The Power of the Personal Invitation
Hang with me on this one, the statistics will matter :)
Back in the late 90s statistics gathered by Rainer Research Group said that 80% of the unchurched population would come to church if someone sincerely invited them. Recently, Lifeway Research, the relativity new arm of Lifeway started by Rainer released a study entitled "Americans open to outreach from churches."1
The new data gathered states that "67% of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be effective in getting them to visit a church. A personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would effectively reach 63%."2
What do these to studies conducted a decade apart show us? There is still power in the personal invitation. Though the numbers are lower in 2009 than they were in the 90s, the fact still remains that most people would come to church if someone would sincerely invite them.
Yet, as pointed out in the training of REACH Worldwide Ministries 80% of the unchurched have said they have never been invited to church.3
Hmmmm?
This also from REACH, 86% of people attracted to church come because of personal contact with a church member.
But did you know that only 21% of active church members will invite anyone to church in a year. And even more eye opening only 2% of active church members will invite an unchurched person to church.
There are people who do not go to church, who are willing if someone they know would invite them, yet we are not inviting.
"The primary lesson North American believers should learn from this research is that many of your unchurched friends are ready for an invitation to conversation," said Ed Stetzer, director of Lifeway Research. "Unbelievers next door still need a simple, personal invitation to talk, to be in community and to church. Clearly, relationships are important and work together with marketing."4
The Power of the Personal Invitation. Our students at the Creek know the phrase but let's get to it. Who is in your circle today that you can invite on Easter Sunday at the Creek? Who can God use you to reach starting with a simple invitation to join you at the Creek?
Ask them to come. Offer to meet them at the front door. Go out of your way to make them feel welcome. It may be the beginning of a new eternity for them and a new purpose for you.
1 Lifeway Research: Statistical Data Powerpoint
2 Lifeway Research: Americans open to outreach from churches
3 REACH Worldwide Ministries
4 Lifeway Research: Americans open to outreach from churches
