- 1. Consider Your Use of Imagery
- 2. Go Door-to-Door Dressed as the Easter Bunny
- 3. Plan an Easter Fun Day for Kids
- 4. Make Easter Goodie Baskets
- 5. Host an Easter Family Luncheon
- 6. Host an Easter Egg Hunt
- 7. Share a Video of Your Easter Event
Easter is an important day for those who serve Jesus Christ. It is a day of celebration and thankfulness for His death, burial, and most importantly, His resurrection. However, to many Easter does not revolve around Jesus. Instead it is all about the Easter bunny and a search for colorful plastic eggs. Considering this, reaching the community with the gospel becomes a little challenging. In order to make an impact with your Easter outreach, give people the fun-filled Easter they want, but fill it with what they NEED – Jesus. Here are some great ideas to make your Easter outreach stand out from the crowd.
1. Consider Your Use of Imagery
While it is always good to pass out Easter outreach materials with religious looking imagery, your materials may be immediately rejected by those you are trying to reach. Try using images people will easily relate to the Easter they know. For example, this pastel colored door hanger with a bunny. It if looks like something they want, they are far more likely to take it from you.
2. Go Door-to-Door Dressed as the Easter Bunny
What could stand out more than having the Easter bunny show up to your house? This is an especially great idea if you are planning to have an Easter egg hunt at your church. Dressing as the Easter bunny could be just the thing that grabs attention and makes people want to come. Make sure your invitations have the gospel message on them so even if they do not attend, you still reached them with gospel. The Easter door hangers will work great for that!
3. Plan an Easter Fun Day for Kids
Much like Vacation Bible School in the summer, plan a fun Easter day for kids. It can be several hours long packed with Easter fun. Fill the day with an Easter egg hunt, crafts, games, and most importantly, the Easter story. When parents pick up their kids, invite their parents back the next day for your Easter service. Make sure they do not leave without a tract!
4. Make Easter Goodie Baskets
Many parents like to give their children Easter baskets filled with goodies on Easter morning. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to do this for their children. Ask church members to donate the Easter baskets, eggs and candy. Assemble as many baskets as you can and include some gospel tracts, of course. Get the word out that you have Easter baskets for any child who needs one. Have parents come pick them up or ask for volunteers to deliver them. This gives you the opportunity to witness to anyone who wants a basket and invite them to your Easter service.
5. Host an Easter Family Luncheon
Who could pass up delicious ham, potatoes, macaroni and cheese and all the other yummy foods traditionally served on Easter? Invite your community to enjoy an Easter meal with you. Plan it directly before or after the Easter service, and list both times on your invitation so people can attend both.
6. Host an Easter Egg Hunt
Send out postcard invites to the community to search for eggs hidden all over your church property. This will give you the opportunity to get the gospel out two ways; have the gospel message on the back of your invitations and pass out Easter themed tracts at the Easter egg hunt.
7. Share a Video of Your Easter Event
Document your Easter outreach event with high quality photos and videos. Include a little bit of each part of your event (e.g., egg hunt, meal, crafts, Easter service). You can even put up a sign encouraging those in attendance to take and submit their own photos to add to the video.
Shortly after the event is over, make a video montage with the photos and videos. Post the video to your website and Facebook page, and ask people to share it. With this video, your reach will be far greater than your single event could ever be. People are likely to share the video if they see themselves, or their children in it, or if you use photos they took.
This video will be especially useful for future outreach efforts. As the next Easter approaches, share the video again and let people know your plans for that Easter.
Easter Outreach Follow Up
When guests attend your Easter service or event, try to have them fill out a visitor or connection card. That way you can follow up with them later. Send them a letter asking if they would like to know more about Jesus, or about your church. Include a tract so they have one more chance at receiving the gospel.