Most of us know someone we care about who has never been to church or who has stopped going for one reason or another. We want to invite them to join us at Williams, but we just don’t have the right words or know exactly how to approach the subject. On Sunday, September 18th, Williams is joining a nationwide catalyst, National Back to Church Sunday. This event will give us the opportunity to invite our friends to come to church for the first time or to give them the opportunity to return to church.

Williams will kick off the Back to Church initiative on Sunday, August 21st. We will join together in prayer for National Back to Church Sunday. The Evangelism team, in conjunction with the pastors and the Worship team will present information and a special video. The team will also provide invitation materials that will assist us as we invite our friends and loved ones to come back to church.

Members of the Evangelism team will be working behind the scenes to plan the events for Back to Church Sunday and the follow-up activities. Dan Edmonds and other team members will be coming to talk to interested Sunday school classes beginning on August 28th about how we can share our stories and our faith without fear.

Sunday School Classes

Sunday school classes will also have the opportunity to assist on or before September 18th. The TNT class will be doing some hospitality activities that Sunday and we need more classes to help. Greeters will welcome people into all the Back to Church Sunday services. Anyone who would like to volunteer as a greeter can contact Terry Droske at droskedds@cableone.net. Also, we encourage all members to welcome those around them that they don’t know. We need to make everyone who comes to Williams feel welcome.

Luncheon Provided

After the Back to Church Sunday service, we will host a visitor’s luncheon. The Evangelism team would love to have volunteers to assist with that event, too.

New Classes

As a follow-up to Back to Church Sunday, the Evangelism team hopes to get interested visitors into a small group or Sunday school class. Amy Kirk and other team members will make initial contact with visitors after the September 18th services. We also encourage church members to make connections with those they invite and other visitors they know.

Beginning on September 28th, Terry Droske will be facilitating a class called God Quest. This class will allow visitors and new members to come and ask their questions about God, their faith and Methodism.Please share this opportunity with those you invite!

Church Wide Program

We really hope that everyone at Williams will get involved in this Back to Church Sunday. We ask for your prayers beginning now. Pray for specific friends and about how to approach them with an invitation for September 18th. We will have invitation booklets for you to use, which will be distributed beginning on August 21st. We will also be advertising in the local publications. We will be using the church website and Facebook as media tools to encourage people to join us on September 18th. All of these tools can be aids to get those unchurched friends and loved ones interested.

Sometimes it only takes a little encouragement or a simple suggestion. National Back to Church Sunday provides us with a great opportunity to extend that invitation. We hope that each Williams member will be led to make that one connection (or more)!

Questions

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to serve in preparation for National Back to Church Sunday, you can email Dan or Shawn Edmonds at dsmcedmonds@yahoo.com or call them at 903-306-1611.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpXbfupQoxI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuCQEwTQUi4

For more photos of our Williams School visit them at facebook.com/williamspreschool

Kathy is the youth minister at First United Methodist Church Pittsburg, Texas. Watch this video to see how Kathy inspires youth to live for God as she relies on Him through the struggles of stage 4 colon cancer.

Russell and Meagan Martin, members of Williams Memorial United Methodist Church in Texarkana, TX, have been journeying through the process of adopting a baby for almost a year. Hear their story about what it’s taken them and how you can help those who want to adopt.