40 days is a significant time period in the Bible.  In the Old Testament, when God destroyed the earth with water, He caused it to rain 40 days and 40 nights. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights receiving the 10 Commandments.  In the New Testament, Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights. There were 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.There are many more 40-day occurrences in scriptures.

As I write this blog there are 40 Days between now and Easter and I believe that we as church leaders need to have our plans prepared to make this Easter the largest attended Sunday, as well as being the most significant launching platform for the rest of the year.

Here is a checklist list of 40 things to do.

1. Pray that your people will be open to growth by inviting others.
2. Walk around your campus and see it with first timer eyes.
3. Spring clean the building inside and out.
4. Pay special attention to the women’s lounge and nursery.
5. Encourage your members to pray for *F.R.A.N.C.E.
6. Give business card sized invites to all of your members to share on line and by hand.
7. Start a new message series on Easter.
8. Focus on benefits not features.
9. Recruit extra volunteers for your hospitality team.
10. Postpone most committee meetings to free your people to focus on Easter invites.
11.  Initiate service evangelism events.
12. Offer “Full Service” at local gas stations the Saturday before Easter give plastic eggs with candy and an invitation to services).
13. Organize a car wash free of charge with no strings attached.
14. Invite your congregation to put on community wide yard sale to benefit a local charity
15. Prepare Guest Packets that include a personal invite from the pastor to an up coming newcomers event like “Pizza with the Pastor”
16. Offer a free gift of some value to all first-time guests.
17. Invite special guests like the mayor, local talent, and promote in community paper   
18. Give guests the best parking spots.
19. Put greeters in the parking lot and outside your front door.
20. Make sure you have clear signage throughout the building.
21. Offer children’s programming simultaneously with your service.
22. Have a prominent Welcome Center with a cheerful volunteer posted there.
23. Allow guests to remain anonymous in the service.
24. Provide tasty refreshments.
25. Have upbeat contemporary recorded music playing inside your building.
26. Begin and/or end your service by asking attendees to greet one another.
27. Print out a simple order of service.
28. Look for ways to streamline your service for streaming.
29. Keep your public prayers short and your transitions quick.
30. Have a detailed plan for following up on your guests.
31. Have a photo booth set up in the lobby.
32. Plan an upcoming newcomers event that your Easter guests can also invite their friends to. 
33. Have your follow up plan in place.
34. During the service be sure get your guest’s contact information.
35. Collect, sort, and distribute copies of the welcome cards.
36. On Sunday afternoon send a “thank you for coming” text.
37. On Monday send a follow-up handwritten note.
38. On Wednesday send your guests a follow up e-mail.
39. On Friday make a follow-up phone call.
40. Celebrate that God has blessed your church with its biggest Easter ever!

*(Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-workers, Everyone)

To find out more about how to increase your Easter attendance contact me at celebrate311@gmail.com.