Heartprints

Follow-up with a Letter

Easter Sunday seems to bring more people to church than any other day. So, chances are you saw some new faces in your children’s ministry programs yesterday. Let me encourage you to follow-up with them. If you are a Sunday school teacher or helper, then this post is especially for you. You have a chance to reach your visitors and their families in ways that your church staff members may not be able.

Easter Sunday seems to bring more people to church than any other day. So, chances are you saw some new faces in your children’s ministry programs yesterday. Let me encourage you to follow-up with them. If you are a Sunday school teacher or helper, then this post is especially for you. You have a chance to reach your visitors and their families in ways that your church staff members may not be able.

As a volunteer, you have a connection with them because you have already interacted with them. As a lay member, you are not as intimidating as a pastor. So, if it is available, get their contact information and let them know you are glad they came! In the days of social media saturation, a hand written card or letter will speak volumes.

Here are a few suggestions for what to include in your letter:

  1. Love: Let them know God love’s them.  Perhaps describe God to them, telling them how he created the earth and everything it. Share with them John 3:16.
  2. Appreciation: Tell them something you liked about them. Maybe they were enthusiastic during the song time, or listened carefully during the lesson.
  3. Summary: Summarize a key point from the lesson. You might say, “I am so glad you were able to be here as we talked about ….”
  4. Simplicity: Keep it simple. You don’t need to write several paragraphs about God and the gospel. One evangelist I know likes to say, “The Bible is 66 books, but the gospel is 10 words: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.”
  5. Incentive: Give them a reason to come back. Tell them what is coming up in future weeks, and why  you think it is important for them to hear.

You don’t have to utilize each suggestion, but hopefully something will be of benefit. As you get out your pen and paper, say a prayer for each child in your class. You never know how God might use you!

Sarah is the author of Bathsheba’s Responsibility in Light of Narrative Analysis, contributor to Vindicating the Vixens, and contributing editor for The Evangelism Study Bible. Some of her previous ministry experiences have included teaching and mentoring of adults and children in a wide variety of settings. Her small claim to fame is that she has worked with children of every age range from birth through high school over the past 20 years. She and her husband Ben reside in Richardson, Texas with their four children.

3 Comments

  • SonShine

    Excellent perspective
    Great ideas Sarah
    I hope those who read this will follow these wonderful suggestions. You are wise to insert this: You have a chance to reach your visitors and their families in ways that your church staff members may not be able as that is so true.

    • Sarah Bowler

      Thank you. I think it is far

      Thank you. I think it is far too easy to underestimate the power of lay people in churches. Dedicated lay people and volunteers are some of the greatest assets in a church.