The document discusses implementing a "Church Invitation Outreach Program" using the SendOutCards.com platform to encourage church members to invite friends and family to church events through personalized greeting cards. It provides examples of card designs and automated follow-up campaigns. Research shows personal invitations are much more effective at attracting first-time visitors than advertising. The program aims to increase attendance, build community, and retain new members through ongoing connection. A pilot test with volunteer members is proposed to evaluate the program.

2. The problem (and opportunity!) What the program is… Benefits to your church... How the program works… The system (features, costs)… Next Steps… What we’ll cover in this brief overview…

3. Some Interesting Statistics

4. 2. In the past 6 months have you been invited to a church service by a friend or family member? YES NO 76% 24% 1. If a good friend or family member invited you to attend a church service with them, would you? People Will Attend, But No One Invites Them… YES NO 30% 70% Source: Marketing Best Practices Inc. 2008 Survey

5. A recent survey from the Tearfund has found that one in seven adults in the UK attends a Christian church each month, while nearly three million more people say they would attend church if only they were asked . The same survey found... The survey also shows that three million people who have stopped going to church or who have never been in their lives would consider attending if they were given the right invitation . Source: Survey: Churchgoing in the UK, Tearfund, March 2006. 3 Million Would Attend If Invited…

6. How do new adult church members come to join a community of faith? Quite simply, by invitation. While the majority of existing members are in their present congregations because it is nearby or they grew up in it, most newcomers without a church background joined as a result of a personal invitation from a friend, relative or church member . Mission strategies which rely on impersonal approaches are far less successful: the majority of newcomers DO NOT join congregations because of advertising, publicity or high visibility. Source: NCLS Research - Kaldor, P., 2002, Connections for Life: core qualities to foster in your church Openbook. How Do New Adults Join Churches?

7. High growth churches that attract and keep newcomers tend to have certain characteristics, according to the research findings found in the study: “Why People Don’t Go to Church.” Here are the top three: 1. A sense of vision or direction. 2. Leaders who empower members. 3. Members who invite others to church. Quote from Researchers: “To be more effective in the community, there are a range of things a church can do. The first, and perhaps the most obvious is for churches to encourage church members to invite others .” Source: The research was conducted by Perth’s Edith Cowan University and National Church Life Survey Research. Churches that Attract Newcomers…

8. I asked a young friend how he was enjoying his church; he admitted that he loved it but was bothered by the fact that the church wasn’t growing. I asked him why it wasn’t growing; he acted bewildered and said, “I have no idea.” “ Yes, you do,” I challenged him. “You know why it’s not growing.” After a silence, I asked, “When was the last time you invited someone?” “ Well, it’s been a long time,” he said ashamedly. “Why don’t you invite people?” He shuffled his feet and said, “I don’t know.” “Yes, you do,” I said. “The reason you don’t invite people is the same reason why your church is not growing.” Unfortunately, most people are not intimidated about being Christians. They are intimidated about inviting people to their church. The simple truth is that if an invitation is hard to make, for whatever reason, fewer people will be invited . Richard Reising, author of Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth People Are Intimidated to Invite…

9. … of growing your church is to focus on creating a culture of “inviting” and giving your members a simple system to help them invite their friends and family members in a non-threatening way.

10. First Time Invitation Follow Up to Come Back Retention: Member for Life

11. Ability to reach out to local residents by leveraging the relationships of existing members rather than cold marketing. Gives members opportunities to be involved and excited about witnessing and missionary work. Motivates people to come back to church after their first visit that results in a lifetime member. Helps members to feel as though they are needed and special and part of a larger family church unit, which keeps them coming back week after week. Decreases cost and labor burden to church. Acts as a source of “member involved” fundraising. Benefits of the “Church Invitation Outreach Program?”

12. First Time Invitation

13. What is the “Church Invitation Outreach Program?” The “Church Invitation Outreach Program” is a program in which members send greeting cards to invite their friends to church meetings and special events. Family Friends

14. How does “Church Invitation Outreach Program?” work? The church creates a card design in their SendOutCards.com account and transfers the card to member’s accounts and the members edit the cards and send them to their family and friends. SendOutCards.com

15. Inside of Card Sample # 1 Front of Card

16. Sample # 2

17. Sample # 3

18. Sample # 4

19. Which invitation do you think will attract more first time visitors? A “religious” advertising postcard from a church they don’t know? A personal invitation from a trusted friend? Fact: 47% of first time church visitors attended because they were invited by a friend. Only 6% came for the first time due to advertising. Source: US Congregation Life Survey on fast growing churches.

