The Thorn Planning Guide by Outreach Inc

The Thorn Easter Experience Planning Guide Copyright © 2012 by Outreach Publishing Published in partnership with The Thorn LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission from the authors, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Outreach, Inc., Vista CA 92081 Outreach.com All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America

Contents Overview of The Thorn Easter Experience.......................5 About The Thorn..........................................................6 Benefits for Your Congregation and Community...............7 Inspire Your Congregation Reach Your Community

Inside The Thorn Easter Experience Church Kit..............9 Implementing The Thorn Easter Experience..................13 Suggested Order of Service Using the Digital Resources During the Service

Steps to Success.......................................................18 Pray Plan Promote Plug In

Overview of the thorn easter experience This year, what if your church didn’t just listen to the Easter story—what if they became witnesses? Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gathered His disciples on a hillside and gave them some final instructions. He told His followers they would become His witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world. Essentially, Jesus was saying, “You have seen me open blind eyes, champion the disadvantaged, befriend the forgotten, and love the unlovable. My time on earth has come to an end, so now it is your turn.” Jesus’ disciples did exactly what He had asked them—filled with God’s Holy Spirit, they poured their very lives into sharing the message and building the Christian church. Now almost two thousand years have passed since Jesus taught, healed, loved, died, and rose again. Your congregation knows the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and many of those who will visit

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your church this Easter know the story as well. But in the midst of busy, modern lives, many hear the Easter story at a surface level rather than letting it sink into their hearts … and change their lives. You can make a difference by using The Thorn to help your church know the joy, the compassion, and the incredible power of Jesus’ life and ministry. Let their hearts ache with the reality of His death on the cross. Renew their hope with the triumph of His resurrection. The Thorn Easter Experience Church Kit includes realistic videos, beautiful music, compelling dramas, and an inspiring message to help your church not just hear the Easter story but deeply experience it.

Our hope is that all who come to The Thorn Easter Experience will leave not as listeners, not as spectators, but as … witnesses.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8

about the thorn The Thorn (TheThorn.net) is a spectacular, live dramatic presentation of the story of the cross. It is a complete production that encompasses music, acting, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, pyrotechnics, video, and more. With its focus on the gospel story and its unique presentation, The Thorn has enabled audiences to experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;hear, see, and feelâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the very presence of God. Beginning as a small regional play in 1997, The Thorn has grown to become the largest perennial, volunteer-based Easter production in the United States. Over the past fourteen seasons, nearly one million people have witnessed this dramatic live event, and more than 100,000 people are expected to see the 2012 version. The Thorn has also been used to bring people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. During the 2011 tour, tens of thousands responded to the story and received prayer for addiction, depression, lost dreams, and abandoned faith.

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Benefits for Your congregation and Community Inspire Your Congregation In the western world, Christians are incredibly blessed to live in a time and a location where we can freely worship God and openly belong to a church. Each year we participate in an Easter service and hear the amazing story of God’s love demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter story inspires sorrow and repentance for the sin that required Jesus’ sacrifice, awe for God and His unmatched love, and gratitude for His grace and forgiveness. Yet we humans have a tendency to become complacent—to go from being passionate about our faith to becoming distracted by the things of the world. Many of the early Christians had personal experiences with Jesus; others heard the gospel account from eyewitnesses. They were courageous in the face of persecution and passionate in reaching out to others. As Jesus addressed the church in Ephesus, He commended them for their hard work and perseverance, yet He also said this:

“I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” —Revelation 2:4 Like the Ephesians we can, over time, allow our devotion to Christ and our emotional response to the Easter story to fade. How many times have the people in your congregation listened to the biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection? They may have attended Easter services for years, if not decades. This year, let them experience the story of the first Easter in a fresh, new way. The combination of a compelling, Bible-based message, live drama, realistic videos, and inspiring music can have a strong emotional effect on people. It has been almost two thousand years since Jesus died on the cross, but a realistic dramatization like The Thorn can help your congregation have a better understanding

of what Jesus went through to redeem us from our sins. Likewise, songs like “Arise, My Love” and “How Could You Say No?” will present the triumph and meaning of the resurrection.

