We're diving into the idea of follow-up in church outreach. It’s not enough to just host events and hope people stick around. We talk about how relationships need nurturing, just like any friendship or romance. If we treat our outreach like speed dating—quick and superficial—then we miss out on building deeper connections with visitors. We share practical tips on how to keep in touch and make sure guests feel welcomed and informed about what our church offers. Let’s explore how to turn those brief encounters into lasting relationships that matter.

Takeaways:

1. Building meaningful relationships takes effort; don’t let outreach events feel like speed dating.
2. After church events, it’s crucial to follow up and keep in touch with visitors.
3. Make sure to inform guests about your church's regular activities and programs.
4. Use connection cards or fun giveaways to gather visitors' contact information effectively.
5. Send helpful holiday resources or invitations to keep the connection with newcomers alive.
6. Small gestures like recipe cards or postcards can turn a one-time visit into an ongoing relationship.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. www.bible805.com

PLEASE NOTE: I have no idea why the automatic transcrip program broke this up the way it did--GO to the Bible805.com website--at this direct link, or the Ministry Miscellany tab for the text https://wp.me/pazrJD-1kr

Welcome to the Ministry Miscellany Podcast A collection of tools, strategy and challenges for Bible teachers from me, Yvonne Pran, someone who's been teaching the Bible ever since As a third grader, I started to teach the kindergarteners at my church about Jesus.

I've never quit doing that, and along.

The way I've picked up some practices, strategies and resources that might be useful to you. Our topic for today is Follow up after a church holiday event, Speed Dating or relationship Building?

What kind of a relationship do you have with someone if you meet them, have a great time and then walk away, never to call, talk or see the person again? Not much of one, is it? In contrast, what about a relationship where two people meet briefly but then keep in touch through?

Maybe letters, emails, phone calls, texts, whatever? What if they take time to interact and get to know each other? Or we'd label that a meaningful relationship.

If we want any kind of a relationship, friendship or romance to progress, we've got to expend some effort to grow the relationship. As a church, we begin relationships with people in our communities, oftentimes when we host outreach or holiday events.

Sometimes they develop into meaningful long term relationships with visitors, but in the majority of cases they don't. Take time to consider some of the following things I'm going to share with you and evaluate how your interactions work with visitors.

Now the challenge that I want to make for all of you is to make your church outreach events more than speed dating. Now here's why I use that illustration when many people visit our churches.

It's kind of similar.

I got to thinking about it to speed dating and honestly I don't know if they still do it. Thought about it and it works as an illustration.

Now if you're unfamiliar with that, it's where single people spend a few minutes with a potential romantic interest over coffee, dessert, some shared activity, some groups hosting it, and it could be all kinds of things.

I read recently actually a one speed dating event for farmers who had people weeding a field together, you know, whatever, and then they move on to the next person, spend a few minutes with that person and then on to the next one, though lasting a little bit longer. Some churches offer a sort of speed dating experience to unchurched people at their communities. Let's look at fall events as an example.

The church invites the community to maybe a Thanksgiving service or Christmas caroling and hot chocolate at Easter. It might be an Easter egg hunt for the kids.

The visitors are hustled through the event and then they leave, hopefully with a nice feeling about the church, the church staff breathes a sigh of relief to have that activity over for the year. Now, these events are a wonderful way.

To introduce your church to your community.

But as with any relationship, you need to work to actively develop the relationship if you don't want people to leave.

As unconnected with the church as they.

Did when they came.

If you simply hustle people through the events, you aren't making a connection with.

Them that will ultimately involve them in your church.

Now here are some ideas too.

Change the situation from speed dating to long term first of all, don't assume.

Your people know what your church does.

On a regular basis.

Many churches assume that if people come.

To a holiday event at the church.

For children, such as an alternative Halloween or Christmas party, if they like it, they'll automatically come on Sunday for your.

Kids Cove, or whatever you happen to call your children's program.

But remember, unchurched people in our secular world today may not even know that you have something called Kids Cove, that it exists, or that churches have events for children on a regular basis. They might think you just host parties periodically for the community.

Even if they are vaguely familiar with the idea that churches do stuff for people, they have no idea. They don't just automatically know what time it meets, where it meets any those kind of things.

You have to follow up and let people know what you do on a regular basis and invite them to it. You cannot make assumptions that people who grew up without church know what church does every week.

Here's some ideas to make the connections with people now you've got to get their information.

You can use a connection card if.

That's been successful at your church. I find just connection cards that are.

Pointed out from the pulpit and if.

You ask for a prayer request with.

Them, that can work really well.

But another thing that I found works extremely well in ministry is whatever the holiday is. Have a big drawing for a gift basket. Say at Easter time. People walk in and they see this giant basket filled with all kinds of.

Goodies plus gift cards, etc etc.

And what you do is you ask people to sign up for a drawing for it. Now you're very clear on the card.

You will be using this to contact.

Them, but they can be removed from the list at any time.

So that way you will get a ton of cards.

But once you get the names and contact information, there's all kinds of ways to reach out to people. Use mail, email, social media, whatever works for your church these days.

Now, in addition to just sending out a Glad you were here Message Here are some other things you might do now that you've got their contact information. Give families ways to celebrate upcoming holidays.

For example, when Advent's coming up, send them a little booklet about Advent ideas and how they can celebrate it. Send them stories or devotions about the holidays, Bible stories in modern versions, things they can share with their children.

Whatever sort of thing that your church uses, particularly if your church follows the church calendar, might be helpful. Ideas for Lent, ideas for, you know,.

Just ways to celebrate Halloween that are positive.

Whatever it might be, recipes are still always appreciated. You can email or mail people a little recipe card. And recipe cards are kind of fun as postcards because if it's something that's.

Really good, and of course it will be, if your church sends it out.

Every time guests use it, it can remind them of your church and the wonderful event they attended.

Again.

Also, just invitations to holiday events.

If people came perhaps to your community Thanksgiving service, maybe they don't know that you host a Carolina Chocolate Party Hot Chocolate Party early in December. Whatever it is, follow up, invite them to the next event to connect with your church. Little things really do mean a lot.

It may not seem like a lot to send out a postcard or a recipe to email or text an invitation, but that can shift the special event from being something similar to a speed dating event. Nice, maybe, but not something that you expect to be repeated to an ongoing relationship with a visitor to your church and hopefully with Jesus.

I trust you found the content in this episode of Ministry.

Miscellaneous for links to any resources mentioned and lots of free material to help you know, trust, apply and teach the Bible, go to www.bible805.com Let me close.

Now with a reminder from the book.

Of Daniel 12:3 where it says those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever, that's you, someone who.

Leads many to righteousness. And in doing that, may you be.

Ever growing in your reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit, in the deepening of your friendship with Jesus, and in your trust in the goodness of God the Father. Never forgetting in all the hard work you do that you have a glorious heritage where you will shine like the stars forever and ever. Amen.