What Types of Invitations Are Most Effective to Get People to Come to Church?

by Thom S. Rainer Founder

Invitations matter more than we often realize. Most people who visit a church do not come because of a clever slogan, a polished website, or even a well-timed social media post. They come because someone they know invited them. That “someone” makes all the difference.

In this article, I want to look at four types of invitations—C⁰, C¹, C², and C³. The letter “C” refers to personal closeness. The number reflects the depth of relationship between the inviter and the invitee. The higher the number, the more effective the invitation.

Not all invitations are equal. Some feel distant and impersonal. Others feel warm, trusted, and safe. Understanding these differences can help churches focus less on volume and more on relationships.

When churches align their outreach with how people actually respond to invitations, evangelism becomes more natural—and far more fruitful.

C⁰: Not a Personal Invitation

C⁰ represents the least effective form of “invitation,” and in truth, it is not really an invitation at all. C⁰ has zero closeness. There is no personal relationship involved, no direct ask, and no sense of intentional connection.

Most C⁰ efforts revolve around an event—a musical, a barbecue, a fall festival, a holiday program, or something similar. These events are usually marketed internally in the church and externally through social media, community calendars, email lists, or the church website. The assumption is that if the event is attractive enough, people will simply show up and then come to a church worship service.

That assumption is rarely correct. Very few guests come to church through C⁰ alone. People who have no relational connection to a church seldom show up at a worship service.

C⁰ events can still have a place. They can create…