How to Host an Evangelism Event: Five Outreach Ideas to Share Jesus
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Sharing Jesus doesn’t always mean walking up to a stranger with a gospel tract or preaching from a street corner (though evangelism can certainly include those). Evangelism events, also called outreach events, can be effective ways to share the good news of Jesus.
An evangelism event creates a natural setting where people can comfortably meet, build relationships and have conversations that point to Jesus and the gospel. If you want to skip ahead to five evangelism event ideas you can use today, click here.
I got to see one firsthand at a summer block party hosted by my church.
My Experience
“Where should we put this?” my friend and fellow volunteer asked me. The wooden sign he held up read “FREE FOOD” in big, red, hand-painted letters.
“Let’s post it by the road,” I replied. We wanted lots of people to see it and stop by.
I yawned, took a sip of iced coffee and watched the cracked church parking lot come to life as the summer sun peeked over the horizon. Volunteers in matching blue T-shirts set up various stations and activities, inflating bounce houses, setting up for face painting, filling balloons with water and creating signage. One team was rolling out tables and setting chairs around them, while a group of men from the church began heating up grills. Nearby, a couple of tents displayed signs: How can we pray for you?
Because our church sits at a corner where several neighborhoods intersect, the parking lot was an ideal location for our summer block party. Earlier that week, our children’s ministry team visited the surrounding neighborhoods and handed out invitations. We prayed for a good turnout, and by noon that day, the parking lot was full of people.
Families with children enjoyed the play areas. Adults and young people gathered around tables, enjoying grilled hamburgers and talking. Pastors and church staff prayed with people in the shade of the tents. Everyone who attended left with an invitation to church the next morning.
Looking back, the event was a success, but not because everything went according to plan. It was a success because every person who attended was welcomed and invited to take a next step towards Jesus.
That’s the goal of event evangelism: creating space to connect and engage in gospel conversations.
What is event evangelism?
Event evangelism (outreach evangelism) is using a planned gathering to build relationships and create opportunities to share the gospel.
An evangelism event might happen at a church, but it doesn’t have to. It could take place in a neighborhood, park, community center or even someone’s backyard. Some events can center around food or games, while others can use music, movies or family activities to bring people together.
The goal of event evangelism: creating space to connect and engage in gospel conversations.
A small church can host a community meal, while a larger church might have the resources to host a larger event, like a summer or fall festival. (For ideas of small, medium and large church evangelism events, check out this blog from Concordia Publishing House.)
Christians like you and I can host events on our own, too, such as a game night or cookout and invite friends or neighbors who may not follow Jesus.
What makes Event Evangelism Effective?
A successful evangelism event is not just a fun activity with a gospel message sprinkled in. It’s planned with intention, with people and relationships in mind from the beginning.
Start by thinking about the people you want to reach. What would make them want to attend? What would make them feel welcome? Where will there be opportunities for conversation?
If you’re hosting an event at church, like the block party I mentioned earlier, people may already expect to hear something about Jesus. But if you are gathering at a park or in your neighborhood, you may have more opportunities to build relationships naturally before discussing faith.
A conversation over a meal or while playing a board game may not look like evangelism at first. But those connection points can open the door to deeper discussions.
As people begin to feel comfortable, conversations about faith can happen naturally.
As you plan, think about how you will invite people and how you’ll create opportunities for gospel conversations. Will there be a gospel presentation or someone sharing the story of how they started to follow Jesus? Or will this event serve to connect people so that gospel conversations can happen later?
Resources on evangelism events can help you think through those details. These six steps for running a successful evangelism event and these eight keys to effective event evangelism are great places to research further.
How to Plan an Evangelism Event
Before picking an event and making a checklist, think about what happens before, during and after the event. Planning well, execution and follow-up are all part of an effective outreach event.
1. Invite people who don’t know Jesus
It may sound obvious, but an evangelism event can easily become a gathering of people who already know one another and who already follow Jesus. If you’re a Christian, consider people outside of your usual circle.
Who can you invite from your neighborhood, workplace, school or community? Is there someone who you’ve been meaning to get to know better?
Give people a reason to come and be sure to let them know what to expect. Inviting someone to a game night or a cookout feels natural, and if it will be at a church or if there will be a gospel presentation, be sure to let them know in advance so they know what to expect.
2. Train your team (if you have one) to start conversations
If you are working with a team, help people understand their role before the event. They don’t need to memorize a script or talking points. Encourage them to introduce themselves, to ask questions and listen.
The goal is to be open and attentive to the opportunities God provides rather than forcing a gospel conversation with every person who walks through the door.
And when there is a natural opportunity for gospel conversation, equip your team with what they need to enter into that discussion. (See number four on this list for some resources you can use.)
3. Allow plenty of time and space for connection
If you’re like me, it can be easy to focus so much on the planning that you forget to leave room for people to actually connect.
It’s best not to fill every minute with activities or programming. Give people time to sit together, eat (if there is food) and chat. Be sure there are physical places away from the activity and noise where conversations can happen. These commonplace moments can be great opportunities to get to know someone and find out what’s important to them.
As people begin to feel comfortable, conversations about faith can happen naturally. Someone might ask why you’re involved with the event, bring up a question about God (especially if your event is at a church) or give you a chance to share your story.
Listen well and pay attention to the opportunities the Holy Spirit may be providing you.
4. Be ready to share Jesus
Creating space for conversation doesn’t mean avoiding the gospel. It means allowing space for people to naturally bring it up.
Think ahead about how you (and your team) will share Jesus if the opportunity arises. You might share your testimony, answer someone’s question, show a short film or encourage someone to continue the conversation.
