Religion and spirituality have taken their hits in recent decades as church attendance dwindles and it becomes more difficult than ever to connect on a real and meaningful level.
Only 50% of Americans report being affiliated or belonging to a specific religion. So how do you get people into the pews and faith in people’s hearts?
Keep reading for church marketing ideas to help fill your church pews and inspire your parishioners.
Answers to Life’s Questions
Individuals usually turn to their higher power and look for God when they are searching for answers to life’s big questions.
Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Why do bad things happen if there is a God that loves us?
It is often a tragedy or a crisis in life that will have people seeking out the comfort and support of their Creator. Seeking answers after a loved one dies or a personal trial causes strife in their life.
Offering answers and comfort in times of need is a way to gain a personal and intimate connection with those who attend.
Many individuals have never stepped foot in a church or even opened the Bible, they aren’t aware of the incredible comfort and blessings that a spiritual relationship with God can bring to one’s life.
Marketing material that opens the minds and hearts to realize that God is truly their Creator and wants to empower and bless them in the lives they’ve been given will help tempt the curiosity of those looking for answers.
Children and Youth Program
Some of the most successful church programs are geared toward children and youth. Creating a strong and positive youth program can not only attract children to your church but also get parents in the door.
Aside from times of tragedy, children are often the catalyst for adults questioning their own spiritual and religious path. Those who want to provide their children and teens with a strong basis of faith and spiritual guidance will be searching for a church that focuses on and nurtures youth.
Marketing material that promotes your youth programs and speaks directly to the needs and concerns of children in the world today can help pique the interest of children and their guardians.
Children with a strong spiritual and religious understanding and belief are less likely to face many of the problems of society such as addiction, crime, and depression.
In fact, youth with strong spiritual beliefs are 60% less likely to suffer from depression and those that do struggle with it tend to go in remission and find comfort more quickly than those with no religious or spiritual belief.
Church Marketing Ideas for Community Events
There are many community events held throughout the year that you could take advantage of to connect with the people in your neighborhood.
Whether it’s a Christmas carnival or a summer festival, you can always set up a booth or even just have members handing out pamphlets and saying hello. Making a personal connection is important if you want someone to feel comfortable walking into your church for the first time.
Community events can help the members of your congregation make connections with others and personally invite individuals to church activities and Sunday services.
Church Activities and Community Service
One of the best ways to endear your church and your members to the community is to show them some love.
It used to be that the local church was the social and physical gathering place for communities. It was also where the community would turn when there was a need in the neighborhood.
A kind act of service not only improves life for the ones who receive and give the act of kindness but also anyone who witnesses it. Kindness is contagious and you can actually start a revolution of Christlike love by setting an example for the community.
Any act of service you give is an opportunity to connect with individuals and to invite them to your church services and activities.
Social Media Church Marketing Ideas
In today’s world if you want to connect with someone and attract attention, the best place to do it in cyberspace.
Taking advantage of social media and the power of the internet can give your church a worldwide audience. Social media pages for your church can help you engage with thousands of God’s children at the same time.
You can use social media as a great way to attract visitors to your church website where you can tell them about the activities and coming events at your church.
It’s not hard or expensive to create a website or to gain followers and if you are entertaining and informative enough you could even go viral and have millions heading to your website to see more.
If your church doesn’t have a website yet don’t worry it’s easy to do with a church website builder.
Compassion and Christlike Love
One of the most effective ways to get people in the pews of your church is to truly practice what you preach.
Most of the people who walk away from their religion or church do so because of the people in the pews next to them judging them, not because they all of a sudden don’t believe anymore.
If you want to fill your pews you need to do outreach and show love to those who are there every week and those who haven’t been in years. Find a way to show them Christlike love.
If your members are living the gospel and truly trying to live a Christlike life, that power of heaven will do more to get people in the doors than any marketing campaign you could ever hold.
Just look at the Christmas campaign to Light the World where members of the church are encouraged to perform acts of service and love for others in their family, church, community and world.
The internet helps them create a united and inspired effort to love others. They get people in the pews because they loved them first.
Church Marketing Ideas That Inspire
Your church marketing ideas can inspire more than just a few in your neighborhood. Done right you can inspire the world.
Be sure to bookmark our site for easy access to all our inspirational tips.