Special Benefits for Your Worship Team Chances are, your team works hard every week to come up with new ways to inspire your congregation and help them draw near to God. The digital resources and drama instructions in The Thorn Easter Experience Church Kit may give them fresh ideas about how to blend music, video, and drama into your weekly services. Plus, your worship team will probably be the most affected by The Thorn, since they will be spending hours practicing the music and the dramatic monologues. Even if you do not typically use video or drama in your services, consider doing so this Easter. The people who volunteer to act in the drama may stretch their skills or even step outside their comfort zones to be a part of this special service. Likewise, using a dramatic video background for your music will give it added impact and make it even more special for your choir or praise team.

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Reach Your Community As you plan The Thorn Easter Experience for your church, remember to include outreach in your plans. The Thorn was specifically designed to reach the unchurched with the good news of the gospel, and during this special time of year, people are open to an invitation to church. In addition, the beautiful graphics and unique dramatic nature of The Thorn Easter Experience will help steer new visitors to your church. Use The Thorn to: • Attract visitors. For more information on attracting visitors, see the “Promote” portion of “Steps to Success” at the back of this planning guide. The “Marketing Tips” document on the Communication Resources CD has additional information. • Give people an opportunity to accept Christ. The Thorn Easter Experience has a strong gospel message, and the sermon includes an invitation to enter into a relationship with Jesus. You may want to do an altar call or ask those who accepted Christ to indicate their decisions by raising their hands, filling out cards, or coming to the front after the service. Consider purchasing low-cost evangelistic books as a gift for new believers. See the resource guide included in the church kit for more information. • Motivate visitors to return to your church. The Thorn Easter Experience should leave visitors impressed with your church and your worship team. For more information on connecting visitors to your church, see the “Promote” portion of “Steps to Success” at the back of this planning guide. The “Twenty Tips for a Great Service” document on the Communication Resources CD has additional information.

inside the thorn easter experience church kit The church kit includes everything you need to plan and lead an inspiring and fruitful Easter service using resources from The Thorn Easter Experience. This section provides a short description of each component in the kit. This section answers what questions like “What is the service video bumper?” The next section in this planning guide is “Implementing The Thorn Easter Experience,” and answers how and when questions like “How should we use the audio tracks and accompanying videos?” and “When should we play the sermon illustration video?” The Thorn Easter Experience Church Kit includes the following components:

Planning Guide Digital Resources

This case holds two DVDs and one CD, and these three disks contain all of the videos, graphics, audio tracks, templates, and instructions you need for The Thorn Easter Experience. The list of contents for each DVD/CD matches that disk’s menu.

Video Resources DVD. These are videos you will use before and during your Easter service.

Note: That the Worship and Drama Resources DVD contains the videos that go with The Thorn Easter Experience songs and dramas.

• Promotional Video (Length :46). This video will introduce your congregation to The Thorn Easter Experience and build excitement for your service. This video is similar to a theatrical trailer for a movie.

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• Sermon Illustration Video (Length 1:57). This video has scenes from The Thorn along with a voice-over. It illustrates the three sections of the sermon, which focus on Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. • Service Video Bumper (Length :50). This is a short video you can use to begin either the whole service, before the first drama, or before the sermon. The service video bumper helps build anticipation and set the tone for the service.

Communication Resources CD. This CD contains text files and graphics that will help you plan and promote The Thorn Easter Experience. The Communication Resources CD also includes a multislide PowerPoint template for use during your service. • Sermon. This is a three-point sermon in Word format. You can easily customize the sermon to meet your congregation’s needs and your personal style. There are places in the sermon where you can insert the Adulterous Woman drama (see the Worship and Drama Resources DVD) and the sermon illustration video. • Templates -- PowerPoint Template. Includes multiple slides featuring graphics from The Thorn. The Scriptures (from the NIV) and key points from the sermon are preloaded for your convenience. Customize the existing slides to fit your sermon or add more slides to cover the rest of your service. -- Bulletin Insert. This file has graphics to create 4.25" x 5.5" inserts for your church bulletin. The file is in Word format so you can easily add text for announcements, sign-ups, or sermon notes. Note: If you print the file on a standard printer, a band of white will border the graphics. -- Event Planning Template. This file is in Word format, with a table you can use to plan your Easter service. The table lists common tasks and time frames associated with using The Thorn Easter Experience for your Easter service. -- Postcard Printing Template. The church kit includes two hundred small postcards you can use as invitations to your Easter service. The postcard-printing template is a Word

