How to Hold an Outdoor Revival Meeting

Outdoor revival meetings can help people renew or initiate commitment to God.

Outdoor revival meetings allow churches to provide inspirational and powerful messages that exhort believers to renew their commitment and help nonbelievers learn how they can begin a relationship with God. Many churches hold revivals once or twice a year and use the events as an opportunity to hold seminars, group classes and community outreach services. An important aim is recruit new members. Outdoor revivals are not confined to the interior of a church. With proper planning, they can accommodate more members than a regular service.

Instructions

1. Review the church calendar to select the best time to hold the outdoor revival. Ideally, you should plan six to 12 months in advance, but at least eight to twelve weeks before the event takes place will give you time to work out the details.

2. Book guest pastors and evangelists to speak at the revival. These speakers should share the same spiritual goals and philosophy as your church but should also possess the oratorical skills necessary to inspire an outdoor church audience.

3. Meet with the choir director and sound system technicians to arrange the musical portion of the revival and to plan for the instruments and equipment needed to project sound during the revival.

4. Secure a venue for the revival. Some churches own large back parking lots that may provide ample space for an outdoor revival. Other possible venues include parks and college lawns.

5. Send out invitation bulletins to all church members and ask them to invite a friend or family number who doesn't normally attend services. If your church has a website, advertise the outdoor revival online. Provide a weekly reminder about the revival during normal church services. Use social media to spread the word in your community and organize door-to-door visitations on Saturdays to invite people to the revival.

6. Print and distribute the final revival schedule, which provides a detailed breakdown of all events, speakers, sermon topics and music featured during the outdoor revival.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider joining forces with another church of the same denomination that can help you share expenses and stage an even larger revival.

• Book several guest speakers to avoid a last-minute cancellation that could force you to alter the revival schedule.

References

• Sandhills Baptist Association: Revival Service Planning
• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Revival, Renewal and Evangelism (PDF)
• Make It Plain Gospel Min. Inc.: Pastor's Revival Planning Suggestions (PDF)