Let’s face it, Easter Sunday is the Super Bowl for Church. Why? Because people are more inclined to go to church on this day than perhaps any other day on the calendar. This gives you and your team an incredible opportunity to reach new people with the Gospel and create a season of growth.

As I mentioned in part 1, people are most receptive to invitations to church from a friend on big days like this. Hopefully you’ve been preparing your people to pray for and invite those they know who need to meet Jesus. Our job as church leaders is to maximize this opportunity to present the Gospel and capture the attention of people who may be coming to church for the first time in a long time.

In part 2 of this 3-part series, we’ll talk about how to maximize and make the most of this opportunity on the day itself. Here are four things to keep in mind.

Create a Compelling Environment for Guests
First of all, consider what experience your guests will have that day. When you invite guests over to your house for dinner you prepare for them and try to put your best foot forward, right? It’s the same for your church on Easter. That means thinking through their experience when they arrive on campus, not just walking through the door. What expectations will they have of your service solely based on what they experience in your parking lot? When you think of a guest’s visit to your church from their car door all the way to the final prayer, it puts the whole day in perspective and communicates one central message.

So, what are some things you can practically do to help them have a great experience? Add parking lot attendants if you don’t have them already. With more guests, you’re bound to have more cars coming on campus, so think through how you’ll deal with the added congestion. Once they’re in the building, how will first-timers know where to go and what to do? Make sure all areas are clearly marked, especially the restrooms and kids check-in. 

Have lobby hosts ready to great people with a smile. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Play up the kid-friendly atmosphere of your children’s ministry and consider adding new elements like a petting zoo, interactive games or themed characters in the hallways. And make sure the check-in process runs smoothly and efficiently while highlighting your security measures that keep their children safe.

When you think of a guest’s visit to your church from their car door all the way to the final prayer, it puts the whole day in perspective and communicates one central message.

When the service starts, make sure its dynamic and energetic. If you’ve considered adding some creative elements to the service, this is a great week to do it, provided your team has practiced and is ready to execute. Make sure transitions are smooth, insider language is eliminated and the Word is relevant. Finally, consider a shorter service on big days like this. In my experience, most growing churches keep their service times between 65-75 minutes. And be sure to end on time!

Give Them a Reason to Return
What hook will you use to draw them back? One of the best ways to do this is by starting a new sermon series on Easter. This sets the pace for the next few weeks and whets their appetite to hear what else you have to share on this topic.

Consider planning a special event, like a cookout or a classic car show (which was a huge success at our church), as an attraction at the end of the series and a way to draw people back. 

Our church did a family photo booth one Easter. This made perfect sense because most families dress up on Easter. We then advertised that the pictures would be available for pick up the next week, ensuring that at least some would return, and providing a service for many families who wouldn’t otherwise have the time or money to have a family picture taken.

Above all, make the next steps clear. When and where is the newcomers class? What should those who responded to Christ do next? Is there a special time to meet the pastor, either after service or later in the month? How will I sign up for any of these? Be very clear with your answers to these or any other questions.

Make it Great for All Ages
If families are going to return to your church, the number one reason is because their kids found it exciting and engaging. And if they loved it, don’t worry – they’ll be telling their parents all about it. 

Easter is such a natural time for kid-centered outreach, whether it’s an egg hunt, an egg drop or whatever else you can think of to do with an egg. But the point is not just fun, it’s about participation over observation. Get each kid involved and make them feel wanted. That’s the key to children’s ministry that draws families back.

One other note. Make sure you have more than enough volunteers. An understaffed children’s area can be the worst message you ever send to visitors. How many volunteers do you think you’ll need? Add another ten percent. That’s a good rule of thumb.

Give People an Opportunity to Respond 
Finally, the day of Easter is more than just parking lots, photo booths and egg hunts. It’s about giving people a chance to encounter Jesus Christ. Without an opportunity for people to respond to a message of salvation, you run the risk of missing an open-minded moment for someone to make a decision for Christ.

Put in place decision teams who can pray with those responding to a call for salvation, or have decision cards for them to fill out. Be very strategic about follow up, starting with how to get information from those making decisions and then following through with a clear next step such as water baptism. 

As lead pastor, you should be framing a sermon that is both encouraging and evangelistic. Prepare for the harvest moment in your service and then practice it if you need to. Also, try to meet new guests that day after service, especially those who made a decision to follow Jesus.

Easter is a great opportunity to reach new people and a catalyst for growth. It’s also a time to think through new ways of doing church. Maybe one of the tweaks you make to your ministries on Easter will become a regular component going forward. But above all make sure Christ is exalted. When we lift him up, he draws people to himself.