For the sixth time, around 30,000 churches are expected to be participating in the Back to Church Sunday movement, an event in which churches will be holding special services specifically catered to welcoming families, friends, and neighbors to come to church. In 2013, "more than 21,000 churches from all 50 states, over 120 denominations, and over 90 countries worldwide" participated in the event.
"Back to Church Sunday began in 2009 in response to a survey research that indicated 82% of people said they would attend church if someone they knew invited them, but only 2% of church members were inviting people to come with them to their church," said the event website.
After the event in 2013, the organization also conducted a survey, from which they found that participating churches saw an average of 31% increase in attendance on Back to Church Sunday. 84% of the churches said that this outreach event motivated their members to invite people to come to church.
"The campaign reinvigorated and encouraged our members to invite people to church," said a member from First Baptist Penn Hills in a survey.
Another survey response from Auburn Baptist Church in Virginia expressed similar results. "Our church was full, our classes were full of children and our parking lot was overflowing."
There is no fee for a church to be able to participate in this event. The website provides various resources for their promotional use, such as custom postcards, videos, door hangers, invitations, posters, banners, and T-shirts. It also provides guidance on how to register and be a part of this event as a church, an individual, or a denomination.
For more information, visit www.backtochurch.com.
