5 Practical Ways to Invite Someone to Church
Inviting someone to church can feel a bit intimidating, but it’s one of the most impactful ways we can share God’s love and grow our church community. In fact, that's exactly what God has called us to do— our main mission— to bring others to Christ! At Starnes Cove Baptist Church, our mission is to worship God, bring people to Christ and into a loving fellowship of believers, and disciple them for service and outreach to others. Our vision is to relationally evangelize our neighborhood, nation, and world, and coordinate our Gospel-driven discipleship through refreshed church systems. With all of this in mind, here are five practical ways to invite someone to church, and some tips on how to do it with confidence!
1. Share Your Personal Story
One of the most genuine ways to invite someone to church is by sharing your own story. Talk about how being a part of Starnes Cove Baptist Church has impacted your life. Maybe it’s the community, the worship, or the spiritual growth you’ve experienced. People connect with personal stories because they’re real and relatable. And today, people are searching, and longing for that kind of belonging and community.
You can also just share about the difference that God has made in your life. Where you started, and just how far He's brought you as of today. Sharing your testimony can be something absolutely ground-breaking for someone who doesn't know Christ. Every testimony, no matter how drastic, and no matter how seemingly simple, is an opportunity to connect with and relate to those around us, sharing with them the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Your testimony might just plant a seed in someone's heart, pique their interest, and maybe even make them want to visit your church!
Tip for Confidence: Practice sharing your story with a friend or family member first. This will help you feel more comfortable when you’re ready to share it with someone you’re inviting. The more you share your story, the more comfortable you'll be with telling others about it. Remember, it’s your story—there’s no right or wrong way to tell it.
How This Relates to Our Mission: By sharing your story, you’re bringing people to Christ and into our loving fellowship, fulfilling our mission of outreach and discipleship.
2. Use Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for inviting people to church. Share our Instagram and Facebook posts about upcoming services, special events, or even your own personal reflections about your faith. Tag friends who might be interested or send them a direct message with an invitation. Sometimes, a simple post can spark curiosity and interest. You could also send them a link to a recent sermon if you know they might feel more comfortable watching a service ahead of time.
Tip for Confidence: Start by sharing small things, like a Bible verse or a positive experience you had at church. As you become more comfortable, you can share more about specific events and directly invite people.
How It Relates to Our Vision: Using social media helps us relationally evangelize our neighborhood, nation, and world. It’s a modern way to extend our church’s reach and share the Gospel!
Here's an example of how you could invite someone to church through a message on social media...
"Hey [Friend’s Name],
I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to invite you to my church, Starnes Cove Baptist, this Sunday. We have a great service at 10:50 AM, and it’s always such a warm and welcoming experience. There are also a lot of really nice people, and some fantastic programs for kids and students if you’re interested.
I’d love for you to join me one week and see what it’s all about. If you’d like, we could go together, and maybe grab a coffee or some breakfast beforehand. Let me know if you’re up for it, and I can send you some more info!"
Or, if you're inviting someone who you know hasn't been to church in a really long time, here's a way you could go about that, too...
"Hey [Friend's Name]!
I hope you're doing well! It's been a while since I've seen you! I hope everything is going great for you and that everyone's doing well. We would love to see you at church this Sunday. As you might remember, Sunday School is at 9:45 am and our worship service is at 10:50 am. There have been a lot of really great updates and changes since you were last here that I bet you'll love, too!
If you'd like to come, just let me know, and I'll be happy to meet you out front and make sure you get to your right class. We can grab a coffee beforehand if you'd like, out in the lobby!"
3. Extend a Casual Invitation
Sometimes, a casual invitation is all it takes. If you’re talking with a friend, neighbor, or coworker, casually mention that you’re going to church and ask if they’d like to join you. It doesn’t have to be a big, formal invite—sometimes the most effective invitations are the simplest. One thing that is crucial to remember is that not everyone will say yes the first time you ask, and that's okay. If someone isn't very familiar with church or doesn't know Christ, they might be a little intimidated by the idea of visiting a church for the first time (or for some, the first time in a long time).
