Maximizing Impact: A Guide to Effective Easter Follow-Up in Your Church

by Brad Marchman, Evangelism Consultant, Georgia Baptist Mission Board

Easter represents a pivotal moment for spiritual growth and outreach in your church. As you celebrate the resurrection and present the gospel to many, it’s essential to harness this opportunity by preparing a robust follow-up strategy.

This guide will provide you with actionable steps to ensure you capitalize on the movement of God during this special season and maintain momentum with guests and members alike.

Follow-up commences the day after Easter. Engage your Sunday School classes and small groups in the process. Distribute guest cards to leaders and empower them with talking points to connect with every visitor within the week, highlighting upcoming church events as potential points of interest.

Pre-Easter Preparation: Laying the Groundwork

Don’t let the aftermath of Easter catch you unprepared. Establish a follow-up strategy well in advance. This plan should be a seamless extension of your Easter celebration, ready to be implemented without delay.

Easter Day Execution: Information Gathering

The cornerstone of effective follow-up is information collection on Easter Day. Facilitate this by:

– Providing information cards which includes a guest form during the welcome segment.
– Encouraging all attendees (regular attenders included) to complete the cards, reducing the conspicuousness of filling out the card as “guests only.” Many guests don’t want to be seen in any obvious way as such.
– Using the cards as a means to invite engagement with various aspects of church life, including salvation, rededication, and baptism.

As the service concludes, efficiently collect the cards, ensuring you capture a broad network of contacts.

Post-Easter Action: Engaging and Connecting

Pastoral Follow-Up: Personal Outreach

Pastors and church staff should personally reach out to each and all individuals who made decisions during the service. Prompt discussions about these decisions and next steps are critical. Consider organizing a lunch the following Sunday for new decision-makers to discuss next steps.

Sustained Effort: Persistence in Follow-Up

Persistence is key. For those who made decisions but may not respond initially, continue reaching out. Your consistent effort could be pivotal in their spiritual journey.

Celebration Milestone: A Special Baptism Day

Three weeks post-Easter, host a baptism event to encourage new believers to take their next step in faith. This event isn’t solely for recent converts; use it as a call to action for anyone in your church contemplating baptism.

Training for Continuity: Evangelism Event

Leverage the post-Easter enthusiasm by scheduling an evangelism training event in late April or May. This serves to equip your congregation for ongoing gospel engagement and encourages them to build upon the outreach momentum generated during Easter.

Conclusion: The Ripple Effect of a Plan in Motion

Follow-up isn’t just a courtesy; it’s a mission-critical strategy that amplifies the impact of Easter. By following these guidelines, your church can experience growth that surpasses all expectations, leading to a community increasingly engaged in the gospel message.

Remember, the success of Easter doesn’t end on Sunday. With a well-executed follow-up plan, you extend the reach of the resurrection celebration far beyond a single day.

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Published February 13, 2024