One effective way to bring new guests into your church is simple: invite people out for coffee.
Why Coffee Works
When we first tested this approach, I didn’t think anyone would say yes to meeting a stranger for coffee to talk about faith.
People are open, curious about God, interested in community, and often searching for a safe way to take that first step toward church.
1. Pastor Josh booked 78 coffee meetings in one month. He shared, “Literally, I would sit in the same coffee shop and somebody would come in. We would have a conversation for 45 minutes to an hour, and then the next person would come in.”
2. Pastor Brandon met with over 50 people. He said, “We’re not even promoting Sunday service with these individuals. We’re just trying to get to know their name and their story. The result is that people are joining our teams and consistently attending.”
3. Pastor Joe and his wife, new to Orange County, booked over 80 coffee meetings. “We would go, bring our laptop, and wait to see if someone showed up. If they didn’t, we worked. If they did, we had a conversation. One lady even asked if her daughter, who is homosexual, would be welcome. We told her 100% she is.”
4. Pastor Rory Chance of Genesis Church said, “We launched our church, and we had 160 people at our launch day. A big part of that is our partnership with Church Candy. We’ve worked with Corey and Brady over the last five or six months—advertising, reaching out to our community, running ads—and it has been a pivotal part of our strategy.”
These coffee meetings created meaningful conversations and long-term engagement.
Why It Matters Now
Today, more than 50% of Christians aren’t connected to a local church. That’s a huge opportunity. Between May and September, the peak moving season in the U.S, millions relocate. Many of them are searching for a new community.
Church leaders can stay active and reach new people who need Jesus, even during the summer months.
“There is no such thing as a summer slump, only a summer surrender. Your church is only going to have a summer slump if you want it to.”
Remember what it says in Matthew 9:37: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
This aligns with Matthew 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Strategy: Coffee With a Pastor Ads
Here’s how it works:
1. Create a simple video ad: Shoot a short vertical video that feels personal, direct, and authentic: start with a hook, share a quick story, and end with a clear call to action. Mention your city by name. This style is something we’ve helped dozens of pastors implement successfully at Church Candy.
Ask questions, people are already thinking:
– “Got questions about God or church?”
– “Wondering what the Bible says about today’s culture?”
2. Set up a lead form: Collect basic info and allow people to schedule a time.
3. Be available: Choose a couple of mornings to work from a coffee shop. Let your calendar fill up with people curious about faith.
4. Meet and talk: Listen. Share your testimony. Invite them to visit your church.
5. Follow up: A quick reminder call or message helps increase show-up rates.
Addressing Concerns
– Some pastors worry about meeting alone with women. You can customize your form to redirect or filter for safer logistics.
– Others question whether this strategy focuses too much on numbers. The real focus is on creating authentic conversations that lead to discipleship.
Church leaders can create meaningful, face-to-face conversations that lead to real connection and community impact. This is exactly what we’ve seen work across hundreds of churches we support.
The Cost
You don’t need a huge budget. If a coffee ad costs $10 per lead, a $500 budget could give you 50 meetings. Even if only half show up, that’s 25 chances to connect and guide someone toward Christ.
What I’ve Learned
When I was a youth pastor, I ran ads for businesses during the day. I tried it for our church. The first campaign failed. We spent $400, and no one came.
We adjusted and refined the ad strategy and saw results. Other pastors began asking for help. That led to Church Candy. Today, we support over 450 churches.
People are searching. Many have doubts, past wounds, or feel disconnected. Coffee meetings give them a way back into the community and a path toward faith.
Ready to Start?
You don’t need expensive gear or production: A phone, a simple form, and a willingness to connect are enough to start.
Many people in your city drive by your church every day. Let’s meet them for coffee and open the door to something greater.
In one campaign, we booked over 70 meetings in a month. That’s the kind of response possible when you show up and make space for real conversations.
If you want help launching this, schedule a call with us.
About The Author
