There is nothing more thrilling for a short, white guy (such as myself) that can’t dunk a basketball than a breakaway layup. It’s an exhilarating moment where your brain pictures you jumping higher than you actually are, and looking way more graceful than what people are actually watching. It makes no difference, it’s still a great feeling!
Over the weekend we had Easter Sunday, 2011! It was an absolute layup for churches all over the Southeast. I think every tweeting and facebooking Pastor said the same thing, “This was our highest attendance ever!” This is a tremendous show of humility for Senior Pastors who think using actual numbers makes them look prideful. 
It’s a great feeling to have this kind of win under your belt. Let’s be honest, Easter Sunday in America should be a layup for your church. People who are ‘unchurched’ or ‘de-churched’ are open to attend Easter Sunday. Since God’s word never returns void, getting as many folks in the door and hearing the resurrection story as possible is a huge part of spreading the Kingdom. I hope you nailed it, and that your church got to be a part of a great harvest for the family of God.
The second easiest shot for short, white people in basketball is supposed to be a free throw. However, it doesn’t seem to always happen that way. The key to shooting free throws at a high percentage is pretty simple, do the same thing every time you step to the line. Dribble the ball the same amount of times in the same cadence every time. Hold the ball for the same amount of time. Look at the same part of the basket you always do. Do everything the same way in the same order every time. If you do that your percentage will go up, guaranteed. You can be the most amazing, lead-footed, free throw shooter in your rec league. How is this possible?
I think my friend Tony Morgan would say it this way, ‘Systems create behavior’. So here’s an Easter question; What system do you have in place for following up with people after Easter? If you have something in place to follow up with people after the biggest event of your week, which for every church should be Sunday, your percentage of success should slowly go up every time.
Here are a couple of rules for bringing up your percentage:
Every Day Counts – If you can follow up within 24 hours you will most likely see that person again. At 48 and 72 hours you still have a good opportunity to build a relationship with some new folks. After that, go ahead and put a message out to other churches that ‘The Smith’s’ are looking for a church, and you decided not to call them back.
Make It Personal – Emails are great. A form letter from the Senior Pastor is about as cool as it sounds, but voice to voice contact still seems to work best. Even if you just leave a voicemail that says, ‘Thanks for coming’, you’ve done more than a lot of people do. Actual conversations can lead to way more ministry than an auto call or a ‘do not reply to this address‘ email.
Fear Not – Lots of thoughts may go through your head about not wanting to call at the wrong time or spamming people. Get over it! Lots of organizations far less important that the local church will call and email people mercilessly to get them in the fold.
A Reason To Return – People need to know that you are going to be teaching something out of God’s word that’s going to impact their lives and their families. Don’t let ‘em think Easter is the only bullet you have in your gun. At West Ridge, we told people that this Sunday we are going to Make War! You can go here to check that out!
My hope is that after ‘The Biggest Sunday Ever Told’ we can see church attendance trend up, greater growth for disciples no matter where they are in their journey, and communities being impacted by God’s love on an enormous scale.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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