Top Thoughts for Preparation

1.

Pray

…regularly that God will bless and draw people to Himself through this initiative.

2.

Register

…your church for BTCS. Firstly, see to it that your region is participating in Back to Church Sunday (BTCS) and then register and order your resources by 31st May through your regional champion. If you can’t persuade your region to participate, we’d still love you to take part, so please contact us and we will support you.

3.

Appoint

…a Champion in your church to oversee a team of enthusiasts to plan the day. It would be terrific if this team could attend a welcome workshop.

4.

Set the vision

…of Back to Church Sunday with church members by using promotional chapter on the training DVD that will be included in your welcome pack.

5.

Run a church workshop

… and encourage church members to take part. We have made it easier this year by including a training DVD in your pack. Use the workshop to make necessary improvements ready for guests.

6.

Welcome packs

…will be sent to your Regional champion by Friday 13th July and distributed from there.

7.

Mobilise

…your church to be praying for those who they will inviting to BTCS.

8.

Lead by example

…in sharing regularly who you are praying for and will be inviting to BTCS.

9.

Celebrate

…when you know of invitations being extended.

10.

Publicise

…throughout July, August and early September (or equivalent months close to the date you have chosen) that BTCS is near. Download resources from www.backtochurchsunday.com.au. Fill in the posters with your church details. Tell your local paper what you are doing, contact your Head of Communications (if you have one) for help and a few ideas.  Contacting the media will raise public awareness of BTCS and will prepare the ground for church members to extend invitations. Some people may turn up on the day because they have heard about it in the local press or have seen the posters.

11.

Personal Invitation

...is what BTCS is all about , ‘a friend inviting a friend’ back to church. We have discovered that bulk mail outs are not a successful way of inviting people back to church however, we do encourage checking church registers, and if known, personally inviting locals who have had a connection with the church but are not necessarily attending regularly.

12.

Encourage

...members to start conversations re BTCS and give invitations to friends no earlier than six weeks before your chosen date

13.

Plan

...the services for the day and be sure to train your welcomers (even though they may have been a welcomer for years at church). This is an opportunity for new participation from your members. Include enthusiastic people. They are your greatest resource for a warm welcome.

14.

Be prepared

...by following the advice on the training DVD and web. You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy BTCS will be when you have prepared to the best of your ability.