This is where outwardly talking about your faith, and your church can really make an impact... If you're someone who is always talking about your faith, how Christ is actively making a difference in your life, and you're sharing about how much you love your church family, this could influence those around you, and maybe cause them to want to see what your faith is all about.
Tip for Confidence: Think of it like inviting someone to a social event or a get-together. Keep it light and casual. For example, “Hey, I’m heading to Starnes Cove Baptist on Sunday. Would you like to come with me?”
How This Relates to Our Mission: This supports our mission to bring people into a loving fellowship. By inviting them casually, you make it easier for them to feel comfortable and welcome.
4. Highlight Special Events
Special events, like holiday services, community outreach events, volunteer and serving opportunities, or church picnics, are great opportunities to invite someone to church. These events are typically more casual and offer a more relaxed atmosphere, which can be less intimidating for newcomers. This also gives guests the opportunity to observe us as a church outside of a formal Sunday service and offers opportunities to make connections with members.
Tip for Confidence: Share details about the event that you think would interest the person you’re inviting. For example, “We’re having a Christmas Eve service with beautiful music and a candlelight ceremony. I think you’d really enjoy it!” Or, "Vacation Bible School is coming up soon and we always have a great turnout, with all the kids having a blast! You should sign your kids up this year!"
How It Relates to Our Vision: Special events are a way to refresh our church systems and engage our community in new and exciting ways, supporting our vision of relational evangelism.
5. Offer to Go Together
Sometimes, the idea of going to a new place alone can be extremely intimidating, especially with millennials and the younger generations. Offering to go together with someone, can make a huge difference and make it seem less overwhelming. You can offer to pick them up, meet them at a specific place somewhere nearby, or even just offer to meet them out in the parking lot so they don’t have to walk in alone.
Tip for Confidence: Plan ahead and let them know exactly what to expect. “I can pick you up around 9:30 am, and we can grab coffee/breakfast on the way. The service starts at 10:50 am, and I’ll introduce you to some of my friends. I'll also help you make sure your kids get to their class.”
How It Relates to Our Mission: By offering to go together, you’re fostering a loving fellowship and making the church experience more welcoming and accessible.
Tips for Becoming More Confident in Inviting People
Pray for Guidance: Before you invite someone, pray for the right words and for God to prepare their heart. Prayer can give you the confidence and courage you need to take the leap and invite someone to church.
Remember Your Why: Keep in mind the reasons why you’re inviting them—sharing God’s love, growing the community, and helping others find the same joy and peace you’ve found in Christ. Ultimately, when it comes down to it, we care about the eternity of those that we love and care about, and that is all the reason in the world to invite someone to church!
Be Genuine: Authenticity is key. People are more likely to respond positively if they feel your invitation is heartfelt and sincere, and comes from someone that they have built a relationship with... It can be harder to invite someone to church that you aren't close with (but not impossible!), so building that foundational relationship with people so they know how much you care for them is key.
Practice Makes Perfect: Naturally, the more you invite people, the easier it will become. Start with those you’re most comfortable with and expand from there. It might even be helpful if someone you go to church with also knows the person you want to invite, and you could even extend the invitation together, making the person you're inviting more comfortable or at ease.
Celebrate Small Wins: Even if someone doesn’t accept your invitation right away, celebrate the fact that you stepped out in faith, did what God tells us to do, and extended that first invitation. Every effort counts. Don't get discouraged if someone turns down your invitation the first time (or even several times!) You never know how God could be working in their heart, and one day, they might just say yes!
Inviting someone to church is a powerful way to share God’s love and grow our community here at Starnes Cove Baptist. Whether it’s through sharing your personal story, using social media, extending a casual invitation, highlighting special events, or offering to go together, each of these different approaches supports our mission and vision. By becoming more confident in inviting others to church, you’ll be helping to fulfill our mission to worship God, bring people to Christ, and ultimately disciple them for service and outreach to others. Remember, every invitation is a step towards relationally evangelizing our neighborhood, nation, and world.
For more tips or to get involved, feel free to reach out to our church office, or Pastor William. Let’s work together to make our church a welcoming place for everyone!
Comments