October 2004

In This Issue:

Featured Events - Christmas Outreach

Real Stories - Case Study #20: Revival Weekend

Performer Profile - Leland Klassen, Canadian Humor, eh?

Special Promotions - Image Banner ~ Referral Rewards Program

Effective Resources - Fundles!

Event Planning Tip of the Month - Equip members to pray and invite

News & Updates - Team & Performer News

Joke of the Month - Featuring Leland Klassen

Christmas Outreach

Christmas has one of the highest church-attendance rates of all the days in the year. Host a Christmas Outreach Event a week or two prior to Christmas, and capture new visitors twice in one month. Here's how...

Target Audience

• Families
• Entire church
• Neighboring community
  

Location

• Church building
• Community or school theater with moveable seating
• School gymnasium
• Local community center

Site Set-Up Ideas

• Coffee-house seating with small tables, & 4-6 chairs per table, facing toward an elevated stage
• Ticket sales booth
• Refreshments table
• Raffle/Door prize table
• Welcome/New visitor table
• Christmas craft tables

Decorations

• Nativity Scene
• Christmas lights
• Wreaths
• Garlands
• Mistletoe
• Christmas tree with presents in the foyer
• Stockings

Activity Ideas

• Outreach Comedy Performer(s)
• Christmas skits
• Children's Christmas pageant (story of baby Jesus)
• Christmas music (choir or instrumental)
• Christmas caroling
• Craft fair
• Contests
• Community service effort
• Gift exchange

Contest Ideas

• Best Decorated House: Invite church neighbors to come to your Event, and let them know their home has been nominated to receive the "Best Decorated House" award - you can even add special categories for added fun. You may also send out flyers to the community beforehand so people are prepared to compete.
• Best Snowman: Entry and competition onside for children.
• Raffle/Door Prize Drawing: Sell tickets or have guests fill out forms to enter for free. Be sure to collect visitor information for follow up on these entry forms!

Community Benefit Ideas

• Tree Donations/Auction: Receive tree donations (fully decorated) for needy families in town (or provide decorated trees, and auction them off to support your cause)
• Gift Drive: Participate in a toy drive or other gift drive for needy families
• Christmas Dinners: Allow people to donate their services towards providing families in need with entire Christmas dinners.

Food

• Bake Sale: Set aside an area where guests can purchase additional goodies.
• Serve Foods: like hot apple cider, hot chocolate, coffee, egg nog, homemade cookies, gingerbread, popcorn, candy canes, and other holiday favorites.
  

Welcome Table & Ticket Sales

• Greet: Equip a hospitality crew to greet guests with information on the church or ministry.
• Follow-Up: Have contact cards or sign up sheets available to collect visitor information for follow-up. If selling tickets for entry or a raffle, collect contact information on back of tickets for follow-up.
• Information: Have ministry information available to visitors at a welcome booth.
• Welcome Gifts: Have visitor welcome gifts available.
  

Outreach Ideas & Tools

• Door Hangers: Canvass local neighborhoods with Outreach DoorHangers.
• Direct Mail: Send a postcard mailer or Outreach ImpactCard to the community.
• Personal Invitations: Equip church members with Outreach InviteCards for their friends.
• Banners: Hang an Outreach ImpactBanner across a main road or pathway.
• Publicity: Send a press release to local newspapers.
• Radio Ads: Take out airtime on local radio stations.
• Cross-Promote: Hand out flyers, make announcements, or purchase ad space at other Events, movies, concerts, etc.
• Flyer: Leave flyers at local businesses.
• Calendars: Get listed on newspaper, Internet and radio community calendars.
  
  For Outreach communication tools, contact an Outreach Specialist at 800-991-6011 for more information, or click here.
  

Budget Booster Ideas

• Member donations: Have church members donate baked goods, crafts, gifts, and trees.
• Event Program Ads: Create an Event Program, and sell advertising space to local businesses as part or your fundraising efforts. If space does not permit, invite businesses to donate, and let them know that you'll list and thank supporters in your Event program.
• Business Tree Donations: Solicit local businesses to purchase trees and decorations. Indicate on signs which trees are donated by which businesses.
• Ministry Trees: Put each church ministry or club in charge of one or two booths.
• Sell Entry Tickets: Attach a cover charge for the evening: $10 per adult, $5 per student and child, free for seniors and children under the age of 5. Sell tickets in advance and at the door.
• Sell Raffle Tickets: Hold a raffle with tickets for $10 each. Announce winners from stage.
  