document specifically sized for the 4.25" x 5.5" postcards. Use the template to print text and graphics on the reverse side of the postcards. â&#x20AC;˘ Promotional Resources -- Print Ad Sample. This Word document has sample text for an ad in a newspaper or other periodical. If you would like to include a graphic in your ad, use The Thorn logo, also on the Communication Resources CD. -- Press Release Template and Instructions. This is a press release you can customize and send out. The file is in Word format and comes with instructions. -- Promotional Announcement Samples. This is a Word document with sample announcement for church bulletins, websites, or e-mails. The file also includes suggested text for a weekend service announcement. -- Marketing Tips. Read this document for tips on how to promote The Thorn Easter Experience at your church. These tips will help you build excitement and maximize attendance. -- Twenty Tips for a Great Service. Some additional tips for preparing your church and having a great Easter service. -- Free Google Advertising Info. This document explains how to get free Google advertising for your church. -- Web Images. Banners and buttons you can use on your website to help promote The Thorn Easter Experience. -- The Thorn Logo. This is a JPEG file you can use for print ads in newspapers and other periodicals. See the print ad sample on the disk for suggested text. Note: Please do not use this file to print other promotional tools. It is licensed only for use in print ads for your Easter service.

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Worship and Drama Resources DVD.

This DVD contains all necessary videos, audio tracks, chord charts, and instructions for two songs and two dramas. • “Arise, My Love” Song Resources -- Audio Track (Length 5:13). The audio track is in WAV format and includes music and background vocals for “Arise, My Love.” -- Background Video with Vocals (Length 5:13). This file has video content from The Thorn along with the audio track, lead vocals, and background vocals for “Arise, My Love.” The video complements the lyrics and timing of the song. -- Background Video without Vocals (Length 5:13). This file is similar to the background video described above but without the lead vocals. It does include instrumental music and background vocals. -- Chord Chart. This PDF file has lyrics and chords for “Arise, My Love.” • “How Could You Say No?” Song Resources -- Audio Track (Length 3:27). The audio track is in WAV format and includes music and background vocals for “How Could You Say No?” -- Background Video with Vocals (Length 3:27). This file has video content from The Thorn along with the audio track and background vocals for “How Could You Say No?” The video complements the lyrics and timing of the song. -- Background Video without Vocals (Length 5:13). This file is similar to the background video described above but without the lead vocals. It does include instrumental music and background vocals. -- Chord Chart. This PDF file has lyrics and chords for “How Could You Say No?”

• Adulterous Woman Drama. A short dramatic monologue based on the story of the adulterous woman in John 8, this drama includes a modern application of the biblical story. -- Script. This Word document is the monologue script with blocking. The Word format enables you to customize the script for your drama team. -- Instructions. This file has recommendations on costumes, makeup, blocking, performing/acting, and music. -- Training Video (Length 2:00). This video shows actors from The Thorn performing the monologue on a plain stage. • Peter Denial Drama. A short dramatic monologue based on the Apostle Peter’s denial of Jesus, this drama includes a modern application of the biblical story. -- Script. This Word document is the monologue script with blocking. The Word format enables you to customize the script for your drama team. -- Instructions. This file has recommendations on costumes, makeup, blocking, performing/acting, and music. -- Training Video (Length 1:36). This video shows personnel from The Thorn performing the monologue on a plain stage. • Crucifixion Worship Background Video.This is a video loop with crucifixion-themed graphics. • Resurrection Worship Background Video. This is a video loop with resurrection-themed graphics.

Resource Guide. This guide includes pictures and descriptions of the promotional tools and resources you can use to help make your Easter service a success.

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Sample Invitational Tools. See the resource guide

for more information on invitational tools like direct-mail postcards, door hangers, posters, banners, and more. This kit includes a few samples of these tools.

Gift Books. This kit contains two sample gift booksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Rediscover Church and The God Questions Gift Edition. See the resource guide for more information.

The Thorn Evangelistic Booklet. See the resource guide and the cover wrap on the booklet for more information. Postcards. This kit contains two hundred small postcards you can use to invite people to your Easter service. Use the postcard printing template on the Communication Resources CD to print text on the reverse side of the postcards. See the resource guide for more information. Posters. Hang the three enclosed posters in your church or at local businesses. See the resource guide for more information on The Thorn posters.

implementing the Thorn easter experience This section includes a suggested order of worship for The Thorn Easter Experience along with recommendations on how to use the digital resources in this kit for a unique and effective Easter service. The order of service that follows is only a suggestion, and we recommend that you develop an order of service that is similar to your normal weekend service. So if you usually have worship songs at multiple times during your service, we recommend that you do that with The Thorn Easter Experience as well. You may want to do announcements and receive an offering in your normal manner; however, after you review our suggested order of service and the digital resources, you might choose to place your offering early so you don’t disrupt the flow of the drama, videos, sermon, and final song. For The Thorn Easter Experience, you will be inserting unique videos and possibly a drama into your normal order of service. In addition, you may want to follow our suggestion to use an illustration video and even a drama during your sermon.