20. Follow Up to Come Back

21. “ First Time Visitor Follow Up” Program Invite Family Follow Up 1 Follow Up 2 Follow Up 3 Follow Up 4 Follow Up 5 Come Back Fact: 38% report no follow-up from the church after their first time visit! Source: US Congregation Life Survey on fast growing churches.

22. “ Member Reactivation Follow Up” Program

23. Retention: Member for Life

24. “ The bottom line for many people in staying with a church or switching churches is - - ‘ Do I have a group of people who I am connected to in a meaningful way?’ If the answer is “yes” they will stay with a church through the normal up’s and down’s and even through very bad times. If, however, the answer is “no”; it won’t take much for those people to start shopping around for something different.” Study: Glenmary Research Center, Religious Congregations and Membership, 2000 Reported by “Church Growth Magazine: Religious Mobility” What Keeps a Person Staying with a Church?

25. The Key to Retention is Member-to-Member Relationships

26. “ Send Your Love” Program Battling Breast Cancer Kathleen is battling breast cancer and if you could send a card it would be appreciated. Her name is Kathleen Kass, 10315 W. Dreyer Place, Greenfield, Wi 53228 Double Bypass Surgery My mom celebrated her 68th birthday the day after getting out of the critical care unit. Your cards of encouragement to get well and your acknowledgement of prayers are certainly appreciated. Zelma Phillips 14241 Midlothian Turnpike, # 106 Midlothian, VA 23113

27. “ Member Birthday Card” Program David Frey – 16th Janine Spicer – 24th John LaCross – 3rd Ingrid Tam – 21st Larry Mangum – 15th Jerry Inglewood – 16th Mary Swayze – 30th August Birthdays

28. Finished the Houston Marathon! James Mangum finished his first Houston Marathon. Way to go James! Got High Scores on ACT Test! Mary Price scored a 30 on her ACT making it one of the highest test scores in the state of Texas. Way to go Mary! Got her Degree! Tanika Williamson recently graduated from the U. of Houston and got her degree. Way to go Tanika! Was the Highest Scorer! Tyrone Lawson was the highest scorer this year on the Mayfield High School basketball team. Way to go Tyrone! “ Way to Go” Program

29. What Exactly Is SendOutCards.com?

30. Send Out Cards Is an Internet-Based Greeting Card Relationship Marketing System

31. Send Out Cards Allows You To… … send completely customized greeting cards with your own photos…

32. … in your own personal handwriting…

33. … with his own personal signature…

34. … and you can set up fully automated “sequential” follow up campaigns… Follow Up 1 Follow Up 2 Follow Up 3 Follow Up 4 Follow Up 5

35. … and it also allows you to send gift cards, books and even gifts like brownies with your cards!

36. Card catalog of over 12,000 cards. Contact management system Automated card campaigns Automatically sends birthday and anniversary cards Sends gifts (food, gift cards, books) Ability to create custom photo cards Your own handwriting font and personal signature Includes a referral fee / usage rebate program Very inexpensive The System (SendOutCards.com) SendOutCards.com is an internet-based system that sends physical greeting cards through the postal system. SendOutCards.com

37. You can also brand the system for your own church as well!

38. 233+ Inspirational Christian-Based Greeting Cards

39. ( Family ) First Time Visitor Follow Up Campaigns ( Young Adult ) First Time Visitor Follow Up Campaigns “ Already Done for You” Greeting Card Campaigns

40. NO LABOR COSTS! Card Cost 2 Points = $.62 + $.42 (postage) = $1.04 3 Points = $.93 + $.42 (postage) = $1.35 1 Point = $.31 + $.26 (postage) = $.57

41. $120 - $245 Referral Fee 2% - 15% Usage Rebate Built In Referral Fee / Usage Rebate Program SendOutCards.com uses a network marketing business model to promote its system. The company pays the user a percentage on the volume of cards that are sent and pays referral fees when people sign up. You receive referral fees and usage rebates from people that sign up in your organization.

42. 3 Ways to Sign Up Retail Package $99 Wholesale Package $298 $31/mo. Entrepreneur Package $398 $31/mo. Picture Plus Wholesale Pricing Lifetime Use License Handwriting Font 4 Personal Signatures Start with 100 Cards Referral Program

43. Let’s Do a Pilot Test with a Few Faithful Members! Next Steps…

44. The Pilot Test Free Gift Account Free Gift Account Free Gift Account Entrepreneur Account

45. Would You Like a Personal Demo?

46. Please Get Back to the Person Who Sent You to this Video