CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?

A Highly Effective Community Campaign For Local Churches

When Hope UC began looking at new ways to reach their local community, they looked beyond the conventional approach of simply inviting people to come to church.

“When trying to reach friends, family, neighbours and the local community, we tend to invite them to an event,” said Mark Zschech, who pastors Hope UC with his wife, Darlene. “Too often we are met with a ‘No, thanks.’ However, when we found someone is asked a simple question – Can we pray for you? – the answer is almost always ‘Yes’.”

This simple question is the heart of the campaign launched by Hope UC four years ago in their NSW Central Coast community. The response has been so positive and has sparked the beginning of discipleship journeys of many people who would otherwise not have connected with a church.

“Hope UC has now run this campaign for four years and each time we are so overwhelmed by what God does through these five words,” said Mark. “The more we run this campaign, the more we find that our community is desperately searching for help.” GROWING MOMENTUM

What started as a campaign by one local church has since grown in momentum to become a large outreach embraced by collective groups of churches in the geographical region. In 2022, 17 local churches, representing 25 locations across the region, united to reach their community in the lead up to Easter.

The churches are all supported by a central marketing strategy that is co-ordinated by 4B Media.

Mark Zschech explains how it works. “The Can we pray for you? message is communicated through letterbox drops, outdoor banners, billboards and backs of buses. We also did local television ads hosted by different pastors."

The prayer needs are shared either through a dedicated website or written requests. Each prayer request includes provision for a postcode and permission to be contacted by one of the local churches listed in the area. Local churches then follow up with invitations and an encouragement to join a local Alpha course.

“We run the campaign during the Lent period in the lead

up to Easter,” explained Mark. “Every need submitted is prayed for by the local church, and it is has been amazing to see how congregation members lean in and then reach out, as they become bolder in asking strangers if they can pray for them.”

Every prayer is valued. The testimonies of answered prayers range from lost pets being found, to employment, to relationships being restored.

“Can we pray for you? has opened up a way for us to help point people to God and for them to experience first hand His goodness through answered prayer,” reported Mark. “From this we have found that people are very open to an evangelism invite, and are one step closer to making a decision to follow Christ and start their discipleship journey.”

AWARD WINNING CAMPAIGN

The Can we pray for you? Campaign was presented with the Community Impact Award at the annual Christian Media & Arts Australia conference in September 2022. “Mark & Darlene, and their team have initiated an incredible opportunity for local churches to connect with their communities,” said ACC National President, Wayne Alcorn. “We are looking at how this campaign could be implemented in many regions right across our nation in the future. We plan to share more details at the ACC23 National Conference.”

Visit canweprayforyou.com.au for more information

'Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

(Luke 11:2 NKJV)