Hosting a Family Event
You want to host a family event, you feel like you should, it sounds like all great ministries are doing them.
However, before you start, you need to consider at a few key questions. Knowing the answers to these questions will mean that your event has a better shot at being a successful one.
Why are you having this event?
If your answer is for your ministry, then please do not host the event. Your team does not need one more event or one more moment away from their family. You can pull off one event that is goaled to make your ministry look good and to check a box, but I promise, you will not be able to sustain it.
So, who is the event for? The families you serve and those in your community! Yes, right answer. That is the answer that will give your team the bigger reason why. Your team will get behind this and future events. You can cast a vision of partnership and relationship with your Small Group Leaders, and they will show up for that!
What do your families want?
This question is one that will require research to answer. Look at events on Facebook that your families are signing up for and attend those events. Talk to a group of families about their schedule, weekly rhythms, and what they like to do for fun. You will learn what type of event you should host, what time is the best time for your event, and what day is best. Do not host an event at nap time, too early in the morning, or too late in the evening. If you host an event at a mealtime, please feed the parents and children. Make it an event where the families get to interact with each other. Also, make sure they leave with something in their hand. All good events know this - feed them and gift them and you will get them again.
How will you create moments that build memories?
Families choose the events they attend because the events build memories. So be strategic and choose moments in your event that will last. A photo booth area and a hired photographer will allow mom and dad to put their phones down, engage with their child(ren), and still get cute pictures with their child. Do a craft that is personal, not perfect. Handprint art is a huge hit, as is anything the child makes and needs mom’s and dad’s help doing. They will take the craft home and remember doing it together.
What is the big idea?
Families will buy into your event when you can connect it to a bigger idea. Each event you host should show mom and dad what their child is learning in your church environments. You can show a video, do a worship song, practice the memory verse, or do a hands-on lesson. Using a curriculum like First Look from Orange makes it easier for you to share the big idea and provides great content to use in planning your event. You can also link your event to a bigger cause. You can do a food drive, make cards for people going on a mission’s trip, or bring in supplies for the homeless. Tie your event to what the children are learning, and an outreach project and you will have a winning event. Parents know their children can do great things and it is a win when you give them opportunities to see and do this.
How will you follow up?
The question is not if you should, but how you should follow up. You should always send some sort of follow up to thank the child and/or family for coming. Send a postcard or handwritten thank you note to the child and thank them for bringing their parents. You could use another follow up method, but make sure it is personal! When people know you saw them, they feel that their presence mattered, and they will return.
You have answered all your questions, you planned an event, and you hosted a successful event. Now follow up and then repeat what worked. Families are looking for ways to have fun, connect with their child(ren), and make memories, so why can’t they do this at church? They can because of the hard work you have done. Now do it again, change the content but keep the schedule, time, and place of the event the same. They will come back again and again!