April 18, 2024
Levi Skipper, pastor of Concord Baptist Church in Clermont, preaches on a recent Sunday.Thomas Hammond, president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, has issued a challenge, thrown down the gauntlet, and called for all Georgia Baptists to be on deck for The Big Invite. He wants you and your church to join 3,600 Georgia Baptist churches in one united effort to invite one million Georgians to be in church on Easter Sunday, April 16th.
Go to The Big Invite website and register your church to be a part of this extraordinary experience. Follow the guide and get the resources available to map out your plan to make this Easter a milestone in your church’s history.
LifeWay Research has discovered that 83 percent of Americans would attend church if invited. This Easter we could have more people in Georgia Baptist churches than ever and more souls saved than ever on one Sunday. You must begin to plan your strategy for The Big Invite now.
The Christian Index is interviewing our four vice presidents to find out how they are preparing to make this Easter the most significant day in Georgia Baptist history. The following interview is with Levi Skipper, pastor of Concord Baptist Church in Clermont and third vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
The Christian Index: Our Convention President Thomas Hammond has issued a big challenge for Georgia Baptists – to visit one million homes in order to invite people to church on Easter Sunday, April 16. What do you think of that ambitious goal?
Levi Skipper: I am thankful for the goal. I think it is ambitious, but I also think it is possible. Just looking at the potential of churches in Georgia, I believe we cannot only hit this goal, I believe we can surpass it.
The Christian Index: What would you say to pastors about joining the effort to reach one million homes with the “Big Invite”?
Levi Skipper: Who doesn't want to see more people in church? This is something church members can and will get behind. There is a proven method on how to capitalize on this campaign, all you have to do is put the work in.
"I think it is ambitious, but I also think it is possible," says Skipper on the Big Invite challenge.[/caption] The Christian Index: How many homes do you think Concord Baptist can reach out to in this effort?
Levi Skipper: I don't have the exact figure outlined for our fellowship just yet. However, I am confident it will be more homes than we have ever reached out to before.
The Christian Index: Do you have any idea how you will mobilize your people to visit these homes?
Levi Skipper: We are planning on using the methods available through the Big Invite website. We plan to adopt neighborhoods and streets through our small groups. We also plan to use invite cards.
The Christian Index: How many did you have in worship last Easter? Will you set an attendance goal for this Easter?
Levi Skipper: Last year we had 1,701 on Easter Sunday. Honestly, we haven't set an attendance goal for Easter before, we just want to make sure that we focus on the behaviors necessary to make Easter a great day.
