How to Write Church Announcements That Get People to Actually Do Something

Every announcement competes for attention.

Yours needs to answer three questions in ten seconds:

1. What is it?
2. Why should I care?
3. What do I do next?

If your announcement takes 30 seconds to decode, people will move on. If the action isn't clear, they won't act. If there's no obvious benefit to them, they'll ignore it.

Here's the formula for announcements that actually work.

The 3-Part Announcement Formula

What is this, and why now? One sentence.

This is the "stop scrolling" moment. The hook earns the right to be read.

What's in it for me? One to two sentences.

This is where you make the case. Not why the church wants them there—why they'd want to be there.

Exactly what to do. One sentence.

No ambiguity. No "for more information." A specific action: sign up, show up, register, text this number.

That's the formula. Hook → Value → Next Step.

The Formula in Action

Here's a VBS announcement, before and after:

Before:

Our Vacation Bible School is coming up this summer! VBS is a great opportunity for kids to learn about God's love in a fun and exciting environment. This year's theme is "Ocean Adventure" and we have lots of great activities planned including crafts, games, music, and Bible stories. VBS runs June 10-14 from 9am to 12pm and is open to children entering kindergarten through 5th grade. Volunteers are also needed—if you're interested in helping out, please contact the church office. Registration is now open. We hope to see your kids there!

107 words. No clear hook. Buried details. Two different asks (register kids, also volunteer).

After:

VBS: Ocean Adventure — June 10-14
A week of games, crafts, and Bible stories for kids entering K-5th grade. Free, and friends are welcome.
Register by June 1: [link or QR code]

41 words. Clear hook (what + when). Value (it's free, friends welcome). One action (register).

The volunteer ask? That's a separate announcement to a different audience.

Specificity Beats Generality

Vague announcements get vague responses.

Vague: "Men, join us sometime for breakfast and fellowship."

Specific: "Men's Breakfast — Saturday, March 8 at 8am in the Fellowship Hall. Free food, real conversation."

Vague: "Childcare available."

Specific: "Childcare provided for kids 0-5. Register your children when you sign up."

Vague: "Contact us for more info."

Specific: "Questions? Email [email protected]."

The test: Could someone brand new to your church act on this announcement without asking a follow-up question?

If they'd need to track someone down to find the time, location, or cost—your announcement isn't specific enough.

Common missing details:

• End time (not just start time)
• Cost (even if it's free—say it's free)
• Registration required vs. just show up
• Age range or who it's for
• What to bring
• Where exactly (which building, which room)

Don't make people guess.

One Announcement, One Action

The fastest way to kill engagement: ask for three things at once.

Overloaded:

VBS is June 10-14! Register your kids, sign up to volunteer, and invite your neighbors!

Three asks. None of them clear. Response rate: low.

Focused:

VBS registration is open. Secure your kids' spot by June 1. [link]

One ask. Clear. Response rate: higher.

What about volunteers? Separate announcement to your volunteer list. What about inviting neighbors? Social media content and talking points later.

Each announcement gets one call to action. The one thing you most want people to do.

If your announcement requires multiple steps ("First register, then pay, then add your kids' info separately"), simplify the process. Or explain: "Registration takes about 3 minutes."

Writing for Different Channels

The same announcement needs different formats for different channels.

From the stage (verbal):

30 seconds max. End with a clear CTA.

"Real quick—men, we've got a breakfast coming up this Saturday at 8am. Free food, good conversation. No sign-up needed, just show up. Fellowship Hall, 8am Saturday. Hope to see you there."

That's it. Don't read a paragraph. Don't list every detail. Give the essentials and tell them where to learn more.

Bulletin:

Headline + 2-3 sentences + QR code.

Men's Breakfast — Saturday 8am
Free breakfast and real conversation about leading well at home. No registration needed—just show up. Fellowship Hall.

Email:

Hook in subject line. Summary in body. Button for action.

