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Easter is more than a holiday for Christians as it’s a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  During this festive time, more churchgoers and newcomers attend church than at any other time throughout the year.  This is the perfect time to prepare a captivating service that shows newcomers what your church offers every Sunday.

 

Today, church websites are the first place visitors go when searching for a church to attend on Easter Sunday.  Consider the following suggestions when preparing a service to reach people who don’t attend church every weekend.

 

 

Many of the suggested preparations are not solely for Easter but for each service.  Though, a special importance should be given to the details of a service on Easter as more people will be in attendance.  Plan for this by asking church members to be extra observant and serve when their help is needed.  Simple tasks from greeting people at the door to helping a guest be seated plays an important role in making visitors feel welcome.

 

Often, members are willing to sacrifice their time to help the church provide an unforgettable service that resonates with visitors.  A major part of Easter tradition is to share the resurrection story.  Many guests expect to hear that during an Easter service so ensure their expectations are met by providing a traditional story on the resurrection.  Focus your service around that and not about the lack of attendance throughout the year as people never view that type of criticism as a positive sign about the church.

 

 

While visitors are always welcome, there’s no guarantee they will ever return to your church.  Include intriguing facts about your church during the sermon and the community it offers so visitors are more inclined to return.  In addition to a service centered on the resurrection, hand out a newsletter about the church and have a quality follow-up in place so people won’t be lured in by other church websites!

Choosing a church is a choice that involves more than just finding a church to attend on Sunday.  A variety of factors influence the church a person chooses as preferences on the denomination and worship style play a role.  A person might also be relocating or wanting to choose a church that has a deeper connection with members where they focus on preaching a doctrine based on Scripture.  How can you be sure to find a church that suits you long-term?

 

 

Start by determining what is most important for you to grow spiritually and look for a church that offers that kind of ministry.  As long as the church teaches God’s word, there’s no right or wrong place when it comes to choosing a church.  The first step in locating a church is to search online to see if they have a website and ask friends or neighbors if they can recommend a ministry.

 

Not all churches keep their website up-to-date so don’t let church website templates control your decision to visit a church.  Instead, scan the website for information that matters to you and check if the pastor makes a frequent blog post about the latest service.  Through recommendations and research, you can gain some perspective on what to expect at each church then visit them before making your choice.  What element should you take into consideration the most when making your decision?

 

 

In many cases, deciding on a church involves a great deal of thought as nobody wants to get in a cycle of changing from one church to another.  Evaluate all the aspects of a church with others in your area then decide which one best fits your criteria.  Realize early on that no church is perfect and church website templates only represent a small indication to how well the church is balanced.

Ministry websites are a valuable resource for churches to reach more people online and in the community.  They provide a variety of ways for the church to make a positive impact on the lives of members and visitors.  If the ministry website has a blog, information can be shared there that gives a guest an idea about your ministry before they attend a service.

 

The pastor may also use the blog to share what each sermon was about to promote interaction throughout the week as people are able to comment.  Not all churches have an effective blog so apply the following steps to ensure the church blog engages your audience long-term.

 

 

The key to any blog is to have a plan on delivering great content that connects with your audience but understand instant results are not likely to occur.  The first step is to determine who will create the content that accurately represents your ministry.  Often, pastors may want to expand upon the sermon using ministry websites to engage members and visitors with talks about faith.

 

Leaders within the church might be good sources for relevant topics that generate discussions and retain the attention of people.  Aside from delivering fresh content, an important step to blogging is to follow a schedule each month that ensures blogs are consistently posted.  Blogs that fail usually happen due to a long lapse in postings so plan future posts using a spreadsheet and keep the blog updated.

 

 

When the blog is established, make it public by creating a link in the navigation menu of the website where it can easily be found.  If the church has a social media account, post a link there as more people every year use social media and they may share a link to your blog.  Blogs that provide readers meaningful content about faith and God’s word are typically the most effective as an audience stays engaged with the ministry.

Worship services are a perfect time for the congregation to welcome new guests to the church.  The number of guests who attend worship services is unpredictable most of the time unless it’s a holiday such as Easter or Christmas.  A church website design lures visitors to the church but guests expect a certain level of friendliness while they are there for them to return.  Churches that strive to overcome attendance barriers should consider implementing the following tips to make guests feel appreciated.

