Just ask them. Say “Would you like to come to church with me this Sunday?”
That’s it. You don’t need a script or a strategy session. The Orthodox way of evangelism has always been “come and see.” It’s what Philip said to Nathanael. It works in Beaumont too.
But I know that sounds too simple. You’re probably worried about what happens next. Your friend says yes, and now you’re thinking about how strange our services must look to someone walking in for the first time. All that standing, the incense, people kissing icons, a language barrier if we’re doing any Greek or Arabic that week. It’s not like inviting someone to the Baptist church down the street where the service format is basically what they’ve seen on TV.
Here’s what helps: tell them what to expect before you get there.
On the drive over, mention that the service is longer than what they’re used to. An hour and a half, sometimes two hours. Say that people will be standing most of the time, but it’s fine to sit when they need to. Let them know they’ll see people crossing themselves, venerating icons, and doing things that might look unfamiliar. That’s normal. They can participate as much or as little as they’re comfortable with. Nobody’s going to single them out or put them on the spot.
And here’s the important part: tell them they won’t be able to receive Communion. Not because we don’t want them there, but because Communion in the Orthodox Church is the fullest expression of unity with the faith. It’s the destination, not the starting point. Visitors are welcome to come forward for blessed bread at the end if they’d like, but the Eucharist itself is reserved for Orthodox Christians who’ve prepared through confession and fasting. This isn’t about being exclusive. It’s about taking the sacrament seriously.
When you get to church, meet them in the parking lot. Don’t make them walk in alone trying to figure out which door to use. Introduce them to people by name. Get them a service book or bulletin. If someone on the hospitality team offers to help, great. If not, you’re the hospitality team that day.
Sit with them. Stand next to them during the service. If they look lost, quietly point to the right page. If they want to sit down, sit with them. Don’t abandon them to fend for themselves while you go stand in your usual spot with your usual people.
After Liturgy, take them to coffee hour. Introduce them to the priest, but don’t make it weird. Just a quick “Father, this is my friend Sarah, she’s visiting today.” The priest will take it from there. Introduce them to a few other people too. Not the entire parish, just two or three folks who are good at making conversation without overwhelming someone.
Then let them process.
Don’t grill them on the drive home about what they thought. Don’t panic if they seem quiet. They just experienced something completely foreign to anything they’ve seen before. That’s a lot to take in. If they want to talk about it, they will. If they ask questions, answer them honestly. If they say “that was really different,” you can say “yeah, it is” and leave space for whatever comes next.
Some people visit once and never come back. That’s okay. Some people visit once and show up the next week asking how to become Orthodox. Most people are somewhere in between. They’re curious but cautious. They need time.
If they do want to come back, invite them again. Keep inviting them. Orthodoxy isn’t something you understand in one visit. It’s not even something you understand in one year. The Church has been doing this for two thousand years. We can be patient.
One more thing. The best invitation isn’t just to a service. It’s to your life. Invite people over for dinner. Bring them to a parish event that’s less formal than Sunday Liturgy. Let them see what it looks like when Orthodox Christians are just being themselves, not performing for visitors. That’s where a lot of the real questions get asked. That’s where people start to see that this isn’t just a Sunday morning thing. It’s a whole way of living.
Your Baptist coworker, your Catholic sister-in-law, your neighbor who hasn’t been to church since childhood, they’re not projects. They’re people. Love them whether they ever become Orthodox or not. Invite them because you want to share something that matters to you, not because you’re trying to rack up conversion credits. The Church doesn’t grow through sales tactics. It grows through relationships, through hospitality, through the kind of love that makes people wonder what’s different about you.
So ask them. This Sunday. See what happens.