Suggested Order of Service Worship

If you normally do most of your worship songs first, do that but mix in The Thorn’s featured song “Arise, My Love.” We recommend that you use one of the worship background videos during every song except “Arise, My Love.” • Easter-oriented songs • Featured song “Arise, My Love” with background video

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Announcements

If you normally do announcements at a later point in the service, stick with that order of service. However, try to avoid doing announcements in between the key elements of The Thorn Easter Experience—the dramas, video bumper, sermon, and featured song “How Could You Say No.” Suggestions. See “Twenty Tips for a Great Service” for more information. • Include special announcements to visitors, telling them what you have planned for the next several weeks. • Make sure you invite visitors to return. • If you are offering a gift for visitors, mention that as well.

Offering

If you normally do your offering at a later point in the service, you may need to stick with that order of service. However, we recommend that you move the offering up in the order of service so it doesn’t break the flow of The Thorn Easter Experience video, drama, sermon, and final song.

The Thorn Service Video Bumper Peter Denial Drama

The Thorn Easter Experience includes two dramas. If you don’t have time for both dramas or you feel that doing both would be too much, we recommend that you skip the Peter Denial drama. The Adulterous Woman drama fits more closely with the first point in The Thorn sermon.

The Thorn Sermon

This is a standard three-point sermon with special features to illustrate the first two points: • Point 1. An immeasurable love: Jesus lived for me. Adulterous Woman Drama. This drama is a powerful illustration of the fact that Jesus loves us greatly and forgives our sins today just as He did during His ministry. • Point 2. An astonishing sacrifice: Jesus died for me. Sermon Illustration Video. This video uses scenes from The Thorn that illustrate the three points in the sermon. In particular, the

video makes it clear that Jesus loves us, understands us, and sacrificed for us. • Point 3. An enduring hope: Jesus rose for me.

Featured Song “How Could You Say No?” with Background Video Prayer and Benediction

You might want to invite new believers to come forward to talk with a prayer partner and to receive a new-believer gift.

How to Use the Digital Resources This section provides tips on the best ways to use The Thorn Easter Experience digital resources. Except for the information on the promotional video, the tips follow the suggested order of service.

Promotional Video

Play this video two to four weeks in advance of Easter, to build excitement and anticipation. Encourage your congregation to invite at least one individual or family to experience this unique and touching Easter service. See the promotional announcement samples on the Communication Resources CD for ideas on how to present the promotional video.

“Arise, My Love” Audio Track, Chord Chart, and Video

The best way to use the “Arise, My Love” resources is to play the “Arise, My Love” background video without vocals while one or more vocalists sing. Background vocals are part of the audio portion of this “Arise, My Love” video. You don’t need to have musicians play during this song, but you can if you feel the musicians will blend in with the audio. Make copies of the “Arise, My Love” chord chart and give them to your vocalists. Options. Other ways you can perform “Arise, My Love” include: • Turn off the audio from the “Arise, My Love” background video and have a praise band or orchestra play the music.

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You will need to find music sheets for “Arise, My Love”; they are not included in the church kit. • If you choose not to play the video, use just the audio track and add your own lead vocalist.

The Thorn Service Video Bumper

This video sets the tone for the service and builds anticipation. You can play this video in three different places: 1. At the very beginning of the service 2. Before the Peter Denial drama of The Thorn Easter

Experience

3. Before the sermon

We recommend that you play the video when you believe the tone of the service is about to shift to the awe and drama of the Easter story. You may want to dim the lights and slightly increase the audio volume when you play this first video.

Peter Denial Drama Script, Instructions, and Training Video

We recommend that you use at least one drama during your service. If you feel two dramas are too much, skip this one and use the Adulterous Woman drama. If you choose to perform the Peter Denial drama, follow these steps: 1. Read the instructions and script and watch the training

video. Decide how many actors and actresses you will use and how you plan to do makeup and costumes. 2. Pray about and for everyone who will be a part of this

powerful drama. 3. Choose your drama team. 4. Have the actor performing the monologue read and

memorize the script. 5. Burn copies of the Peter Denial drama training video and

give them to your drama team. Note: Please do not publish the video in any way; this includes uploading the video to YouTube or another video site. The video is not intended for public use.

