Thank you for helping make Easter weekend such an important time at First Baptist Church. We asked you to invite people, and to volunteer for hospitality, and you came through for us in wonderful ways.
This was, by far, the most people we’ve ever had at Easter – or for any other services. We had 4500 people in the worship center for the three services, Saturday at 6:00 and Sunday at 9:30 and 11. This is 800 more people than the record attendance of last year! Including our preschool attendance, we had over 4600 people in attendance for Easter weekend. Our Maundy Thursday service had just under 800 in attendance.
While we haven’t had an opportunity to do an in-depth evaluation, these are some initial thoughts.
First, I think that most of us have finally reached the point where we recognize that if the message of Christ is going to go to our friends and family, it is urgent that they hear now. I believe for this reason that you did what we asked you to do, which was to invite others to worship with you. You invited and they responded! Their response indicates a growing sense of need in their lives. God made us to know Him, and we all have a need to know God, even if we don’t understand all that means.
Second, we started at Christmas time reminding people about our Christmas Eve service, and we did the same at Easter. We think that those visual reminders (banners) helped to bring people in. Christmas Eve was also a very large number compared to other years.
If this assessment about the signage is correct, then we need to be ready for a larger group for VBS than normally.
Finally, we will begin planning now for next year. We have decisions to make to allow us to continue to reach people and to help them hear the gospel.
As always, I want to thank you for your faithfulness to do the work of ministry at First Baptist Church.
Now, let’s continue to do what God has called us to do.