#1 - Book The sky's the limit with the type of book you can give away. Sharing copies of the Bible, The Jesus Storybook Bible for families, or seasonal books related to Christmas or Easter are all viable options. With the book you give, keep this in mind: Make sure it’s relevant and accessible. Giving everyone a copy of a children’s book may cause some blowback and giving someone a book fit for a seminary class isn’t the best idea, either. You could also include a bookmark that has more information about your church.

How Good Is Good Enough by Andy Stanley is a good option. Saddleback Church gives guests a coupon for a free Bible that they can redeem at a local bookstore. #2 - Gift card Do you know what most people feel after your worship service? Hungry or tired. Not because your service is long or boring. Since 10:00 AM is the most popular start time for Sunday services, most people will be ready for a bite to eat or a little coffee afterward. With this in mind, consider giving your visitors a gift card to a local restaurant or coffee shop. You can even get custom gift card sleeves from ChurchINK with your church name on them. #3 - Coffee mug or tumbler

First-Time Guest Gift Ideas

Did you know that 64% of Americans drink a cup of coffee every day? Did you know that tea can be found in 80% of American households? These stats may sound random, but here’s the point: A coffee mug or tumbler is an excellent choice for a gift. 4Imprint, ChurchINK, and Discount Mugs are great sites to order custom mugs.

#4 - Food Giving away food can be tricky. Since nearly 15 million Americans have food allergies, you’ll need to give away basic food, such as: desserts, popcorn, jams/jellies, coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. Speaking of popcorn, you can pair this treat with a gift card to Redbox, Amazon, or iTunes to create a movie night experience for your visitors. We’ve also heard of churches hand-delivering a pizza or freshly baked pizza to a guest’s home the Saturday afterward! Just make sure the visit is a simple thank you and not intrusive.

#5 - Local item Is there a small gift from a local business you can provide? Not only will this gesture support local businesses in your community, but it’s also a way to share something heartfelt from your town that people will enjoy.

#6 – An invitation Give guests a personal invitation to share a meal with the pastor. You could give them a voucher for a “VIP breakfast” to come get connected with people at the church and enjoy free food. #7 – Gear We all love free stuff—especially when it’s a nice t-shirt or tote bag.

Bags similar to the ones above can be ordered from sites like Printful or ChurchSwag.

#8 – Scripture cards Scripture cards are a way to make guests feel cared for and let them know that you want them to stay encouraged throughout the week.

The above scripture cards are from Arabah Joy. Similar ones can be found on Dayspring and Crew + Co. #9 - Gas card You never know how financially challenging it might’ve been for someone to get to church. A gas card is a little help that anyone would appreciate to help them fill up for the week. Include a handwritten note that lets them know you’re thankful they made the trip.

#10 – Goody bag They’re not just for kids’ birthday parties. You could fill a guest’s goody bag with small snacks like candy or chips, a pen, a brochure about your church, and more.

Custom paper bags similar to the ones pictured above can be ordered from sites like IASpromotes.com, 4Imprint, or Promo Direct.