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Don't Invite them; bring them!

Nina Thiel

Thorough and thoughtful publicity will never take the place of personal invitations to your events. Yes, sometimes people see the posters and show up, but that is rare. Don’t depend on that, at all, ever. And when you invite people, don’t just throw it out as an option and leave it to them to take you up on it or not; make a plan. Give a clear invitation (“So, would you like to come with me?”) and wait for their answer. If it’s yes, then talk about when you’ll pick them up or where you’ll meet them. Your friends may not show up if they have to walk over to the event by themselves.

I’ve seen many groups and their members get excited by their efforts in publicity, only to watch them show up at the event alone (or just with each other) and wonder why hardly anyone attended. Sometimes, not even all the fellowship members were there! On one campus where I performed, the guy who had excitedly arranged the whole thing (including an impressive publicity campaign) not only didn’t bring his roommates and the friends from his department he’d talked to me about—he didn’t show up at all! It’s important to both the performer and the success of the event that students keep their commitments.

Last February, the I-V chapter sponsored “The Point” at UN-Reno, an evangelistic event with drama, video clips and a speaker (see also the Fall 2001 issue, p. 28). Four hundred students came—200 I-V students and 200 of their friends—with 35 signing up for GIGs. Also, 22 requested a coffee time with Amy Smith, the speaker. During the “enlisting” process, the leaders clearly explained to the chapter that this event was designed for not-yet-believers and reminded them that people wouldn’t come unless they brought them. Actually, students were told not to come unless they brought someone! One small group in a residence hall had faithfully invited everyone in the hall to The Point. The night of the event, they bought eight pizzas for dinner and then walked over together with anyone who wanted to come. Now that’s bringing them!