Continuing the Journey: Post-Easter Discipleship and Retention Strategies
April 2025 - Christ is risen, Easter celebrations have concluded, and the lilies are starting to fade. After the apex of the Christian calendar, churches often face a critical question: how do we maintain the spiritual momentum and relational connections sparked during the Easter season? With Easter 2025 having been a late one (April 20th), the month of April straddles both the lead-up and aftermath of Easter. This presents a unique opportunity to both reap the fruit of Easter outreach and sow new seeds for ongoing growth. In this post, we'll focus on practical steps for April that ensure your church capitalizes on the energy of Easter and transitions into steady discipleship and engagement.
Easter Follow-Up: Turning Visitors into Family
Easter likely brought many guests - some from personal invites, others out of tradition or curiosity. The goal now is to help one-time visitors become regular participants. Effective follow-up is essential, as Ministry Brands noted:
- it can be the difference between someone who comes only on holidays and someone who plugs into your church community. Here's how:
- Timely Personal Touches: Within 24-48 hours after Easter Sunday, reach out to every identifiable visitor. This could be an email, text, or even a handwritten note for extra impact. Thank them for coming; express that it was better because they were there. If they left a prayer request or question on a connect card, respond to that specifically so they know it's not a form letter. For instance: "Hi Sarah, we loved having you and your kids at our Easter service! I hope they enjoyed the egg hunt. We're here to support you
- you mentioned looking for a moms' group, and we have one on Wednesdays I'd love to invite you to. Let me know if I can help.
- [Name], [Church]." Mention of multiple communication channels (email, text, social) shows adaptability
- as Ministry Brands advises, use multiple methods to meet people where they're at.
- Plan a Newcomer Event ASAP: Don't wait weeks for an "Intro to Church" class
- schedule something in April, while interest is high. It could be a low-key "Dessert with the Pastor" the following Sunday evening or a "Discover [Church Name]" luncheon the second Sunday after Easter. Personally invite all Easter guests to attend (give options if you have many, like two different dates). Make it casual and welcoming; share the church's story, introduce key leaders, and most importantly, listen to their stories and what they seek. People often stick around if they make a friend or feel seen. One church leader insight is that connection needs to happen quickly, in the first weeks, not eventually. So, that handshake at Easter must turn into a coffee by end of April ideally.
- Sermon Series Bridging Easter: Consider starting a new sermon series immediately after Easter that ties into where a lot of visitors might be spiritually. For example, a series on "Hope for the Doubting Thomas" or "After the Resurrection: Living in New Life." Something that speaks to questions newcomers may have (faith struggles, purpose, etc.) but also feeds regulars. Emphasize next steps in those messages. If Easter was about salvation, the next series could naturally invite baptism or joining a group. And speaking of baptism
- if you have candidates (perhaps some decided at Easter), doing a Baptism Sunday within a couple weeks reinforces life change and gives visitors another reason to come back and celebrate. New believers' enthusiasm can be contagious.
Citing from Tithe.ly's Easter follow-up advice:
- "the real opportunity lies in what happens after Easter"
- help guests take a next step beyond Sunday. That next step might be joining a class, coming to a fun event, or serving in a community project. Which leads to...
Deepening Discipleship and Engagement
April is a great time to channel the spiritual sensitivity from Lent/Easter into ongoing discipleship:
- - Short-Term Spring Groups or Studies: For those not already in small groups, launch a 4-6 week Easter follow-up study. Maybe a course like "Christianity 101" or a book of the Bible (Acts is fitting post-Easter!). Promote it on Easter: "If you enjoyed today and want to explore more, we're hosting a short mid-week group for the next 5 Wednesdays on 'What Now? Life After the Empty Tomb.' All are welcome." Providing a defined, short commitment can appeal to people hesitant to sign up for an indefinite small group. And for those who do have established groups, maybe provide them with an Easter follow-up curriculum or discussion guides so the whole church is reflecting on resurrection life together.
- Serve Together in Spring: Getting new folks involved in service early helps them feel ownership. Plan an April service project (earth day tie-in, spring yard work for elderly, post-winter community clean-up, etc.). Announce it at Easter and personally invite newcomers to join volunteers. Working side by side builds relationships often faster than sitting in a pew does. Plus, people often come back when they feel useful and needed. As we saw previously, summer may have service focus, but spring is when to plan and recruit for that. April is perfect to enlist Easter newcomers for things like VBS prep, etc.
- "come help us paint sets for the kids' summer camp!" If they say yes, they're sticking around at least through that event, and you've got time to integrate them more.
