Summer Connection Contest

�� Campaign Theme: Summer of Connection

Overview

“Summer of Connection” is a 6–8 week seasonal initiative designed to help BWC grow relationally and numerically. It focuses on creating intentional opportunities for members to connect with new people, bring friends into the church family, and foster a spirit of hospitality and fun through friendly competition.

�� Core Feature: Invite-a-Friend Contest

Purpose

To mobilize BWC to reach out and invite others to experience church in a friendly, non-intimidating way while building momentum in summer attendance and engagement.

How It Works

��️ Timeline

• Duration: 6 weeks (can be adjusted to suit your calendar)
• Kickoff Sunday: Introduce the contest with enthusiasm — special music, short testimony, and printed flyers.
• Finale Sunday: Celebrate winners and welcome new attendees with a community-style lunch or outdoor event.

�� Who Can Participate

• All members — from youth to seniors
• Newcomers can participate too (if they invite someone else during the campaign)

 

 

�� Scoring System

 

Action	Points
First-time guest attends with inviter	10
Guest returns a second time	15
Guest attends a small group	20
Guest joins a ministry team or signs up for class	25
Social media invite/post about the church	5
Serving together in a volunteer event	10

Optional: Create team-based scores (e.g., Youth Team vs Adults, or by small group).

�� Rewards & Recognition

• Weekly Mini-Prizes: Gift cards, coffee mugs, t-shirts for top scorers
• Grand Prize: Group dinner, fun outing
• Recognition: Announce leaderboard weekly via slides, newsletter, or bulletin board

��️ Tools to Support the Contest

• Invite Cards: Branded, with service times and a “brought by” line
• Digital Invites: Social media templates and text/email invites
• Connection Tracker: Simple form for members to log invited guests (paper or digital)
• Welcome Packet for Guests: Includes info on the church, small group sign-up, and a small gift

 

�� Supplementary Events During the Campaign

To increase the appeal for guests and make it easier for members to invite, host fun, low-barrier events:

• “Sundae Sunday” – Ice cream social after church
• Movie/Activity Night: TBD
• Game Night – Invite-friendly competition evening (putt-putt)
• “Come Sit With Me” Sunday – Create a hospitality-friendly service where guests are welcomed by teams

�� Promotion Strategy

�� In-Church

• Announce from the pulpit with energy and a clear call-to-action
• Display a live leaderboard slide weekly
• Use testimonies from past visitors or members

�� Online

• Create weekly social media challenges (e.g., “Tag 2 friends you’re inviting this week!”)
• Use hashtags like #SummerOfConnection and #InviteAFriendChallenge

�� Print

• Posters, flyers, and postcards available at the welcome desk and in seat pockets
• Custom bulletin inserts outlining contest rules and points

�� Follow-Up for Invited Guests

• Personal thank-you messages from pastors or greeters
• Follow-up call or text from the inviter or welcome team
• Invitation to newcomer lunch or intro class

�� Final Celebration Sunday

• Special worship service, Baptism, and recognition ceremony
• Potluck or BBQ picnic after service
• Share stories and testimonies of how people came and felt connected

 

Great idea! Incorporating color-coded bracelets into your “Summer of Connection: Invite-a-Friend Contest” adds a fun, visual, and tangible way to track and celebrate progress. It helps create a sense of movement, achievement, and team spirit — especially appealing to youth, families, and visual learners.

�� Bracelet Integration: Visual Progress Tracking

Why Use Bracelets?

• Visible Motivation: Participants can literally wear their progress each week.
• Conversation Starters: People will ask about the meaning behind the bracelets, prompting testimonies and outreach stories.
• Team Identity: They foster camaraderie when worn by invite teams or small groups.

�� How It Works

�� 1. Color System for Progress Milestones

Assign each color to a specific achievement or level in the Invite-a-Friend Contest.

Color	Meaning	When Earned
�� Green	First-time participant (joined contest)	On sign-up Sunday
�� Blue	Invited someone (even if they don’t come)	After sending first invite
�� Yellow	Guest attended with you	After a guest shows up
�� Orange	Guest returned or joined a small group	After follow-up visit
�� Red	Guest started serving or took a next step	When guest gets involved
�� Purple	Completed all levels or top scorer	End-of-campaign celebration

Optional: Use white or glow-in-the-dark for bonus points or social media invites.

�� 2. Bracelet Distribution

• Sign-up Sunday: Everyone gets their starter green bracelet.
• Weekly Check-In Table: Participants report progress and receive new bracelets as they level up.
• Visual Progress Wall: Hang a chart or board with colored bracelet rows and names for added visibility.

�� 3. Small Group or Team Application

• Encourage teams or small groups to wear their bracelets during church events.
• Teams can aim to “light up” all bracelet colors together — bonus points if everyone earns all!

�� Supplies Needed

• Inexpensive silicone wristbands in your chosen colors (e.g., Amazon, UPrinting, Wristband Bros)
• Storage/display containers for weekly distribution
• Optional: Print ministry name or hashtag on the bracelets (e.g., BWC Church Connect 2025)

 

�� Celebration Ideas Using Bracelets

• Photo Wall: Have participants take photos showing their bands — share them in newsletters and social media.
• “Fully Lit” Honor Roll: Recognize anyone who collects all six colors during the campaign.
• Prize Bonus: Anyone wearing 3+ bracelets at the finale event gets entered into a special raffle.

�� Spiritual Tie-In

Use each color as a conversation or discipleship point. Example:

• Green = Growth
• Blue = Boldness in outreach
• Yellow = Hospitality
• Orange = Discipleship
• Red = Service
• Purple = Royal priesthood / maturity in faith

 

 

 

 

 

Event Location