6. Have your drama team prepare the stage, create costumes,

and practice for the performance.

The Thorn Sermon

This three-point sermon is based on John 3:16 and includes a physical illustration using a rose bush. The Thorn Easter Experience materials all have three key points and the sermon reflects these points: 1. Easter is a story of love. Jesus came to earth because of

love. He lived a life of love. He came with a clear mission. The Bible says, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV). 2. Easter is a story of sacrifice. No one is free of sin. So God

in His love gave His only Son to take our punishment upon Himself. 3. Easter is a story of hope. Jesus’ story did not end on the

cross. The sermon references Mark 16:6, which says, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.” This sermon is meant to be customized, so use as much or as little of it as you need, and change it to fit with your personal style and the needs of your congregation. Also, check the length of the sermon and make sure it fits with the length of your service. Compare the word count (approximately 2,800 words) to your normal sermons. Remember that you have extra content like the Adulterous Woman drama and the sermon illustration video.

Adulterous Woman Drama Script, Instructions, and Training Video

See the notes on the Peter Denial drama for general comments on using The Thorn dramas. This drama is a monologue based on Jesus’ encounter with an adulterous woman. In the John 8 account, the woman experiences Jesus’ love and grace, and this drama adds a modern, relevant application to the Bible story. Option. The training video for this drama was done by actors and actresses from The Thorn. Because the acting and videography are both high quality, you could show the video itself during your sermon. This is a good option if you don’t have the actors and

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costumes you need for a live drama. However, we do recommend that you do a live drama if possible, because of the greater impact it has on your congregation and on the people doing the drama. Note: Please do not publish the video in any way; this includes uploading the video to YouTube or another video site. The video is not intended for use outside your church.

Sermon Illustration Video

Use this video during your sermon to help illustrate your key points. The customizable sermon included with this kit has specific instructions regarding when to show the video. If you don’t want to pause during your sermon to include a video, you can show the video first and then refer back to it during your sermon.

“How Could You Say No?” Audio Track, Chord Chart, and Video

The best way to use the “How Could You Say No?” resources is to play the “How Could You Say No?” background video without vocals while one or more vocalists sing. Background vocals are part of the audio portion of the video. You don’t need to have musicians play during this song, but you can if you feel the musicians will blend in with the audio. Make copies of the “How Could You Say No?” chord chart and give them to your vocalists. Options. Other ways you can perform “How Could You Say No?” include: • Turn off the audio from the “How Could You Say No?” background video and have a praise band or orchestra play the music. You will need to find the sheet music for “How Could You Say No?”; it is not included in the church kit. • If you choose not to play the video, you can use just the audio track and add your own lead vocalist. • Play the “How Could You Say No?” background video with vocals. Used in this way, it serves as a music video background for an altar call, an offering, or the end of your service. Note: “How Could You Say No?” is an excellent song for an altar call. That is exactly how the song is used during The Thorn live performances. Consider inviting new believers to the stage during the song, so they can talk with prayer partners and receive a new-believer’s gift or packet.

STEPS FOR SUCCESS pray Praying for your Easter service and successful outreach to your community is a key first step. Ask God to: • Give you wisdom and guidance as you plan, promote, and implement your Easter service • Raise up volunteers for your Easter service • Soften the hearts and prepare the minds of those you want to reach in your congregation and community • Bless and multiply your efforts

“ Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ” —Colossians 4:2

PLAN Step 1. Review The Thorn Easter Experience Resources Start by reading this planning guide; then read, watch, and listen to all of the digital resources. Also review The Thorn Resource Guide and the sample invitational tools andgift books.

Step 2. Determine Your Order of Service The first consideration is the length of your service. Estimate the length of the sermon by comparing the word count to sermons you have already delivered, or by practicing the sermon and

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timing it. The length for each of the videos and dramas (based on their training videos) is included in the “Inside The Thorn Easter Experience Church Kit” section of this guide. Based on the length of the different elements of your service and your available volunteers for drama and music, determine your order of service. The other sections of this planning guide will help you as you put together the order of service.

Step 3. Determine Your Schedule and Volunteer Requirements This is a special service, and it will likely take additional volunteers and more rehearsal time than your standard weekend services. Use the “Event Planning Template” on the Communication Resources CD to help you with your planning.

