How to Invite Someone to Church

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 2, 2023 References

Church services help bring together people of a shared faith for worship as well as community-building activities. Some people invite friends and family members who are either practicing Christians from another church or Christians who have lapsed in their church attendance altogether. Others invite non-Christians to church in the hope that those invited might enjoy the experience and become practicing Christians. Whomever you reach out to, it's important to be respectful and kind when you invite someone to join you at your church.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Diversifying Your Invitations

1
Extend a verbal invitation. Verbal invitations probably account for the majority of church discoveries between individuals. Preaching the Word and speaking about your faith with a friend are two of the most common verbal invitations people use to invite others to a faith community.
- Speak with kindness and sincerity.
- Let others know about all the fun things your faith community participates in. There may be raffles, fundraisers, community meals, community projects (often involving charitable acts), and even musical events.
2
Host a community event. An indirect approach, especially community events like a lawn fete or barbecue, is a great way to invite non-church members to your faith community. These community events generate money for the church, bring the community together, and allow non-churchgoers to mingle with parishioners in a low-stakes environment.^{[1]
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- Put up flyers and advertise in your local newspaper to generate community interest in your event.
- Focus on creating a fun event. Don't worry about making it "religious" - if non-churchgoers have a fun time with the priest/pastor and parishioners, they'll develop an organic interest in learning more about your church, and current parishioners at other area churches may decide to join your parish.
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3
Use printed invitations. Some faith communities find that a printed invitation is highly successful for getting non-churchgoers to attend. That's because it provides the individual with a concrete, tactile reminder of your church's events, along with any relevant information about dates/times of service.
- Choose an ideal size. Some churchgoers find that four inches by six inches is big enough to include an image while still being small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag.
- Combine images and text. Try using one large image for the invitation's background that will catch a viewer's attention. You may want to use an image of the church, a religious icon, a nature photograph, or even some visual image from contemporary popular culture. The text should be short and to the point, and it should pull someone in who has been drawn to the image.
- Hand them out in bundles of two or three. That way the person you give them to can help further distribute your invitations to others.^{[2]
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4
Work in groups. A one-on-one approach is probably best for inviting your friends or family members, but what about strangers? It can be intimidating to approach people you don't know, and it may be difficult to get a stranger to trust you after one short conversation. However, working as part of a team can make it easier to approach strangers, and will increase the chances that if you cannot answer the individual's questions, someone else will.^{[3]
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- Being in a group can give you confidence, and the person you approach will notice the sense of community and camaraderie between you and your fellow churchgoers.
5
Hold a church-wide campaign. If you're interested in really promoting your faith community to non-churchgoers, consider talking to your priest or pastor about encouraging others to invite outsiders. You could suggest organizing a monthly "invite someone to church" day, and have your priest/pastor discuss different ways to invite others during church services. If everyone in your congregation brought one non-churchgoer to mass, it would fill the church up with fresh faces and renewed interest.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Inviting Current and Former Christians

1
Identify potential churchgoers. The first step to inviting someone to your church is to identify individuals who would be open to attending services but do not currently go. This will most likely be someone you know who is a practicing Christian who attends services at another church, or someone who still identifies as a Christian but has stopped attending services. The easiest people to approach with an invitation will probably be:
- family members
- friends
- coworkers or classmates
- neighbors^{[4]
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2
Decide when to invite them. Before you actually approach someone about attending church, you may want to consider when would be an ideal occasion. Having a firm date in mind will make it easier to invite someone. Instead of a general open invitation, you can name a specific date and ask if that person is free to join you.
- Many non-churchgoers prefer to attend church services on a Sunday morning. Weekdays may be difficult, whereas Sundays are often a leisure day for most people who work Monday through Friday.^{[5]
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- If it's near Christmas time, an Advent or Christmas mass would be an ideal occasion. If it's near Easter, consider a Lent or Easter mass. Religious holidays like Christmas make non-churchgoers more open to attending services.^{[6]
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3
Pray for guidance. As a practicing Christian, you know that prayer can be an important way to ask for guidance or to request a certain outcome of events. Inviting someone to church should be no exception. As you pray, ask for God's help identifying the right people, as well as the appropriate time to ask - ideally when that person is most open to worship (which only God would know). You should also pray for inspiration and eloquence, so that you can best serve your faith and your community by offering the best invitation you're capable of.^{[7]
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- You can pray independently for guidance and inspiration, or ask your priest/pastor for his prayers to help you on your mission.
4
Extend an invitation. Once you've identified someone who would be open to attending church and chosen a specific date, you can offer a polite invitation to come with you to church. You should be courteous and respectful, even if the person declines your invitation. It may just be the wrong time, and that individual may be open to joining you in the future if you show a little patience. Remember that you are an ambassador for your faith and your community, and with that role comes great responsibility.
- Ask politely and work sequentially to turn a potential "no" into a confident "yes."
- Begin by offering the person you'd like to invite some small personal gift, like a plate of home-made cookies.
- Try to establish a stronger friendship/relationship with that individual. Invite that person to social gatherings at your house, and ask her permission to pray for her and her family.
- Ask politely if it would be okay to invite that individual's kids to a church function. Tell her you think it would be a great way to meet other kids in the area and have a safe, fun time.
- Ask politely and respectfully if that individual would be open to attending church with you some time. If she says yes, invite her for the date you've chosen. If she says no, be respectful of her decision and try to remain a close and loyal friend.^{[8]
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5
Accept the person's answer. If the individual you've asked agrees to attend church with you, then you've obviously approached the right person at the right time. Go with her to church services and introduce her to as many people as you can after mass to make her feel welcome. If the individual says no, that's okay too. You still have an obligation as a person of faith to show that individual love, kindness, and respect.^{[9]
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- Collect your thoughts before you respond to a "no." Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Perhaps it's just not the right time for that individual, or perhaps she's had negative experiences at church in the past. Either way, it is not a reflection on you or your abilities.
- Try to keep your emotions in check. Don't get upset if a person rejects your offer. Remember that you have an obligation to be an ambassador of Christian values, and that includes being kind to others without any strings attached.^{[10]
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- Extend an open invitation, even if the person says no. You can say something respectful and inviting, such as "That's okay, I respect your decision. Just know that if you ever change your mind, my invitation always stands."

