Posted Thursday 29 May 2008
Back to Church Sunday has reached thousands of lapsed churchgoers since it began a few years ago. This year it will be introduced in Scotland, and training has already started. Helen Ball, of the diocesan Mission Core group, was one of four Glasgow & Galloway delegates to attend the recent interchurch training conference in Edinburgh. She writes...
Since this exciting initiative was pioneered in the Diocese of Manchester four years ago, hundreds of churches from all kinds of denominations have joined to encourage new people to come along to church.
Four delegates from our diocese recently attended an interchurch training conference in Edinburgh, where Michael Harvey, Back to Church Sunday developer, explained all about it.
On Back to Church Sunday, at the end of September, participating churches make a special effort to be really visitor-friendly.
In the run-up to the day, everyone in the congregation is praying and thinking about a friend to invite. Local media help to publicise what the church is doing.
This easy-to-use mission venture shows that the personal invitation really works. Newcomers are more likely to come if they know that other newcomers will be there too. It appeals to older people and younger people.
Nearly 2,000 churches took part last year; nearly 20,000 people came back to church. And nine out of ten of them said they would come again.
Back to Church Sunday will be facilitated in Scotland by ACTS this year. For information e-mail Lindsey Sanderson at ACTS () or contact a member of your diocesan Mission Core Group.
To see more about Back to Church Sunday and its resources to help churches reach out, visit www.backtochurch.co.uk.
Category: Mission Core Group