Step 4. Communicate with Your Team This kit includes a number of resources you can use to communicate your plan for The Thorn Easter Experience. You can share the “Marketing Tips” document, the “Twenty Tips for a Great Service” document, and any other resources contained in the digital resources set of disks.

PROMOTE Cast a Vision for Your Leadership Team Before launching the planning and rehearsal phases of The Thorn Easter Experience, meet with your leadership team and cast a vision for how you believe this unique Easter service will affect your congregation and your community. Consider using these methods for creating a shared vision for the success of this Easter service: • Play the promotional video. • Use The Thorn-branded PowerPoint slides for your meeting. • Pray together for the success of your Easter service and outreach efforts. • Pass around some of the sample invitational materials and gift books, along with The Thorn evangelistic booklet.

• Play the training video for the Adulterous Woman drama. • Play one of the featured song videos, such as “How Could You Say No?”

Cast a Vision for Your Congregation Good leaders are critical to the success of any effort. Most members of a congregation rise only as high as the expectations set by their leaders, so cast a vision of complete participation.

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. —Nehemiah 2:17–18 Good leaders cast a vision for what the group can do together that they can’t do as well on their own. Encourage everyone to invite at least one individual or family to The Thorn Easter Experience. Ask everyone to pray for the success of the service and for your outreach efforts.

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Extend Invitations Use creative ideas and high-quality communication tools to reach out to your community! • Use a direct mail program to invite your community to this special Easter service. Direct mail typically has a .25–1 percent response rate, and the appeal of a unique Easter experience can bring new visitors to your church. Visit Outreach.com or call an Outreach Specialist at 800-991-6011 for assistance in planning a direct-mail campaign. • Hang an eye-catching The Thorn banner outside your church to attract people passing by. Remember to include your service times and either a phone number or web address.

• Display The Thorn posters in local Christian bookstores, and in area businesses. Be sure to include information about your upcoming sermon series, groups, and events. • Organize volunteers to distribute The Thorn door hangers in the neighborhoods closest to your church. • Hand out copies of The Thorn evangelistic booklet in surrounding areas. See the resource guide for more information about using The Thorn Neighborhood Invitation Kit to distribute booklets.

In-Reach Ideas • Include information on The Thorn Easter Experience in your church newsletter and in the announcements during your weekend services. • Get your congregation excited about The Thorn Easter Experience by showing the promotional video two to four weeks in advance of Easter. Let the congregation know this will be a special, unique service and encourage everyone to invite at least one person to the service. • Use indoor banners to build excitement and awareness for The Thorn Easter Experience. • Send an e-mail to your church list, outlining the importance and appeal of The Thorn Easter Experience. Encouraging everyone to invite friends, co-workers, and neighbors. • Use The Thorn bulletin shells during your Easter service. • Hang The Thorn posters inside your church. • Use The Thorn bulletin inserts for announcements, sermon notes, and as visitor response sheets.

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Equip Your Members to Be Inviters It’s one of the key tenets of successful outreach—equipping your congregation to invite others to your church and into a personal relationship with Christ. But many Christians don’t take the steps necessary to invite unchurched friends, family members, or neighbors. The Thorn Easter Experience provides the encouragement as well as easy tools for your congregation to use in extending an invitation to others. Help your members extend winning invitations by: • Asking your members to pray about those God may want them to reach • Providing The Thorn door hangers, evangelistic booklets, and invitational tickets for your members to use to invite friends, neighbors, and co-workers to your service

PLUG IN Your church is about to have a number of visitors. How do you ensure that most of them come back, get connected, and become a part of your congregation?

Visitor Follow-Up During your campaign you will reach out to the unchurched in your community, touching their lives and encouraging them to begin attending church. A key step to keeping them involved is to provide clear information on how they can get involved. Think about how you will provide information on how they can attend Sunday school classes, join small groups, become involved in your women’s ministry, or attend events for couples. Also, after the campaign you will have an excellent opportunity to plug new attendees into programs designed to help them learn more about God, your church, or your ministries and programs.

Gather visitor contact information and be sure to engage your visitors in next steps. If you can make phone calls or send personal letters or postcards welcoming visitors to your church, it will go a long way toward making new people feel welcome.

What Is Next? While you have a church full of new visitors you have an excellent opportunity to invite them to return. One of the best incentives you can provide is information about upcoming events and sermon series. Customize some of the announcements in the promotional announcement samples on the Communication Resources CD and encourage visitors to return and find new friends and great faithbuilding programs at your church!

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