Why Most Church Welcome Leaflets Miss the Mark—And How to Fix Yours
Most churches have a welcome leaflet sitting near the entrance or in the pews. It's well-meaning and often beautifully designed—but if we’re honest, the content is sometimes mismatched with reality.
It tells people when to arrive… how to find the building… maybe even what to expect when they walk through the doors. But if someone’s reading that leaflet on a Sunday morning, guess what? They’ve already figured all that out.
So before you design a church welcome leaflet or flyer, it’s worth asking one simple question:
Where is someone going to pick this up?
Because that changes everything.
Welcome Leaflets Inside the Church
If someone is already sitting in your building, they don’t need directions or service times—they need a next step.
Here’s what to include in an in-church welcome leaflet:
A warm, short welcome
From the pastor or leadership team—just a sentence or two.
“We’re so glad you’re here. Whether you’re visiting, returning to church, or looking for community—you’re welcome.”
A “What’s Next?” section
Let people know how they can learn more or get involved. For example:
Join us for refreshments after the service
Speak to someone wearing a lanyard
Visit our welcome point / connect area
Sign up for our next newcomers lunch
A simple connect form
This is key. If they’re new, give them an easy way to share their details. Either:
A tear-off slip
A QR code to an online form
A printed form they can hand in
Welcome Flyers Outside the Church
Now let’s imagine this is being handed out at a community event, or left in a café, or posted through someone’s door. Here, your church welcome flyer needs to answer a different set of questions.
If someone’s never been, they’ll want to know:
What is this church like?
(Warm? Modern? Traditional? Family-focused?)When do you meet?
(Service times, midweek events)Where are you?
(Postcode, map, parking details, accessibility)How can they find out more?
(Website, social media, contact number or email)Why might they come?
(Highlight something invitational—Alpha, family services, carol service, etc.)
What Makes a Great Church Welcome Leaflet (In Any Context)
No matter where it’s being used, here are a few universal design tips:
Stick to your branding
Use your church’s fonts, colours, and logo consistentlyUse plain language
Speak how you’d speak in person—not like a brochureDon’t overcrowd it
Keep it spacious and inviting, not a wall of textHave one clear action
Whether it’s “Fill in the form” or “Join us next Sunday,” make the next step obvious
Ready-Made Tools to Help
If you don’t have a designer on-hand, tools like these are a great starting point:
Canva – Easy-to-edit welcome leaflet and connect card templates
MyCreativeShop / PosterMyWall – Print-ready church flyer layouts
QR Code Generator – For linking to digital connect forms or intro videos
And of course, Flock & Canvas can help you create something beautiful, branded, and effective—whether that’s a full newcomers pack, editable print files, or a set of digital and print assets that work together.