As Christmas approaches, many Christians' thoughts turn to inviting family and friends to church, to share this special celebration with them.
From our Australian Community Survey we know that 22% of Australians reported attending church services at Christmas in the last 3 years.
When asked whether they would accept an invitation to church in 2024, some 34% of Australians say yes or probably, while 16% are unsure.
So if half of all Australians are either open or unsure, it's definitely worth asking friends and family to church this Christmas.
How many Australians attend church at Christmas?
In our Australian Community Survey we asked Australians if they attended church services at Christmas in the last 3 years. Results show that 22% of Australians reported attending a Christmas service in this time period.
Openness to an invitation
When asked whether they would accept an invitation to a church service at Christmas, in 2024 some 34% of Australians say yes or probably, while 16% are unsure. So that makes up half of the population (50%) who are either open or unsure.
Who says yes?
So what encourages someone to come along and be part of the celebration at a Christmas service? From ongoing Australian Community Surveys (ACS) we know that relationships are vital when it comes to inviting people to church and receiving a positive response.
The most common factor that would encourage people to accept an invitation to church is if they feel it is important to the friend or relative (34% in 2021). The next most common factors are how welcoming and caring the church is (16% and 13% respectively in 2021).
For those who value this season as a time to reflect on the story of the first Christmas and the message of Emmanuel - or 'God with us' - the research findings confirm that:
- A third of Australians say they would attend a Christmas service if asked and more are unsure.
- Close friends and family are open to invitation if is important to the person they care about
- Strong and positive relationships with those who do not attend churches are important.
Christmas is a great reason to invite friends and family to come and see who the celebration is all about!
