Recently I’ve learned that there are a bunch of churches throughout the United States that are planning the same event as a result of reading a book. The book Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick of Elevation Church fame tells of when the church held an Easter Event where a helicopter dropped 50,000 plastic eggs on to hundreds of eager kids waiting below. The result of this event brought attention to the church and ultimately become a catalyst for growth for the church. Many churches read about this event in the book and without hesitation decided they should consider doing the same thing. After all it’s a really fresh idea that has proven results…at least for one church.
Most of the churches doing it this year will create a great event and promote it well in the their community. One thing is for sure, the event will surely bring more folks to the churches and there is a good chance that many folks will decide to visit these churches for the first time. It is then that the various churches better back up their event! It is then that those churches better have their A game on. Their parking better be adequate, the greeters better be friendly, the children’s ministry better be a major strength of the church and the worship better rock the house. Combine all of these and produce an engaging and relevant message and there is a good chance that the folks who tried the church out for the first time may just actually keep on coming back to the church and there’s even a good chance that life change will happen.
There is also something else quite for certain, the church could screw it up! They can promote the event like crazy and then half-way do the event. Worse, they can do the event and make it fairly good but half-way do church the next weekend. Truth is, the churches that are willing to do this type of event either have a deep hunger to reach people for Christ and are doing a pretty darn good job of doing it or they have a deep hunger to reach people for Christ but are doing a lousy job at doing it and are a bit desperate. It may be that the latter churches just don’t have the people, processes and programs in place to make their church work effectively. That’s the danger!
If you have a great event followed up by sub-par church you not only hurt your church you hurt the entire body of Christ. Repeat: If you have a great event followed up by sub-par church you not only hurt your church you hurt the entire body of Christ!! Don’t do a great event if your church can’t back it up…please! People will not be back to your church and they will etch yet another negative mark in their subliminal mind about church in general. The trouble is most people who are willing to attend an event held by a church (that are not Christians) probably have some sort of past with the church that they need to overcome. That’s my opinion of course, but I’ve seen it time and time again where people try church again with less than open arms and more of a “show me” attitude. If that’s the case – we better show them!
Another thing you must do is follow up! I’m not going to spend more than a sentence on this – FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE WHO ATTEND! Email them, send them a post card, of call them but what ever you do make it special and sincere and please invite them to church. Don’t assume they will be back there. That’s enough about that! You either get this or you don’t!
So with this all said: I have a simple formula for the church that decides that they want to do this type of event: Focus on getting your weekends right and then hold this type of event. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Now, if you must hold an event like this and your church isn’t really ready for the result, then pray that the people who do come to the event see where your needs are and are led or called to fill those areas. The result might ultimately mean better weekends…who knows, this might be Gods plan to start with! I personally think that God is going to bless an event like this regardless, I just believe that we should have ourselves prepared for the results as not to seem bigger than we are and deemed foolish by the masses.
Opinion alert: All churches should consider the impact of this type of event done on a larger scale as a result of a cooperative effort between several churches in a community. The result I believe would be much more impactful for the Kingdom at large. More on that in later blogs.
For now – let’s celebrate Easter with a good news of our risen savior and let the eggs drop where they may!
Blessings,
Brian
Be Care Full! 
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