If you work or volunteer at your local church, you know it’s always a challenge to attract new followers. One of the best ways to go about increasing your flock is to host a church event. 

So what are some great church event ideas to attract new followers?

Let’s have a look at some fun church event ideas and how to promote them to potential followers.

1. Church Conference

If you want a serious event discussing the importance of church and of faith, then a church conference is the best option. At this conference, the preacher can give a sermon and then convince attendees to join the church.

Existing attendees can offer testimonials of what they have gotten out of church membership.

You can offer food and beverages as well as a social/networking session after the conference.

For this, you want to find a location (preferably in the church hall) where existing and potential attendees can interact. You also want to set up white chairs and tables for a serene decor — fit for church!

2. Church Social

The church is a great place for community and a church social is a great way to show potential followers what a great community your church is. There are many great ideas for church social events you can consider.

For example, you can have a social/networking session without having a conference preceding it. You can also have a potluck event where everyone brings their own dish.

You can also gather everyone together to sing hymns. If you wish to attract more youth to the church, you can have a sports day or a small carnival.

3. Community Service

A huge part of church membership and involvement with religion is giving back to the community. A community service event not only attracts existing followers but is a great recruitment tool for new followers. 

You can plan a beach cleanup and have a picnic after the cleanup. You can have the youth volunteer at a library or school. You can also attract an older group if you volunteer with ex-convicts, recovering drug addicts, or troubled youth.

4. Church Concert

Music has always been a fun aspect of attending church. You might find you can attract new followers with a church concert. You can consider having the church choir sing for new followers. Or you can hire a professional band or singer to perform at your church.

For a church concert, especially if you hire a professional, you can ensure large numbers. Make sure to sell tickets in advance and provide regular updates to ticket holders until the day of the event.

If you find that the concert is a success, make sure to inform new attendees on how to join the church.

5. Bible Study

A Bible study is also a great way to bring in new followers. You can have separate Bible study sessions for the adults and the youth. Or you can host family-based Bible study sessions.

At the Bible study, make sure that the preacher or the study leader is well-versed with the Bible. You want this Bible study session to be exceptional. The person who leads the study should encourage the attendees to engage in an interesting study on the Bible.

You can also use the Bible study session as an information session on what else the church does. This is a time to advertise the church’s events and activities.

6. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

Honor thy father and mother is one of the Commandments and what better way to celebrate our parents by having a Mother’s Day and Father’s Day event at your church. This is especially great if you want to make sure that you attract families into the congregation.

You can host a picnic for Mother’s Day and have each child give a short speech on why they appreciate their mother. For Father’s Day, you can have a breakfast buffet and have each child express their appreciation for their father. For both events, you can have the preacher give a sermon on the importance of parents and the family unit.

Parents are always eager to find a great church that they can bring their children along. The church is a great way for teaching children morals and providing them with a community. This type of event shows parents how much your church is committed to bringing families together and introducing religion to children.

7. A Community Meal or Feast

A community meal or feast for a Christian event is a great way to attract new followers to your church. This is also a great way for existing and new followers to mingle with each other. Consider having an Easter meal or a Christmas feast. You can also have a feast for secular holidays such as the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving Day.

For such events, you want to ask everyone to bring their own food. This encourages participation as opposed to mere attendance. Make sure to have the preacher give a short sermon or speech celebrating the event. 

These community meals/feasts are one of the most popular methods for attracting new followers. You want to make sure that you show new attendees how to sign up for church membership at the close of the event.

8. Graduation Day

Among the congregation or the community at large, there will be students who are graduating from school. Once school ends, the students are now hurled into the “real world” and might be unsure of what their future holds.

One way to offer them a sense of comfort is to show that they have a community at their church. You can invite all local graduates to attend and encourage new ones to join the church.

This event can be a formal lunch or dinner for the graduates. The preacher can give a speech that motivates the graduates as they enter this new stage in their lives.

Choose Among These Church Event Ideas

Now that you know some of the best church event ideas, you can find the right ones to recruit new followers. The church is a great place for finding solace and community, and these events should all emphasize this.

Read more event planning ideas on our website.