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Get Your Team Ready For Fall Kick-off!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fall will be here before we know it, and that means it’s time for another new beginning! Sure, January might be the beginning of the calendar year. But in the church world, we kick things off in Fall. So right now is the best time to start strategically planning for one of your busiest times of the year, a time when more first-time guests will show up than during any other season. We’re here to help!

This is the time to begin stockpiling first-time guest resources like Next Step Booklets, welcome bags, and inviting Signage. I’d suggest that you even dedicate an entire teaching series to promoting the vision and purpose of your church with one of the most powerful series we’ve ever done, The Table Series! Then, transform all those first-time guests into committed members with the Table Talk classes!

We have so many incredible resources for you to take advantage of at CreativePastors.com. Don’t miss out on changing lives and getting those first-timers connected to your church with these resources! I look forward to hearing all about what the next few months and your Fall kick-off do for the life of your church![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Top 4 Ways to Welcome First-time Guests:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1. First Time Guest Booth:
Make them feel like a VIP! Reserving front-row spots in the parking lot and strategically placing your best greeters to welcome First Time Guests is a great way to make their first impression the best. Their experience starts in the parking lot and doesn’t end until they get back in the car so make sure your welcome team looks inviting from head to toe. Having a First Time Guest booth at the entrance of the church is very important, this gives them something to look for if they have questions, or somewhere to go if they feel lost. Have goodie bags and first-time guest signage on hand and give these guests the warmest welcome you can!

2. Next Step Booklet
Now that they’re here, they need to know what to do next! Placing a Next Step booklet in the seatback in front of everyone gives them easy access to information on what their next steps are in their walk with God and as a member of the church!

3. Membership Classes:
After the experience, be sure to have greeters holding signs directing people to your Growth Track or Table Talk classes! Get them involved in the church and cast your vision to them as they become a member of your church family!

4. Get Volunteers Ready: 
Pump up the volunteers on Sundays!! Hold a vision-casting meeting, serve breakfast, and rally the amazing people that make things happen every weekend![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Who Can You Bring to The Table This Summer?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Summer is finally here! I love this time of year because school is out, schedules are opening up, and people are looking for a place to get plugged in! This is a great opportunity to connect new people to your church and get them involved in what you do! Summer events and vision casting are the two best ways to get your volunteers and newcomers alike included and involved. Get the season off to a great start with a powerful vision-casting series, and discover a reach that goes beyond what you imagined!

Below, my team and I have come up with 3 quick tips on how to make the most of summer vision casting and get more people plugged in as the temperature goes up. I can’t wait to hear about all the life change your church is about to bring to the Table.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

How to Bring More to the Table This Summer:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1. Cast (then recast) the vision. 
This Table series is a great steal for all Creative Pastors to give their church a refresh this summer on what it’s all about! 

2. Connect them to the vision.
Table Talk Classes are a way to expand on the vision and get people involved in what you’re doing! This kit we’ve created just for you has all of the resources you’ll need to get people involved with the vision you’re casting.

3. Help them work the vision.
After they finish Table Talk Classes, get your sharpest volunteers in the lobby meeting people and making connections. Sundays are prime time for extending the reach and bringing new people in to be a part of what we do! Keep track of all of the connections your team is making with this FREE Weekly Reach Report.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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4 Tips to Keep People Connected All Summer Long!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spring is winding down, which means summer is about to ramp up! That means Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Kids and Student camps are just around the corner! To help your team make the most of this summer, our team has put together a list of tips, tricks, and themes![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Summer Church Tips:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1. Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day (May 28th) is a time to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Help make it memorable with this Declaration of Independence Day Video, promote your experience with these Social Media Graphics, and welcome your church family with these Patriotic Greeting Signs

2. Father’s Day Weekend
Celebrate the Dads in your community this Father’s Day (June 19th)! Capture special family memories with Church Sign Shop’s Father’s Day Photo Booths (Click Here). Then throw a celebration party that includes a motorcycle ride for the Dad’s that ride, an afternoon cookout or an all-out car show in your parking lot. End the celebration with a gift card raffle to a sporting goods store or on a fishing trip! For more Father’s Day messages & media, Click Here!