 

 

There are some very basic actions that church members can do to make a profound impact on whether or not a guest feels motivated to come back.  First, think of what other members did when you visited a new church for the first time and implement those same acts of kindness.  The church website design may also be customized to cater to guests so they easily find the church.

 

During rainy weather, make sure arriving guests are accompanied by someone with an umbrella when walking in.  Once inside the church, guests might be uncomfortable so offer to help them find a seat or the restroom, especially if they have children.  When a member assists a guest, it builds familiarity with their surroundings and shows they are a priority.

 

Promote interaction by introducing them to the pastor or other members as this frequently leads to a higher return rate when a guest feels part of the congregation.  Typically, new visitors love having the opportunity to talk to the pastor whether it’s after the service at church or talking over the phone.

 

 

Friendliness goes a long way but it should be more meaningful than the stand and greet time as guests tend to think members are not genuine then.  Instead, members could suggest inviting a guest to a group lunch after worship services.  In many cases, this tip influences guests the most to return in the future as they are included in an activity with other members.

Many people in the church have a variety of factors that influence whether they give or not.  The decision on how much you give is usually contingent upon your beliefs, income, debt, and the various payment methods offered by your church.  Fortunately, church websites with custom designs make it possible for anyone to donate online.  According to a survey, one figure says 60% of churchgoers who tithe will give or have given online.  Does your church offer a mobile tithing solution for the congregation?

 

 

The tendency among some Christians today is to attend church when it best suits their schedule.  According to one study in 2015, approximately 247 million Americans are Christians but only 98 million say they attend church.  Yet, no more than 15 million claim they tithe.  The word tithe, tithes, or tithing is used an estimated 36 times in the Bible; 30 times in the Old Testament and just 6 times in the New Testament.

 

For some members, tithing is practiced according to the Old Testament where the amount given to the church is 10 percent of your income.  However, other members believe tithing is an old practice and follow the New Testament where the amount they give is solely up to them.  Often, debt is the limiting factor to how much someone gives to the church as statistics indicate 8 out of 10 who tithe have no credit card debt.

 

 

Church websites that offer churchgoers an option to donate online greatly increase their odds of receiving donations as web traffic increases each year.  The amount you give should always take into consideration your financial situation but to also give with your heart.  A verse in 2 Corinthians 9:7 reads, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The trend among youth attending church today is heavily influenced by the attendance rate of their parents and if they attend regularly, irregularly, or not at all.  There are many ways to engage the congregation and youth but each year more people use a cell phone to connect with everyone.

 

Through text messaging, younger churchgoers stay connected as they communicate with the pastor or participate in a church survey.  What kind of effect would it have on attendance among youth if the pastor sent out a few questions each week about the upcoming service?

 

 

In regard to youth, most of them may find ministry websites to be uneventful so they rarely visit to know the latest about the church.  When they receive a text message, it gives them an opportunity to express their opinion by responding to the pastor’s questions.  The pastor can then prepare a portion of the sermon to answer those questions so they feel part of the community.

 

Text messaging also helps build the congregation as it is a useful tool for keeping everyone informed about various functions.  Throughout the year, there are multiple events to remind the congregation about and text messaging does that instantly.  Plus, people can always go back through text messages to verify when the meeting or event is taking place so no reminders need to be sent out.  Will young churchgoers get more involved in the church due to text messaging?

 

 

From time to time, youth may not be confident enough to ask a question after services or on ministry websites.  Some members of the congregation might feel the same way but never voice their thoughts.  The option for youth to text message allows them to learn more about the church since they feel comfortable to discuss topics with older members.  As a result, they become more involved in the church and regularly attend services.

One survey revealed that more than 88% of Americans used the Internet in 2016.  More people go online each year so it’s no longer good enough to create a church website without implementing a strategy.  A church website design should be tailored towards the needs of visitors and members for carelessness to be avoided.  What areas should be focused on to ensure mistakes with the church website never happen?

 

 

With a church website, most visitors are looking to find out more details about the church such as the location, contact information, and time of services.  Relevant details should be easily viewable by all guests so they can learn more about your church if they want to attend.  Although this seems like a simple error, many church websites forget to include this key information where members and non-members can locate it.

 

A mistake that any church website design must avoid is not being mobile-friendly.  Over 30% of Americans use the internet exclusively from their smartphone.  Without a mobile-friendly design, those visitors who only use their phone to go online will see a different version of your church website.  That version is likely difficult to navigate which can lead to many potential visitors choosing another church.

