Creating an Invite Culture

Feb 19

THE IMPACT OF AN INVITE

Inviting someone to church isn’t about filling rooms but creating opportunities for people to see and experience transformation and community.

An invite can:

Bridge Gaps | A personal connection makes attending feel safe and welcoming.
Communicate Value | People only invite others to places they love and trust.
Multiply Growth | A culture of inviting expands your church’s reach organically.

Creating a culture of inviting starts with leadership. When your team models the behavior and celebrates stories of successful invites, it sets a tone that others will follow. Creating this culture fosters an environment where people feel empowered to bring others along in their faith journey.

1 | Equip People to Invite

The greatest asset you have in creating a culture of inviting is your people. They need tools and confidence. Here are a few ways to help them:

Train Them to Share Their Story
Host workshops or small groups, and embed it in your team member or leader trainings to teach them how to share their personal faith journey in authentic and relatable ways. Encourage them to focus on:

How to start faith-based conversations.
What they’ve experienced in the church.
Why they’re excited to invite others.
How to extend the invitation.

Provide Physical Assets
Offer resources that make inviting simple:

Invite cards with service times, location, and an encouraging note.
Social media graphics they can share online.
Bumper stickers or yard signs to subtly advertise.
Custom QR codes linking to event details or a “Visit Us” guide.

2 | Provide a Hospitable Environment

Inviting someone to church is only the first step. Ensuring they feel welcomed and valued when they come is essential for making their visit meaningful.

Create a Welcoming Atmosphere

Parking and Greeter Teams: Train teams to identify and warmly welcome guests.
First Impressions: Ensure signage is clear and facilities are clean and inviting.
Small Touches: Coffee stations, snacks, or a gift can ease nerves and encourage connections.

Track Effectiveness
Use tools to understand how your invites are working:

Connection Cards: Ask guests to fill out cards with basic information, including how they heard of the church.
Digital Check-Ins: Encourage first-time visitors to scan a QR code to let you know they attended.
Follow-Up Systems: Have a team ready to reach out with a personal touch (e.g., a handwritten note or an email).

3 | Create a Clear Next Steps Process

Assimilation is crucial for turning first-time visitors into regular attendees. Simplify the process by offering easy ways to connect:

Clarify Next Steps
Outline simple pathways for engagement:

Attend an Orientation: Offer a short class (Connect, Next Steps, etc.) to introduce who you are as a church, what you do, and how they can get involved.
Join a Small Group: Highlight options tailored to different locations, life stages, or interests.
Volunteer Opportunities: Showcase easy-entry roles to help visitors feel part of the team.

Make Communication Clear
Once you have guests' information, evaluate the point of contact and messaging they receive. Use consistent language to ensure guests know what’s next:

Follow up within 24 hours with a “Thank you for visiting” message.
Provide digital and printed materials that explain their best next steps.

Own Connection Points
Designated leaders and teams will need to know their responsibility in the personal connection with new guests. For example:

Connections Team: They will follow up with guests with a handwritten note and enter the contact information in the people management system.
Next Steps Class Team: They will reach out to guests who express interest in the next class to send an invite, answer questions, and help them take the next step.
Small Group Leader: They will follow up with a guest interested in a group to help them know the day, time, and location of the next meeting.

Creating an invite culture requires intentionality and teamwork. By understanding the importance of inviting, equipping your congregation, providing a welcoming environment, and simplifying next steps, your church can create a ripple effect of growth and connection. Start small. Bring your team together and ask yourselves, “What can we start doing this season?” Big changes take time but are always worth the effort!