3. Fourth of July Weekend
Families are looking for fun activities around the Independence Day Holiday. Create an easy opportunity for your church to invite others by hosting a night of fireworks the weekend before July 4th. This kind of community-wide Freedom Celebration will attract big crowds as the first Independence Celebration of the week! Need a special element for your service? Check out this Pledge of Allegiance Video

4. Kids & Student Camp
Keep parents, children, and students engaged all summer long (even the weekend right after camp) by bringing summer camp to the weekend! Feature the kids in the worship experience where they can show off a special song they learned, have students share firsthand stories from summer camp on stage or show highlight videos from camp. Looking for a strong children’s curriculum? Check out this Elevate Resource![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Inspiration for the July 4th Celebration at Your Church!

Inspiration for the July 4th Celebration at Your Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Summer is right around the corner, and the firework stands will be opening before we know it! July 4th is the biggest summer celebration we have, and it’s one of the greatest opportunities to reach our community. Make the most of this patriotic celebration by planning your stars and stripes themed experience now. Whatever plans you make, be sure and include a creative community-wide celebration that connects people of all ages to your church. Throwing a big summer bash will bring in new guests and the fun atmosphere will be an amazing way to share your church’s vision with newcomers! Remember, every event we plan is about the one life. I look forward to hearing how a big event in your church can become a big event in someone’s life.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Inspiration for the July 4th Celebration at Your Church:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1. Light it up!
Light up your experience, day or night! If you have an evening experience, include a fireworks show and provide glow sticks. If it’s during the daylight, set up some fun confetti and streamer stations for the kids! Everyone will love the festive July 4th touch!

2. Take them to the movies!
DIY a big screen and have a movie night! Project a movie onto the side of your building and invite everyone to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. This is a fantastic and economical way to throw a summer night bash!

3. Bring out the foodies!
Food Trucks are a crowd favorite! Schedule to have a few food truck options for guests during the event and invite local vendors from your community to set up tents and sell family-festival-friendly foods! You don’t have to pay, just provide!

4. Make it magic for the kids!
This is a family-friendly holiday, so consider events that reach the whole family. Face painting, balloon animals, puppet shows, bubbles, crafts, and games are all great ideas to scatter throughout the celebration!

5. Make it musical!
Have live music, invite church-friendly bands or have a fun-in-the-sun playlist going throughout the event. Having some tunes will set the tone and give your party some extra pizzazz![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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5 Creative Ways to Invite

Creative Pastors Blog - November 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Reach UP. Reach OUT. Reach IN. Since day one of Fellowship Church, we have passionately pursued this vision. It is the very heartbeat of everything we do. While it may be easy to focus on the ‘Up’ and ‘In,’ too often we can overlook the ‘Out,’ because reaching people takes work! Yet, reaching people is exactly what the local church is designed to do.
So as we all prepare for the Christmas season, I want to encourage you to keep working to reach the lives God has put in your path. Work hard to build your message in a way that will clearly communicate the light of Christ! And to help, check out these 5 Creative Ways to Invite this Christmas. I can’t wait to see how God works IN your church to reach OUT to the world as you look UP to Him!

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5 Creative Ways to Invite:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1. Begin ordering your invite cards.
Start ordering invites now so they will be ready for action when you start promoting in December. Direct your holiday invitations towards those you want to step into God’s house for the first time and start growing your church one invite at a time!

2. Bundle your invites.
Hand out bundles of 3 invitations after every service and challenge your congregation to reach their community. Leave the invitations with a tip, place them on doors, or pin them to bulletin boards to extend the reach beyond close acquaintances. Get your invite on!

3. Break-out the social media.
Social media is THE place to get your invite to the masses. Start posting through Facebook and Instagram to promote your holiday service (Click Here for Free Graphics). Send out text message reminders available for members to sign up for. You will be able to reach so many people at a rate you couldn’t humanly accomplish with printed invitations!

4. Build a community around the church.
The holiday season provides a huge opportunity to connect with our communities.  Use holiday events in the community to promote your holiday event. Hand out invites at local parades, football games, and Black Friday lines. Go out and connect to show people the hospitality they’ll receive at your church!

5. Invite over local radio stations.
Perform a live Christmas acoustic set with your worship team and invite listeners to join you for the real deal! Use popular media platforms to share what your Christmas worship experience has to offer.  Nothing gets people in the swing of the season better than Christmas Carols![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]