Resources such as short films on the Jesus Film ProjectⓇ app or watch page or SoulariumⓇ cards from CruⓇ can help you introduce spiritual topics in an authentic way.
The goal is less about making every conversation into a gospel presentation and more about being ready when someone is open to talking about Jesus.
5. Give people a next step
What happens when someone wants to learn more? Be sure to have an option for them to take a next step.
You may have another event lined up, or invite them to a church service, Bible study or into a one-on-one conversation. You could also share a digital resource they can explore on their own. The NextSteps journey builder helps you create interactive stories to lead someone to the next step in their faith, and you can easily share it with them.
A next step doesn’t need to be formal or elaborate. It can be as simple as saying, “Let’s keep talking over coffee sometime.”
6. Pray and follow up
An evangelism event should be where a relationship begins—the starting point to discipleship.
Be sure to follow up with the people you meet. Send them a message, or invite them to another event. Ask how you can pray for them, then pray for them. If they are comfortable, you can even pray with them.
An evangelism event should be where a relationship begins—the starting point to discipleship.
Following up is your opportunity to go beyond a surface-level relationship and to show the love of Christ by caring for someone. It allows space for deeper conversations, questions, friendship and eventually, spiritual growth.
Five Evangelism Event Ideas
There are many ways you can approach outreach and evangelism. Start with something people already enjoy, then think about how you can use it to build relationships and create opportunities to talk about Jesus.
1. Community block party or picnic
A neighborhood block party or picnic can be a simple evangelism event to host.
Invite neighbors and community members to get together for food, games and conversation. Depending on how many people you’d like to invite (or the size of your neighborhood), you can host it in a backyard, neighborhood common area, church parking lot or local park. Be sure to get permission for your event if needed.
You can include:
- A barbeque or a potluck (guests can bring a dish to share)
- Lawn games
- Music
- Activities for kids (sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water balloons, etc.)
- Food and refreshments
Encourage Christians attending the event to introduce themselves to people they don’t know. You could also include a short testimony, prayer opportunity or gospel presentation.
A block party is a great option for individuals, small groups or churches since it can be scaled up or down depending on your resources.
2. Seasonal festival
If you have a larger team and more resources, consider hosting a festival for summer, spring or fall in your community. Seasonal activities already give people a reason to gather, which makes them a natural opportunity for evangelism outreach.
You can include:
- Food trucks or food booths
- Games and activities
- Crafts
- Live music
- Contests
- Seasonal activities
As you plan, think about how you’ll create opportunities for people to connect with Christians. You might include a short gospel presentation, testimony or prayer opportunity. You could also offer a resource that gives people a way to learn more about Jesus after the event or invite them to church.
Larger events require more volunteers, planning and promotion, so give yourself plenty of time to prepare. This practical guide can help you think through how to organize a larger public event.
3. Movie Under the Stars
A movie under the stars is a great way to enjoy warmer weather or cooler evenings.
Set up a screen in a backyard, church lawn or another appropriate outdoor space and invite people to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Add popcorn, snacks and a few games before the movie.
Try including:
- An outdoor movie screen
- Popcorn and snacks
- Lawn chairs and blankets
- Games before the movie
- Time for conversation afterward
The movie or film you show can be an easy way to prompt conversations about faith, hope, purpose or Jesus.
You could show the JESUS film (or The Story of Jesus for Children) or one of the many films available through the Jesus Film Project app. Afterward, give people an opportunity to talk about what they watched. If it applies, be sure to give people an opportunity to respond to the gospel message in the film.
Don’t rush everyone out as soon as the credits roll. That time afterward can be a great opportunity for people to ask questions or continue a conversation.
4. Short Film Festival
If you know people who are interested in film, creativity or storytelling, try hosting a short film festival. You can create a simple screening environment with several short films, some snacks and plenty of time for discussion.
You might include:
- Several short films
- Snacks and refreshments
- Time for audience discussion as well as questions and answers.
- Testimonies
Choose films that explore questions people are already asking about identity, purpose, relationships, hope or faith. Then use those questions to start conversations.
Instead of simply showing a film and moving on to the next one, ask guests what they thought. What stood out to them? Did they agree with the message? How did it connect with their own experiences?
From there, you may have a natural opportunity to share what the Bible says about the questions raised by the film.
Jesus Film Project has a step-by-step resource for hosting a short film festival if you’d like to try this type of evangelistic event.
5. Game night
This one is my personal favorite. Hosting a game night is another easy way to bring people together without making the event feel overly formal.
Invite people from outside your normal church circles and create a relaxed environment where everyone can participate.
You can include:
- Board games
- Card games
- Trivia
- Team competitions
- Snacks and refreshments
The evangelism opportunity here is less about giving a formal presentation and more about building relationships.
Play the games. Laugh together. Have fun. Ask questions. Get to know people.
Then pay attention to the natural openings that come up. If someone asks about your church, your beliefs or why your faith matters to you, be ready to share.
You could also end the evening with a brief testimony or invitation to sit with you at church.
If you’re looking for even more evangelism event ideas, NAMB’s list of 30 evangelistic ideas is a good place to keep exploring.
Start Where You Are
Remember, it doesn’t always take a big budget, professional event team or the perfect plan to start sharing Jesus through an event.
Choose something that fits your community and the people you want to reach. Start small if you need to. Invite a few people. Make room for conversation. And look for opportunities to share your own story of what Jesus has done in your life.
Most of all, remember that the goal is not the event but connection with people. Events can bring people together, and if we allow Him to, God can work through them and through us.
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