An evangelistic Easter

by Toby Frost, North American Mission Board and David Wheeler, Liberty Theological Seminary

Did you know that "Joy to the World" was originally written as a song for Easter, not Christmas! Think about it, the resurrection is the most important and joyous event in all of history!

Easter is also the one day of the year when unchurched people feel a strange obligation to attend worship. Unfortunately, according to shrinking baptismal statistics over the last few years, we are obviously not doing a very good job of connecting these people beyond Easter itself. With that in mind, please consider the following process as you prepare for Easter this year.

Plowing the fields
Plan for Easter several months ahead by having your congregation secure a list of unchurched neighbors, friends and family, then commit to pray for them every day. You might also consider prayerwalking the neighborhoods in your area. Don't forget this important step in making an impact in your community. Prayer can break down barriers you're not even aware of and open doors to sharing the gospel.

Begin to plant the fields
Encourage your congregation to start serving their immediate community. For instance, what if each family in your congregation started eight weeks before Easter and cooked a meal each week for a different unchurched neighbor? They could also mow a neighbor's yard and trim their shrubs. We have touched many neighbors through my wife's apple dumplings and a willingness to pull weeds, paint, help with school projects, whatever it takes to get involved in people's lives. The key is to have fun and show people that you care about developing genuine relationships.

Prepare for the "harvest" to come
Aside from the Easter service itself, evangelistic block parties are still an exciting option on the Saturday before Easter. The event combines food, music, games, inflatable moonwalks, face-painting and prizes along with a witnessing strategy to introduce attendees to Christ and to your church. For more information, make sure to secure a Block Party Manual free of charge from the North American Mission Board.

Along with the block party, you can also host a community-wide Easter egg hunt. Make sure to take pictures of the children with their families and let them know that the pictures will be ready to pick up the next day at church. Or . . . use the pictures as a valid excuse to schedule a visit with the families attending the event. Make sure to take fresh baked goods in order to "sweeten" the visit.

As for the Easter service, make sure that the church families are prepared to host the guests who will attend as a result of their earnest prayers and service. You might even go as far as offering some church funds for a few families to cover some of the cost of feeding their neighbors or taking them out for an Easter meal. Every guest should be given the option and be made to feel special. I assure you, it will be money well spent. The "harvest" is always worth it.