- Track and Connect: Utilize your church database well this month. Input all Easter attendees, note if they're first-timers, and set reminders to check on them. Perhaps assign each staff or leader a few names to call by mid-April: "Hey, just wanted to see how you're doing since we met at Easter. Any questions or anything we can pray for?" Even if you leave a voicemail, it shows personal care. Many will appreciate that initiative. Also watch attendance patterns: if someone came on Easter and then also the next week or two
- fantastic, they're on their way to regular attendance. Reach out to such folks to affirm: "It's been great seeing you these few weeks! How are you finding things? Can I help you get connected more?" For those who haven't come back by end of April, maybe shoot them a "we missed you, hope to see you again!" note around early May attaching info on upcoming big events or a link to a popular sermon clip they missed.
It's worth noting a Lifeway stat from late 2024: 56% of people who largely skip church during Christmas said they'd attend if invited. Easter likely has similar dynamics. The invite got them there; now another invite (to a group, to an event, to coffee) is needed to keep them. In other words, follow-up is an extended invitation process. Keep inviting deeper.
Keep the Easter Spirit Alive
Easter doesn't end on Easter Monday. Consider ways to extend the celebration and reflection:
- - Easter Testimonies: In the weeks after Easter, share stories of impact. If someone had a meaningful encounter or decision at Easter services, ask to interview or record them (with discretion). Testimonies like "I came skeptical but felt so welcomed" or "I hadn't been to church in years, but Easter reignited my faith" can encourage the congregation and nudge others. It also shows that you value what God did beyond just attendance numbers. Publish a couple on the website or social media (with permission) or have a 5-minute slot on Sunday for a live testimony. People seeing life change is motivating to stick around and be part of this community.
- Spring Outreach Event: Some churches do a "spring fling" or community day after Easter to re-engage folks in a non-worship setting. For instance, a free outdoor family movie night in late April, or a kite-flying picnic on a Sunday afternoon. It's relaxed, fun, and easy for a new person to attend. Announce it widely (Easter, social media, etc.). It gives you another chance to interact with Easter visitors on friendly turf. If weather allows, even a post-church grill-out one Sunday where all are invited to linger
- food has a way of fostering fellowship. You could tie this with any volunteer appreciation as well, mixing new and old faces in one gathering of gratitude.
- Prepare for Pentecost and Summer: Note that Pentecost 2025 will be in early June. April's end is a fine time to seed excitement for that (especially since new believers or newcomers may not know what it is). Perhaps start a teaching series or mention in sermons the coming promise of the Holy Spirit's empowerment, positioning the church for another highlight in the calendar. By inviting Easter folks into anticipating Pentecost, you're kind of stringing together ongoing reasons to stay connected: Easter (resurrection) leads to Pentecost (Holy Spirit) leads to summer of mission. It paints church life as an adventurous journey, not a one-off event. Also, start quietly planning any adaptations needed for summer (as discussed in May's strategy), but in April you might survey or ask for summer small group hosts or such, to be ready. That way, when late May arrives, you're not scrambling, and newcomers who came at Easter find there's a vibrant summer schedule awaiting (contrary to the stereotype that church goes on hiatus).
The Heart Behind It All
Amidst strategies, never lose the heart:
- each person matters. Remember Jesus' parable of the shepherd leaving 99 to pursue 1 lost sheep (Luke 15). Post-Easter follow-up is essentially that
- leaving the comfort of "we had a great Easter for the 99" to chase after the ones who are wandering or undecided. It can be labor-intensive (calls, emails, extra events), but it's absolutely kingdom work. As one church consultant put it, failing to follow up is like "reaping a harvest and then leaving the grain in the field to rot." We must gather and store the harvest. Also, be mindful of those within the church who need post-Easter encouragement. Volunteers who poured themselves out may feel a lull. Take time in April to thank them (perhaps a volunteer thank-you breakfast or small tokens of appreciation). A recharged core will better integrate the new folks.
In conclusion, April 2025 is about continuity and community. Continuity of the Easter message - moving from an empty tomb to lives filled with purpose - and community-building among those God drew to your church. By executing thoughtful follow-up and providing clear pathways for next steps, you help people transition from Easter spectators to everyday disciples.
Looking Ahead
He is still risen - and we continue to celebrate that by how we welcome and walk with others in the weeks ahead!
He is still risen - and we continue to celebrate that by how we welcome and walk with others in the weeks ahead!
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At Intent.church, we love assisting with this crucial phase. If you need tools for managing contacts (like a good follow-up automation system) or ideas for engaging content to send to new people, we're here to help. We believe that with intentionality, the post-Easter season can yield a tremendous harvest - not losing the crowds that came, but enfolding them into the flock for the glory of God and the growth of His church.