As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.S., local and state governments continue to implement new mandates and restrictions that effect how Americans gather for the holidays—both inside and outside the home. Many church leaders are now contemplating how a socially distant Advent and Christmas season will impact invitations, attendance and outreach for holiday services.
Today’s article features data from our brand new journal, Five Changing Contexts for Digital Evangelism, taking a closer look at the current climate for extending or accepting invitations to digital church services.
Churchgoers Extend Digital Church Invitations, but Still Favor Invitations to In-Person Services
Six in 10 churched Christians (62%) hope that, even post-COVID-19, churches will keep using digital means of gathering people together. As such, they’re keen to play a role in inviting friends, family or acquaintances to participate in online services—but in-person gatherings are still the more appealing invitational environment. Nearly two-thirds of churched Christians (64%) say they’re open to inviting someone to attend an in-person service. In contrast, four in 10 (40%) say they’re open to inviting someone to join them for an online church service.
Those who attend a church which successfully blended digital and in-person ministry even before the COVID-19 crisis are almost twice as likely to say they actually prefer inviting someone to online church rather than to in-person services (48% vs. 29% of those who did not attend a church that engaged congregants well both digitally and physically pre-pandemic). More familiarity with digital and hybrid environments seems to accompany more confidence in bringing others into that space.
Beyond services, churchgoers are much less open to extending invitations to other activities like classes and conversation groups, no matter the context.
