Resources
Raising awareness through large outreach events
Two years into our Dorking Church plant, Phil Sutherlandorganised a large outreach event, called “Concert for Easter” with Lou Fellingham and Phatfish. It was held in a local theatre/cinema called Dorking Halls from 8-10pm. 671 attended the event including our fifty church attendees. It attracted people from all ages just under half being youngsters.
Highlights of this outreach:
Staff comments
“It was the busiest the halls had been for ages, and it was great to see lots of young people attend.”
“We hope you do another one.”
Comments from unchurched guests
“Phatfish were top notch, very professional and what I heard made you think, it had to - the monologue, Lou’s story, the songs. We visited the family over the weekend and we couldn’t stop talking about it.” - His wife was in tears in the concert as she lost her mother last year and Lou’s testimony really spoke to her.
Two days later a couple looking for a church in the area turned up to our Sunday meeting.
There was a 60% increase in activity on our website in the 3 month build up to the event!
We broke even as far as the costs were concerned.
Phatfish are keen to help other churches with an outreach event, so for more details see their web site. (www.phatfish.net).
Our Vision
To provide an outreach for all local churches and therefore creating unity through generosity and inclusivity which nurtures a mindset of Kingdom growth not church growth. This ultimately produces a stepping stone to enable people to get closer to God.
We wanted to use the Halls for the following reasons:
* People feel less threatened in a bigger audience in a non church setting
* We wanted to take advantage of the publicity and Dorking Halls mailing list
* Phatfish have a following and need a large venue
* To help other churches by encouraging them in outreach
* Build an image of excellence and change the image of the church by increasing vision
* Show how church can have excellence and great facilities
* To build relationships with other churches
* To help people in other churches see other styles of church
* To fit in with the musical tradition and culture of the area as Music/Arts festivals are a feature of the area
* Building awareness
We started in June 2008 as the Halls are booked 9 months ahead.
Prayer started at this time and continued at every prayer meeting until the event.
Our marketing plan
Adverts in Halls brochure
We used Halls website
Google adverts to Vine website
We sent mailing materials to 100 churches, schools and youth clubs in the area
We sent a press release
Phatfish sent e-mails to their fans.
We focused on a twenty minute drive radius i.e. to impact immediate area.
Tickets were priced so as not to deter from attendance at £10 adult and £5 under 18’s concessions (senior citizens etc.)
Event page loaded onto our website www.thevinedorking.org.uk
Started a Google ad campaign, with the ads showing over four months 356,000 times with 197 click thrus to our site.
We added more key contacts to our mailing list, due to the end of November mailing going to the leader and no further. Youth leaders were not hearing about the Concert.
The Count down
8 weeks
Due to leader bottleneck on mailing, we took two days to drive round area with a poster/flyer pack for each of the 100 addresses. At least 30 out of 65 church leaders/administrators were seen and the pack and event explained with good reactions. They were asked to make this their outreach event and get their folk to invite a guest.
6 weeks
Vine folk delivered 1500 flyers through local doors.
4 weeks
A press release went to local paper. Phatfish emailed their fan base.
3 weeks
We widened the area and emailed many schools and churches up to 35 mins away.
By the end of February, 250 people had booked, so 63% of bookings came in last 4 weeks.
The Programme
The event needed to be entertaining but it also needed substance.
We designed the programme to include songs, drama, testimony (Lou) and audience participation in two songs.
All attendees received a free one page A4 size programme containing an outline programme, song words, and response form for Phatfish and advert for our next Alpha course.
This was not a ‘church inward’ event.
Phatfish can be used very effectively for a ‘soft evangelism’ event not just a ‘gig’ in a church setting.
Summary lessons
1. Think excellence – event, venue, etc
2. Start early
3. Pray
4. Serve other churches – think Kingdom
5. Get the word out and out again
6. Keep updating church with progress
7. Personal contact with local churches pays off more than just mailing
8. People book at last minute
9. Easy event to invite people to but need to really encourage folk to ask
10. Need a programme for local context and the time of year.
ENJOY YOUR OUTREACH!
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