Support for Big Welcome
According to a survey by the BUGB Mission Department 87 per cent of churches that took part said they would definitely do it again next year with 13 per cent saying they may do it again. No church said they would definitely not run the initiative in 2013.
Over 3,660 new people came to a church event for the first time at 330 Baptist, Elim and Methodist churches that took part, an increase of approximately 10 per cent on last year's figures.
Each church that signed up received a pack containing material they could use in the run-up to the day (most churches ran it around the suggested date of 23 September) and at their event. An additional Big Welcome booklet about the Christian faith churches could order to give to newcomers has sold over 10,000 copies with many churches purchasing extra stock to give them out at other times of year.
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Pembroke held a Big Welcome lunch which attracted 30 newcomers, some of whom have come back occasionally to church.
Upton-on-Severn Baptist Church in Worcestershire took part in The Big Welcome for the first time. Starting with a harvest festival service over three weeks the church held a harvest supper, Messy Church and men's breakfast attracted a total of 62 people with no or little church affiliation.
'It is as if The Big Welcome has in some way proved to be a launch pad for other activity based around inviting individuals back to church', said minister Paul McCabe.
Churches in the Baptist Union of Wales are planning to use The Big Welcome materials on Stir Up Sunday (25 November) and on the four Sundays of Advent.
Much of the administration and organisation of the initiative has been based at the National Resource in Didcot. With changes to the departments there to be decided by Baptist Union Council next month the future of The Big Welcome is uncertain. Head of the mission department, Ian Bunce, hopes that it is not the end.
'My hope and dream is that it would continue in some way, that it would continue to grow. It certainly is something that churches find very useful. It has been significant in bringing thousands of people to church. At a time when we are focusing the life of the Union upon mission, something that is effective and working should not be lost because this is actually part of the future.'