Gifts for a New Believer or Someone Coming Back to Church
A man in his fifties comes through the church doors on a Sunday in November. He hasn't been inside one in twenty years. He stands in the lobby with his coat on, looking at the coffee table, and a woman he's never met says good morning and asks if he'd like to sit with her.
Whatever happens in the next hour, the way that woman greets him is the first gift he gets.
Short answer: the best gifts for a new believer or someone coming back to church are small, plain and free of pressure, and the best of all is a seat beside you. Our gifts start at $25.
A gift in this situation is a delicate thing. A person who has just started to believe, or has just started to come back, is already doing something brave. A gift can help them, or it can make them feel inspected. This guide is about the first kind.
Below are seven ideas. Four are gifts you can order from us, priced in Canadian dollars and checked on 24 Oct. Three cost nothing and might matter more.
Four gifts to order
Names of Christ Mug, $25 for 11 oz and $35 for 15 oz. The names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 are stacked around the mug, so there's something to read over coffee, with no lesson attached. Add the person's name at the base if you like. Best for: someone who wants to know who Jesus is without being told. Not for: a person who'd feel put on the spot by a mug that says it out loud.
Put On Christ Baptism Print, $25 for 8x10 in, $29 for 11x14 in and $35 for 16x20 in. Galatians 3:27 with the name and the date of the baptism. Frame not included. Best for: a new believer who has just been baptized. Not for: someone still deciding.
Near to the Brokenhearted Print, $25 for 8x10 in, $29 for 11x14 in and $35 for 16x20 in. Psalm 34:18, with no name or date. Some people come back to church after a loss, and this is a gift that says so gently. Best for: someone coming back in a hard season. Not for: a person who hasn't told you what happened, so don't guess.
John 3:16 Christmas Art Print, $25 for 8x10 in, $29 for 11x14 in and $35 for 16x20 in. It's the best-known sentence in the Bible, printed plain, with a name beneath it if you want one. You see exactly how it will print before you pay. Best for: a new believer with a Christmas ahead. Not for: someone who'd like something less familiar.
Three that cost nothing
A seat beside you, and coffee afterward. Arrive early, save the seat, and offer to walk them to the kids' rooms or the coat rack. It costs one Sunday morning of your attention. Best for: anyone. Not for: a visit where you also try to introduce them to six people at once.
A Gospel of John or Mark and a plain reading plan. Give them a Bible you've looked at together, and offer to read a chapter a week and talk it over. A short book is easier to finish than a long one. Best for: a new believer who likes to read. Not for: a first week, when the best plan is none.
An invitation without a deadline. Say, "Come whenever you like, and there's a seat if you do." No sign-up sheet, no small-group form, no follow-up call the next day. Best for: a returning person who left for a reason. Not for: a church that wants a decision card by Friday.
I have given new believers study Bibles, devotionals, and in some cases commentaries or inspiring novels. I think the gift I was most proud to give was The Jesus Storybook Bible, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago. Although it is meant for children, the redemptive story is so well done that I have given it to new believers as well. One line of it summarises the gospel for me: “You see, no matter what, in spite of everything, God would love his children with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. And though they would forget him, and run from him, deep in their hearts God’s children would miss him always, and long for him — lost children yearning for their home.”
What to skip
Skip a stack of books. Skip a study with forty weeks of homework. Skip anything with a quiz. Skip a gift that sends the message that they're now in a class and you're the teacher.
Skip the Bible with their name stamped in gold unless they've asked for it. It's a lovely gift for a baptism and a heavy one for a Tuesday.
The story behind the welcome
Jesus told a story about a son who left home and came back with nothing to say. The father didn't wait in the house.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20, KJV)
That's the model. The father runs first and asks later. A church can do the same, one person at a time.
If your church welcomes several at once
A church that baptizes at Easter, or welcomes a class of new members, can order the same keepsake for everyone. Our church page takes orders from 10 to 200 pieces, with a quote and a proof within one business day. The price per piece comes down as the quantity goes up, and the exact number is in the quote. Check the order-by dates on that page, because printed gifts take a few days to make.
How we chose
Every gift here is one we sell, so there are no affiliate links in this guide. The free ideas are the ones we'd want ourselves. Prices are in Canadian dollars and were checked on 24 Oct. Our shop ships across Canada with no duties, and each item is printed to order by our production partner. You can read how we choose on our disclosure page.
Questions people ask
- What is a good gift for a new believer? Something small and plain, like a mug or a print with Scripture on it, or a Gospel you read together. Pair it with an invitation, not a requirement.
- What do you give someone returning to church? A seat, a coffee and no questions. If you want to give an object, choose one that doesn't ask them to explain where they've been.
- Should the gift be a Bible? Only if they've asked for one, or you can choose it together.
- Can our church order for new members? Yes, from 10 to 200 pieces on our church page.
Browse more in our profession of faith gifts.