Subject: Saturday breakfast — you in?


Men, this Saturday at 8am we're getting together for breakfast and talking about what it means to lead well at home. Free food. Good people. No registration required.


Where: Fellowship Hall
When: Saturday, March 8 at 8am


Hope to see you there.

Social media:

Hook + image + link in bio or comments.

Free breakfast. Real conversation. This Saturday at 8am. Tag a guy who should be there.


[Image with event details]

Text message:

One sentence + link. Under 160 characters.

Men's breakfast this Sat 8am. Free food, no signup. Details: [link]

Same core content. Different format for each channel. This is why the master announcement approach works—write the core content once, adapt for each channel.

The Announcement Checklist

Before you publish anything, run it through these questions:

Be specific. "Parents of elementary kids." "Men." "Anyone interested in serving." Not "everyone."

One thing. Register. Show up. Sign up. Give.

Include day of week, date, and time. "Saturday, March 8 at 8am" not just "Saturday."

Physical location (with directions if needed) or digital destination (link).

What's the benefit to them? Not why the church needs them there—why they'd want to be there.

If you can't answer all five, the announcement isn't ready.

Writing for Scanners

Most people don't read announcements. They scan.

Date and time in the headline, not buried in paragraph three.

When, where, deadline, cost.

Under 20 words is ideal.

Not "The retreat costs $150 which includes lodging and all meals and runs from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon and is limited to 40 people."

Better: "Cost: $150 (lodging and meals included). Space limited to 40."

Use bullet points for multiple details:

• When: June 10-14, 9am-12pm
• Who: Kids entering K-5th
• Cost: Free
• Deadline: June 1

Bulleted lists are faster to scan than paragraphs.

The "Why Should I Care?" Problem

Most church announcements answer "what" but not "why."

All logistics, no value:

Women's Retreat is April 12-14 at Camp Pine Lake. Cost is $150. Registration is open.

Someone reading this knows what, when, where, and how much. They don't know why they should go.

Logistics + value:

Need a weekend to rest and reconnect? Women's Retreat is April 12-14 at Camp Pine Lake. Lodging, meals, and time away—$150. Space is limited.

The first sentence answers "why would I want this?" Rest. Reconnection. Then the details.

Think about what's in it for them:

• Community ("meet other people in your stage of life")
• Growth ("practical tools you can use this week")
• Rest ("a weekend away from your regular routine")
• Fun ("good food, great people, zero agenda")

Lead with benefit. Follow with logistics.

Common Mistakes

The novel:

Ten sentences when three would do. By sentence four, you've lost them.

The mystery:

"Big things are coming. Stay tuned!" This isn't a movie trailer. Tell them what's happening.

The guilt trip:

"We really need volunteers. Please prayerfully consider." Guilt works once. Then people stop reading your announcements.

The multiple asks:

"Sign up, volunteer, give, invite a friend, and share on social!" Pick one.

The buried lead:

Three sentences of context before the event name and date. Flip it. Lead with the facts.

The insider language:

"Join us for AWANAs!" Great—if everyone knows what AWANA is. "AWANAs: Bible-based program for kids on Wednesday nights" works for newcomers too.

The Transformation

Here's a full announcement rewritten:

Before (94 words):

We're excited to announce that our annual church picnic is back! Join us on Saturday, August 17th for a fun day of food, fellowship, and games for the whole family. We'll be meeting at Riverside Park starting at 11am. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided—please bring a side dish or dessert to share. There will be activities for kids of all ages. This is a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors. Please RSVP by August 10th so we know how much food to prepare. We can't wait to see you there!

After (47 words):

Church Picnic — Saturday, Aug 17 at 11am
Food, games, and hangout time at Riverside Park. Burgers and dogs provided—bring a side or dessert to share. All ages welcome, and friends are encouraged.
RSVP by Aug 10: [link]

Half the words. All the information. Clear action.

Write tight. Write for scanners. Make the action obvious.