Case Study #20

Revival Weekend

Event Basics

Customer Interviewed: Paul R. Viswasam, Pastor

Organization Name: First Baptist Church

Event Name: Revival Weekend

Event Type: Inspirational Church Revival

Event Dates & Time: Comedy Performances held Friday Sept. 24th at 7pm, Saturday Sept. 25 at 7pm, and Sunday Sept. 26th at 11am.

Event Location: At the church building in Savage, MD.

Location Profile: The church is located in the suburbs between Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Attendee Type: Their target audience consisted of families predominantly of baby boomers, church members and outreach into the community.

Price per Attendee: Free

Total Attendees: 100 each night, and 150+ Sunday morning (350+ total)

Behind the Scenes Efforts:

Publicity Tools Used:

Posters & Flyers: Approximately 1,000 flyers were printed and distributed in the community, other community churches and in public places (convenience stores, gas stations, etc.).

Press Release: A written press release was printed in the local newspaper.

Sunday Mornings: Announced 10 Sunday mornings in a row with power point slides.

Other: 2 banners and a marquis were set up to advertise the Event.

Team Efforts Included: Set-up and teardown teams. 10+ volunteers used.

About the Event

Event Purpose:

The Event held both outreach and inreach purposes - to encourage and strengthen church members and to reach out to non-believers in the community.

Event Content Included:

Friday night featured praise and worship as well as the comedy performance. The Saturday performance was split 50/50 between a comedy routine and a message to the unchurched. Sunday morning's performance was geared towards members of the church with 80% of the time devoted to a sermon message and 20% of the time towards a comedy routine.

About the Comedy Performance

Performer: Nick Arnette

Type: 3-45 minute performances, with an altar call given on Saturday and Sunday.

Topic: Servant Leadership

Response to Performer:

The response to the comedian was overwhelmingly positive. This was the first time they've brought comedy with a message to their church, and they were very pleased with the how well this combination of funny humor and preaching went over with their audience. "Nick reaches all ages really well. He has a gift from God in communication. Nick was a blessing--we had a great time with him and appreciated his evangelistic heart." - Pastor Paul Viswasam.

Results

New Attendance:

The Event was advertised as a Revival, and the church received 10-15 new visitors as a result.

Overall Response to the Entire Event:

The response to the entire Event was extremely positive. The attendees are asking for repeat Events. They mentioned that this was the first time an adult came to the kids' level and would be silly with them - this went over really well with the kids and families.

Commitments Made:

1 salvation, and several more rededications, and several other prospects gained as a result.

Additional Comments

Biggest Concerns Heading into the Event:
This was a traditional church in a small town, and they were unsure if people would readily welcome a new idea.

How These Concerns Were Addressed & Resolved:

People by and large accepted the event after they witnessed the impact it made on their families and how their kids absolutely enjoyed it. It didn't break tradition--it just made it easier to apply the Word across generations.

How This Compares with Past Events:
Comedy provides an opportunity to cut loose in a positive Christian way. In the words of Pastor Paul Viswasam, "This tops the list for outreach and inreach events we've ever done."

Would You Do This Event Again?

"Yes. Nick really impacted all ages. We're all stressed out, and people need an outlet to be free and allow God to help them work through their problems." -Pastor Paul Viswasam

What Would You Do Differently Next Time?

They would split up the revival to have one night as a Comedy Banquet Dinner Theater, and the other two days split up between 20% of time set aside for a comedy routine and 80% towards a message.

What Would You Say to People Planning a Similar Event?

"GO FOR IT. Break the traditional barriers, growth barriers, the age barriers, and the racial barriers with comedy - it affects everybody." - Pastor Paul Viswasam

Comedian Leland Klassen

Canadian Humor, Eh?

Where are you from, and what was it like growing up there?

I am from the middle of Canada and it was cold there.

When and how did you become interested in being a stand-up comedian?

I became interested in becoming a comedian soon after I got married. I was basically looking for a hobby that would get me out of the house. I'm kidding, I think it's something I've always had the notion to try and started thinking more about it in university.

How did you become a Christian?

I don't remember what got me thinking about it, but I really wanted what my brother, sister, mother and father had in a relationship with God. I was fairly young (7yrs old), but I wanted to commit my life and I was very sure of that. So I asked my mom to help me pray and she was so happy that she cried (of course I'd seen her cry at an episode of Three's Company.....you know the one where Chrissy's dad accepts her and trusts her finally, it's actually quite moving) and we knelt down in front of my bed in the garage where we were living at the time (it's absolutely true, we lived on a farm and built a new house, but it wasn't ready yet...it's a long story) and I committed my life. I felt like God has had his hand on me throughout my life since--I feel loved.

