

For more great ideas, read \u201c52 Ideas for Inviting Someone to Church This Year\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n

24. Student Camp Sendoff:\u00a0Members of an adult Bible class select a camper, prepare a snack bag for the trip, and pray for them that week.<\/p>\n

25. Outdoor Concert:\u00a0Invite the entire community to a free outdoor concert on the church lawn.<\/p>\n

26. Thank Local Heroes:\u00a0Invite firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and others for a special recognition service and lunch at your church.<\/p>\n

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See also  STOP! 8 Church Communication Mistakes You\u2019re Probably Making<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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27. All-Church Picnic:\u00a0Plan a fun-filled day of food, games, and fellowship.<\/p>\n

28. VBS. Vacation Bible School is an enormous outreach. Visit Lifeway.com\/vbs for ideas.<\/p>\n

29. Middle School Summit:\u00a0Incoming middle school students and their parents rotate through 10-minute topical classes taught by church youth leaders and Christians who teach or work in local middle schools. Afterward, kids have a party and parents eat out together.<\/p>\n

30. Back-to-School Backpacks:\u00a0Partner with a local school or shelter and donate backpacks filled with school supplies to school-age children whose families need financial assistance.<\/p>\n

31. Move It:\u00a0Recruit volunteers to wear church T-shirts and help with move-in day at your local college. Later, invite students to Sunday worship and a homemade lunch in their honor.<\/p>\n

32. Snacks for Teacher Workday:\u00a0Bible study classes or small groups select a local school, prepare and deliver baskets of snacks with a note of thanks and a prayer for the upcoming school year.<\/p>\n

33. First Day, Moms Pray: Host a tea for moms just after they drop their kids off for the first day of school. Seat them by school or child\u2019s grade level for fellowship. Then, pray for the moms and the children. Provide a list of church activities and worship times.<\/p>\n

34. Explosion Sunday:\u00a0Kick-off new small groups and invite guests and unconnected members to join one.<\/p>\n

35. Adopt an International Student. A majority of international students who come to the U.S. to study are never invited into an American home. Work with your local university to host an international student throughout the year. Pick them up at the airport when they arrive. Invite them to dinner once a month and spend time with them during the holidays.<\/p>\n

36. \u201cMeet the Teacher\u201d Sunday: Kids invite their school teacher, principal, cafeteria worker, etc., and sit by them in worship. Pray for them during church and honor them with a brief milk and cookies fellowship afterward.<\/p>\n

37. Singles Dream Team: About one-third of adults in your town are single. Form a top-notch team to pray and plan multiple small groups, events, and ministries for singles. Kick off with a single adult retreat.<\/p>\n

38. New Members Fellowship:\u00a0Host a bi-annual or quarterly event for new church members to help them feel welcome and make friends.<\/p>\n

39. Minister Appreciation Week:\u00a0Ask members and attenders to send a note of appreciation to the pastor(s) during the first week of October.<\/p>\n

40. Stock the Pantry:\u00a0Ask members to donate non-perishables to your church\u2019s food pantry or a local food bank.<\/p>\n

41. Pumpkinpalooza:\u00a0Display an invitation banner and gobs of pumpkins outside. Kids under 12 pick a pumpkin, decorate it and take it home. Take family photos and invite guests to pick them up on Sunday.<\/p>\n

42. Senior Adult Revival:\u00a0Plan a weeklong daytime evangelistic revival for senior adults. Serve lunch. Encourage members to bring friends who may not know Christ.<\/p>\n

43. Citywide Thanksgiving Art Exhibit:\u00a0In early fall, begin to solicit entries from church members, friends, local artists, art clubs and classes. Using any medium, artists illustrate a Thanksgiving theme. Deadline is end of October, and art is displayed in the church lobby throughout November.<\/p>\n

44. Fall Daylight Savings:\u00a0Plan ahead so early arrivers (who forgot to change their clock) can enjoy their error. Signs at doors can offer doughnuts and coffee in the foyer, library time, or an invitation to watch the praise team rehearse.<\/p>\n

45. Election Day:\u00a0Before voting day, each Bible study class selects one elected position such as Sheriff or City Commissioner. The group purchases a Bible, highlights favorite Scriptures, and delivers it immediately after the election with a note promising prayer for that leader.<\/p>\n

46. Baptism Sunday:\u00a0Invite people who want to become a Christian, and believers who have never been baptized to sign up for a big baptism Sunday. Provide printed and e-invitations for their family and friends.<\/p>\n

47. Missions Parade:\u00a0Emphasize international missions with a simple international parade during worship. Have children march around the worship center during a mission-themed song carrying miniature flags of the nations.<\/p>\n

48. Digital Thanks:\u00a0Members submit one photo and a two-word description of something for which they\u2019re thankful. Show a media presentation of the photos before and after the service.<\/p>\n

49. Holiday Food Baskets:\u00a0Organize, prepare and deliver holiday food baskets to families and individuals in need.<\/p>\n

50. Wrap It Up:\u00a0Provide free gift-wrapping for mall shoppers. Promote upcoming Christmas events at your church.<\/p>\n

51. Christmas Caroling:\u00a0Teams blanket the community with caroling then meet later for hot cocoa.<\/p>\n

52. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Keep it brief and family friendly. Plan ahead for quality music and friendly greeters. Invite the entire community.<\/p>\n

DIANA DAVIS<\/strong> is an author, columnist, and speaker. For more ministry ideas, visit DianaDavis.org.<\/p>\n

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Dig Deeper at Lifeway.com<\/div>\n
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101 Tips for Evangelism<\/h3>\n

R. Larry Moyer
FIND OUT MORE <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Related posts:<\/h3>\n
Why Your Church Needs to Know and Use ‘Flake\u2019s Formula’ Right Now 3 Ways to Reach Non-Religious People in Your Community <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Diana Davis A Lifeway Research study of unchurched Americans found those outside of our churches are often more open to spiritual conversations than we realize. How will God use your church in the coming year? Here are 52 easy ideas to inspire you: 1. The 52 Challenge:\u00a0Members commit to personally invite one person\u2014friend or stranger\u2014to … Continue reading “52 Ideas for Your Church This Year”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32649\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}