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Welcoming Non-Christians

1
Identify those in need of church. Anyone can be invited to church, but some people are easier to reach out to than others. The people closest to you are probably aware of your faith, and may even be curious about it.^{[11]
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Research source} For this reason, you may want to think carefully about which people in your life are most likely to be open to attending church.
- Family members are the most likely to know about your faith, and may have questions or a sincere desire to share in your weekly worship.
- Extended family are a good branching out point after you've reached out to your immediate relatives. This may include uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. These individuals know and trust you, and may be open to joining you and your family for worship.
- Close friends are another good branching out point. You most likely have a close bond of intimacy and trust that can help you invite these individuals to share in your faith.
- Neighbors may be ideal people to approach. These individuals know and trust you. They also live in close proximity to you, which means they probably live in close proximity to your place of worship.
- Coworkers and classmates are a big jump from family,friends, and neighbors. These individuals may not know you very well, which means you may have to work harder to gain their trust and recognize their needs for faith or community.
- Strangers will be very difficult to invite to church. These individuals do not know you or have any kind of relationship with you. You may assume someone you meet is in need of faith or a spiritual community, but it can be hard to appeal to that person's needs if they don't already know you on some level.
2
Recognize life changes. The easiest non-Christians to invite to church are those who have undergone a significant life experience recently. Religion and faith bring people comfort during tumultuous life events, especially in the wake of any kind of loss or change.^{[12]
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Research source} Some life events that may offer an opportunity to invite someone to church include:
- the death of a loved one
- a recent relocation/change of residency
- a new job or school
- a recent marriage
- the recent birth of a child
- a recent divorce
- family problems
- a major illness (either for the individual herself or someone she knows)^{[13]
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3
Pray for guidance and opportunities. As part of your regular prayers, consider asking for God's guidance as you seek out people to invite to church. You may want to ask that God guide you to individuals who are most in need of faith, or you may simply want to ask for guidance in recognizing and capitalizing on ideal opportunities. You can also pray for inspiration and eloquence, so that God will guide you to offer the best invitation you're capable of.^{[14]
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- Any social event could be an opportunity. For example, attending your children's sporting events could put you in touch with other parents who might be looking for a good church to take their own kids to.
- If you spend a lot of time volunteering somewhere (say, for example, a hospital), you may want to consider inviting people you meet at your volunteer site. Let your selfless volunteer work be an example of the faith principles you live by, and be a positive ambassador for Christ.
4
Offer an invitation. If you're inviting a non-Christian to church, it may be difficult to immediately win that individual over. She may have preconceived notions of what church is supposed to be like (which may be unappealing to her), or she may simply have no initial desire to be a part of a faith group. For this reason, it may be easier to invite a non-churchgoer incrementally by first inviting her to social functions and working your way up to mass.
- Try socializing with the individual a little. Invite her to coffee or lunch, and show a sincere interest in whatever is going on in that person's life.
- Invite the individual to a church function. If your church has a donation drive, ask if she'd like to be a part of the effort. You might also try inviting the individual to a potluck dinner or a bingo event.
- Work your way towards inviting the individual to an actual church service. Try using some special occasion for your invitation, like a holiday service, a mass with a children's choir, or a mass with some type of special music (like a folk choir). This can be a good icebreaker for attending church, as it shows the individual something fun and engaging while also welcoming that individual into the community.^{[15]
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- Remember to respect the individual's choice. If she does not want to go, or if she goes and does not like church, that's okay. You can take comfort in the fact that you extended an invitation to a non-churchgoer, and you've been a good ambassador for your faith. Just be sure to continue to show that individual respect and love.

Community Q&A

Question

I am from Kabul, Afghanistan and I can't find a church, how can I be a Christian?

Community Answer

Anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior is a Christian. Worship at home, read the Bible if possible, and live by the example of Jesus.
Question

What should I do if I want to invite some friends to church camp but their parents won't let them go?

Community Answer

If that's so, you could invite other friends to church camp instead. It's unfortunate, but you can't change your friends' parents' decisions. You could also try asking again next year.
Question

How would I write to a person suggesting that they join our church?

Community Answer

It really depends on how well you know this person. If you know them personally, casually invite them to begin attending your church; if you barely know them, or don't know them at all, keep the invitation more formal in its wording. Overall, don't stress - God has a plan for his people, and will use you according to His plan. The creator of the universe is on your side!