What's your favorite thing about being a comedian?

Like I said, getting out of the house, especially now that I have children. No it's probably the times when someone will tell me that they really needed to laugh because of events and things going on in their life. For a little while they forgot about it and laughed hard. I like doing outreach events because I can give them a more permanent solution as well (more permanent? like eternity).

What are some of your current struggles and triumphs?

Struggles- trying to be a good father and husband, I always need to work on that.
Triumphs- being a father and a husband.

How do you see the Lord moving through your Comedy?

I want to be a witness on and off the stage. Whether it is an outreach event where I am sharing my faith or a comedy club where other comics get to see what I'm like, I want to be a light to the world.

Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

That would be boasting to talk about ten years from now.

What's your favorite Bible verse and why?

Proverbs 27:1 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Actually I do not know where I'll be in ten years but I would like to be involved in comedy still, as well as some television production.

Here's another verse I like: Phillipians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Spending time with my family and also pretending that I am a super star basketball player, which I sort of am in Canada.

What's you're all time favorite gig?

I self promoted a show in my hometown of Saskatoon, SK and I sold out the broadway theatre. It was promoted as a super clean comedy show, and it was an amazing night for me.

Click here to read more about Leland Klassen and watch his video clip!

Monthly Website Promotion

When you book your Outreach Comedy Event by Oct 31st, 2004 ask to receive a FREE Outreach Image Banner*-a $129 value! These beautiful, photographic-quality banners provide decoration, direction and identity for your lobby, stage or entryway. Be sure to give the banner name and product number to your Event Coordinator when you schedule your Event! Click here for details.

*Booking minimum required. Offer good on new Events only. Not valid with any other offer. Must mention offer to Event Coordinator at time of first contact. Promotion and prizes sponsored by Outreach Comedy. Offer good thru October 31, 2004.

Referral Rewards Program

*Qualifying Referrals must book an Event, valid on referral's initial Event only, new clients only, with a minimum Event price of $1000.

Fundles!

Outreach Comedy Top Talent
+
Outreach Communication Tools

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A Successful, Cost-Effective Outreach Event

Outreach Comedy's top-quality talent, combined with the best Outreach communication tools available, provide the essentials for an effective and successful Outreach Event. Capture their attention with Outreach communication tools, then capture their hearts utilizing a hysterical and entertaining Outreach Comedy Performer.

Now specifically bundled together, "Fundles" combine both these essential elements into one strategic and specially priced package for a complete, effective and successful Event. Ask your Event Coordinator about Fundles and pricing!

Fundles Include...

Equip Church Members to Pray for & Invite People

This team action item invites the members to take an active part in reaching out to the community, and will also help you fill seats at the Event.

Invite: Ask them to think of 5 specific people they'd like to pray for and invite to this Event.

Equip: Provide two index cards for them to write these names on (first and last)

Accountability: Have them keep one card and turn the other card in to the church (with their own name and phone number on the card as well).

Follow-Up: Have a team of volunteers call two weeks later to see how each member is doing with their invitations and prayer.

November 3-6, 2004 in San Diego, CA. Experience the synergy and excitement of joining with thousands of church leaders from across the nation and around the world at the 2nd annual National Outreach Convention. Your passion will be fueled, your vision expanded and your skills sharpened through the transformational general sessions and more than 80 focused workshops in fourteen different learning tracks. While you're there, visit Outreach Comedy's Night of Comedy and our side comedy room, The Comedy Spot for FREE (See below)! Visit the National Outreach Convention website for more convention information.

2004 National Outeach Convention
Night of Comedy • Thurs. Nov. 4 • 7:30pm

Featuring: Thor Ramsey • Leland Klassen • Dana Daniels • Michael jr. • Gilbert Esquivel

2004 National Outreach Convention
Comedy Spot • Thurs. Nov. 4 & Fri. Nov. 5 • 1:10pm

Featuring Thursday: Nick Arnette • Scott Wood

Featuring Friday: Kerri Pomarolli • Ron McGehee

Featuring Leland Klassen

They say time flies when you're having fun, well it also flies when you've got A.D.D. and you're trying to read a book...... and that's even a colouring book.

Click here to read more about Leland Klassen and watch his video clip!