A culture of invitation · Michael Harvey

What if the greatest untapped resource in your church is already there?

Every Christian has the potential to extend an invitation. Every church can become a community where invitation is a natural expression of faith.

Discover the vision →Explore ACORN

FOR CHURCH LEADERS & EVERYDAY CHRISTIANS

Small beginnings. Lasting growth.

UnderstandPractiseEquipMultiply

The opportunity

The church doesn't just need to be welcoming. It needs to become inviting.

We often think church growth depends on finding more people, developing better programmes or discovering new ways to attract visitors. But what if we have overlooked something much closer to home?

What if the people already in our churches are the greatest untapped resource for mission?

Unlocking the Growth helps churches rediscover the power of invitation through research, teaching, practical resources and the ACORN spiritual practice.

See how ACORN helps →

“Invitation isn't just something we organise. It's something we become.”

A culture of invitation is formed through the habits we practise together.

A different way of thinking

From welcoming people to becoming an inviting people.

Most churches want to grow. Yet many Christians hesitate to invite because they fear rejection, don't know what to say or worry about damaging friendships. The challenge is not simply to teach people how to invite. It is to help them become people who invite.

From…

Mission belongs to the minister.
Success means someone comes.
Invitation is an annual event.
Fear of rejection holds us back.
We focus on getting people through the door.

To…

Mission belongs to the whole people of God.
Success begins with offering an invitation.
Invitation becomes a way of life.
Courage grows through prayer and practice.
We make room for relationships and belonging.

The biblical invitation

God is the ultimate inviter.

The Bible is full of invitations. Jesus calls ordinary people to follow him. Andrew invites Simon to meet Jesus. Philip tells Nathanael, “Come and see.” The Christian story begins with God's invitation into relationship and continues as that invitation is extended through ordinary people.

Come and see

Jesus invites the first disciples to discover for themselves. John 1:39

One person invites another

Andrew brings his brother Simon to Jesus. A personal connection becomes a doorway. John 1:40–42

God gives the growth

We may plant and water, but the increase belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:6–7

We offer the invitation. God gives the growth.

The everyday practice · A central part of the journey

What if invitation became part of the way we live every day?

God is not confined to our church services. God is already at work in our neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, families and everyday encounters. ACORN helps ordinary Christians become more attentive to the people God places in their path.

Begin with this simple prayer

“Lord, today, is there someone You want me to connect with outside the church?”

ASK

Begin with prayer. Ask God to guide your attention and show you who to connect with.

CALL

Make the connection. Notice the person and take a simple first step towards them.

OBEY

Respond faithfully. Listen, pay attention and act on what you sense God may be inviting you to do.

REPORT

Share the story. Notice where God was at work and encourage one another.

NOTICE

Become more attentive to God's activity and the people you encounter each day.

Ask about ACORN resources Arrange ACORN training

From one invitation to many

Make room for a season of invitation.

One invitation can make a difference. Repeated opportunities help a church build relationships and develop a lasting culture. Seasonal moments give people natural ways to connect and explore faith.

September

Back to Church

Invite someone who has been away, or someone who has never experienced church.

October

Harvest

Celebrate gratitude, generosity and our dependence on God.

November

Remembrance

Create space to remember, reflect and explore hope.

Early December

Christmas Starts

Begin the Christmas story and invite people into the season.

December

Christmas

Welcome people to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The weekend is a catalyst, not the destination.

A National Weekend of Invitation can help congregations pray, prepare, share stories and offer invitations together. The lasting goal is a church where invitation becomes part of everyday discipleship.

Equip your church

Practical resources. Everyday confidence. Lasting change.

Explore ideas and tools to help church leaders and congregations put invitation into practice. This first version establishes the resource categories; individual downloads and book links can be added as the archive is migrated.

For church leaders

The 12 Steps

A practical framework for moving from a welcoming church to an inviting church.

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For congregations

The Invitation Cross

A simple way to bring invitation into prayer, worship and the life of the congregation.

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Everyday discipleship

ACORN introduction

Introduce the daily rhythm of prayer, noticing, listening and responding.

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Helping people stay

The 10 Keys to Keeping

Think beyond the first visit and help people find friendship, connection and belonging.

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Seasonal invitation

Season of Invitation

Ideas for Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas and other natural moments to invite.

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Training and development

Workshops and consultation

Equip leaders and congregations to develop a culture of invitation in their own context.

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Stories that encourage

“

Every invitation begins with a person.

Someone who has been lonely. Someone who has lost confidence. Someone with questions about God. Someone who has been away from church for years. Someone who has never considered walking through the door.

And sometimes, the person offering the invitation discovers that God is doing something in them too.

We want to celebrate the invitation offered, not simply the invitation accepted.

Share your story →

About Michael Harvey

Helping churches discover their untapped potential.

Michael Harvey is a church consultant, author and international speaker who has spent many years helping churches understand and develop a culture of invitation.

He helped develop Back to Church Sunday in the UK in 2004, an initiative that encouraged Christians to invite friends and family to return to church. The work subsequently developed through the National Weekend of Invitation, Season of Invitation and the wider Culture of Invitation initiative.

Through research, workshops and conversations with church leaders and congregations, Michael explores the barriers that inhibit invitation and helps ordinary Christians discover the courage and confidence to connect with others.

Today, that vision continues through ACORN: a spiritual practice helping Christians notice where God is already at work and respond through everyday relationships.

2004 · Back to Church Sunday
Mobilising ordinary Christians to invite.

Unlocking the Growth
Research, books and practical approaches to invitation.

Culture, Weekend and Season of Invitation
Moving from individual events to a lasting culture.

ACORN spiritual practice
Making invitation part of everyday discipleship.

Questions people often ask

A few things worth knowing.

Is Unlocking the Growth just about getting more people into church?

No. It is about helping ordinary Christians participate in God's mission. Inviting people to church is one expression of this; the bigger vision is helping people discover a relationship with Jesus and find belonging in a Christian community.

Is this another church growth programme?

No. It is about developing a culture and a way of life. Resources and training can help, but lasting change happens when invitation becomes a natural expression of everyday discipleship.

Do I need to be confident or outgoing to invite?

Absolutely not. Many Christians find invitation difficult. Courage can grow through prayer, listening, practice and encouragement. You don't need to become an extrovert.

What is ACORN?

ACORN is a spiritual practice of prayer, noticing, listening and responding. It helps Christians become attentive to God and the people they encounter in everyday life.

Can our church arrange training?

Yes. Michael works with individual churches, groups of churches, dioceses and denominational networks to deliver training and develop practical approaches to invitation.

Where should we start?

Start with prayer. Ask God to help your congregation become more attentive to the people around you. Then explore the resources and training available through Unlocking the Growth.

Support the work

Help unlock a culture of invitation.

Unlocking the Growth Trust is a registered charity working to help churches rediscover the importance of invitation. Through publishing, teaching resources and seminars, we equip Christians and church leaders to share the love of God through everyday relationships.

Your donation can help us develop and share practical resources, encourage churches and make this work available to more people.

Unlocking the Growth Trust
Registered charity number 1144336.

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“The object of the Trust is to advance the Christian faith … by educating Christian churches about invitational outreach.”

From the charity’s registered purposes

Clicking the donate button will email us so we can provide the current donation details. A secure online giving link can be added here once one is chosen.

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Let's begin a conversation

Imagine what might happen if every Christian became an inviter.

Imagine congregations where people pray for those outside the church, notice the people God places in their path, listen to their stories and have the confidence to offer an invitation. The potential is already there. Let's unlock it.

Start a conversation →Explore ACORN

michael@unlockingthegrowth.com