Back to Church Sunday is now the largest single local-church invitational initiative in the world. It is based on the simplest and shortest step in evangelism - that we should invite someone we already know to something we love; invite our friend to our church. The initial focus was to invite ‘back’ those who used to attend, but we want to ensure that anyone who doesn’t currently attend can be guaranteed a specially warm welcome. Our focus this year is on the personal invitation of one church member to one friend. This will inevitably raise a high media profile as tens of thousands of Christians offer this invitation at the same time.
BTCS has grown beyond all expectations since the first one in Greater Manchester in 2004, when a few Anglican Churches resolved to invite back to church members who had ceased attending. The invitation was built around the slogan "Missing You." That first year around 1,000 people returned to church, at least for that week. Since then the idea has taken hold throughout not just the Anglican Church, but many others as well. We, at St. David's, became involved last year, and on that Sunday around 20-30 people returned to church for one of our services.
Back to Church Sunday 2010 will be taking place on Sunday 26th of September
Some facts about Back to Church Sunday:
• Started in 2004 in Manchester with the message “Missing You”.
• Last year 37,000 extra people came for the Sunday (September 28th)
• Involves Anglican, United Reformed, Methodist, Baptist, Elim Pentecostal Churches
• Surveys suggest 3 million people in the UK (5%) would come to church if invited
• Up to 80% of 1st time visitors to church come because they are invited by a friend
• This year Back to Church Sunday takes place on the 27th September
For further information about the venture nationwide try clicking on this link for the national Back to Church website. And follow this link to a video to find out more about the resources available.
Come as You Are Resources from Back to Church Sunday on Vimeo.
New Faces from Back to Church Sunday on Vimeo.