 

Frequently, a church website is created to bring the congregation closer together but disregards non-members.  One of the best ways to attract more people to your church is through the church website.  Integrate design features that make non-members feel like they belong to the church.  What other area should be a focus on church websites?

 

 

A church website requires more than a great website design.  Some people visit the website for the latest news or events to stay connected to the church.  If none of the content has changed, visitors may think the church has little activity and lose interest.  Ensure the church is active by posting an event calendar every month and include weekly sermon updates!

Christmas is a special time of the year where many people attend church that may not normally attend.  With higher attendance numbers, this is the perfect opportunity to plan a unique service that encompasses the true meaning of Christmas.  During this time, the congregation and new visitors are more receptive to take to heart what the service is about.  What ideas will help your church provide a memorable service on Christmas this year?

 

 

An effortless way to set the tone before or after a service is to play Christmas music in the background.  A few weeks prior, conduct a survey using church websites to see which songs people prefer to hear.  Create a playlist using songs that have been chosen from the survey and play them in the background.

 

Aside from music, most people connect the holidays with scents and fresh baked goods.  Whether it’s the taste of Christmas cookies or the scent of cinnamon and pine, people will enjoy both as they add to the holiday atmosphere.  Ensure the scent is noticed by spraying the air freshener 20 minutes before everyone is set to arrive.  What other ideas will engage the congregation to create long lasting memories?

 

 

Many guests that attend during the holidays might be unaware the church has a social media account.  Bridge that gap by offering a photo session to everyone so the moment is captured and they can connect with the church after the service.  Pictures are also a great way for guests and members to always recall a memorable service. 

 

Often, people follow social media and church websites from their smart phones to stay up-to-date.  Encourage involvement on social media throughout the service by asking the congregation what are some of their favorite interests on Christmas.

A church website is a great way to reach more potential members or expand the bond between current members.  Nearly 80% of churches have a website but only 42% of them reportedly keep it up-to-date.  When content is outdated, visitors might associate the quality of your website with the quality of your services and find another church.  Many features engage visitors and members but what should a church web design include to see the best results?

 

 

Most people who visit the church website for the first time want to know what to expect when they attend services.  Besides pictures of the church, include pictures of the congregation so visitors are able to see who attend.  A key benefit to members and visitors is to post an online sermon.  Visitors get an idea of what to expect in a sermon and current members are able to stay informed if they can’t attend church.

 

Throughout the year, members may go out of town on vacation or be sick so an online sermon offers them an alternative way to stay connected to the church.  An online sermon may be shared with many other people too which significantly increases online traffic.

 

Without a church website, members are restricted to Sunday when they can request prayers for their family.  During the week, most people are hesitant to reach out to members of the church and request prayers.  Implement prayer requests in your church web design so members may offer immediate support instead of waiting until Sunday.

 

 

An important part to any church website is to allow online donations as fewer people carry less cash today.  This is a great option for members that may have missed the service or when someone in the congregation needs help.  Integrate features such as this into your church web design and update frequently so visitors and members always utilize the church website.

The time between Sunday services is often a time where most people get busy with their day to day lives and forget about church and the congregation.  That isn’t always the case though as some congregations are closer than others.  Generally, church website templates make the church website more appealing for everyone in the congregation which improves connectivity.  Does the church you belong to offer ways for members to stay connected between services?

 

 

A variety of churches have developed a congregation over time where members share a unique and special bond with one another.  Typically, those bonds start inside the church but grow outside the church during social events or through the church website.  Occasionally, members may be absent on Sunday so encourage them to follow the church website to stay up-to-date.

 

During the summer, invite members to dress casually once a month and provide activities or an event after service that encourages everyone to participate.  Ideally, it would be best to post a survey on the church website to ask members what activities they enjoy and what food they prefer.

 

Aside from that, utilize social media by creating a page on Facebook or Twitter where members can post comments and share ideas.  The key towards keeping members connected is to have multiple outlets for them to network through.  Has your church tried a variety of church website templates to see if it had any effect on how members stay connected?

 

 

Members stop attending church for many reasons but each church should always send a weekly email about the latest church news.  For members that have missed consecutive services, send an email or call them to express your concern and that their presence is missed.  A simple gesture such as a phone call often reassures a member to keep their faith and stay connected to the church.