FRIENDSHIP EVENT GUIDE

Hosting a Life-Changing Experience with Children’s Cup

Let’s create an experience where people say “yes” to something deeper: Friendship that brings hope and changes lives.

This guide will help you host a meaningful Sunday that opens hearts, builds connection, and launches lasting impact.

this is where it starts

At Children’s Cup, we believe the greatest change begins with friendship. When someone steps in to care, they become part of a story that brings hope to kids in tough places. That’s what this event is all about.

Your church has the opportunity to be part of something powerful: giving hope, inspiring dreams, and changing worlds.

Through stories, connection, and monthly giving, people in your church become Friends. They invest in a CarePoint community where kids are known, loved, and given the chance to dream. And as they step in to change someone else’s world, we often see God transform their own.

We’ve seen it again and again. Someone becomes a Friend, and they begin serving more, giving more, and growing deeper in their faith. This is discipleship in action, and your whole church benefits.

And this event is the start of that partnership with a shared mission and lasting impact.

friendship is a journey

This guide walks you through every part of your Friendship Sunday, from planning and promotion to what happens in the room and how to keep the momentum going.

The experience is designed to build meaning over time. With intentional moments before, during, and after the event, your church will be invited into something that brings lasting hope.

That’s why we recommend a rhythm that gives room for the message to take root in hearts and lives.

More Than a Sunday: Your Four-Week Plan

This four-week rhythm gives your church space to connect with the vision, respond with purpose, and stay engaged beyond the event. With intentional touchpoints before, during, and after Friendship Sunday, the message has time to grow deeper. The impact expands. The momentum carries forward.

It allows your church to:

  • Build anticipation in a simple, clear way

  • Create one powerful Sunday moment of response

  • Keep the invitation open for anyone who missed it

  • Celebrate the impact your church is making

  • Deepen the friendship between your church and Children’s Cup

This rhythm helps your church move together with clarity and intention. Each touchpoint—before, during, and after—adds to the impact. The vision becomes familiar. The opportunity becomes real. And the invitation to make a difference becomes something people are ready to respond to.

  • Show a short teaser video, use a slide or screen in-service, and share an email or social post to let people know something meaningful is coming.

  • Make an announcement during service using a preview video or screen—highlighting what’s coming next Sunday and why it matters.

  • Share a 3–5 minute in-service invitation. Place child photo cards on each seat. Set up the Friendship Wall in your lobby. People respond from their seats by scanning the QR code and receive a free gift at the booth.

  • Thank your church, keep the Friendship Wall up, and invite anyone who missed it to stop by the booth and become a Friend. Share a video or announcement to keep the momentum going.

Let the Invitation Begin

Before the big day, you’ve got an opportunity to spark curiosity, build anticipation, and get your church ready to say yes to Friendship.

We’ll make it easy. Just follow the simple steps and use the tools we provide.

Everything you need is included in the Marketing Toolkit, including:

  • Editable email templates for before and after the event

  • Social post captions and graphics

  • Announcement scripts for in-service moments

  • Short teaser videos for pre-service or social reels

Use whatever fits your church best, and make it yours. The goal is to help people see that something meaningful is coming and that they are invited to be part of it.

COLLAGE OF WHAT THEY GET

Setting the Table for Friendship

Now it’s time to prepare. You’ve built anticipation, and now you’re getting ready to welcome people into something meaningful.

Just like setting the table before a meal with friends, every detail of this moment matters. These final steps help create a space where people feel welcomed, connected, and ready to respond with Friendship.

Not Just a Booth—A Story

Your booth isn’t just an info station—it’s a window into the world we’re building together.

The Friendship Wall is a pop-up display that brings a CarePoint to life. Through vibrant visuals and personal stories, your church gets a glimpse into:

  • What kids experience each day

  • What your Friendship makes possible

  • What this partnership really means

The wall draws people in. It transforms curiosity into connection. And right beside it is your Gift Table, where anyone who becomes a Friend can show their confirmation and receive a small gift.

We’ll provide everything you need:

  • The wall display + setup instructions

  • Tabletop signage to guide gift pick-up

  • Balloon décor for visibility

  • Free gifts for new Friends

Set it up in a high-traffic space with easy access. This display tells a story your church can step into and experience together.

The Room: Where the Moment Happens

The big moment happens in the seats.

Each seat should have a photo card with:

  • Real children’s faces from the country or CarePoint your church is connected to

  • Information explaining what Friendship is all about

  • A QR code that leads to sign-up

During the in-service presentation, people will be invited to scan the QR code right from their seat.

This is the most important moment of the whole event.  Make it personal, simple, and clear.

The Team: People Make It Personal

You don’t need a huge team, just the right people in the right places. These roles help create a warm, welcoming environment and make it easy for people to say yes:

Role

What They Do

Friendship Presenter

Shares the in-service invitation and personal story

Friendship Wall Host

Walks guests through the CarePoint display and answers questions

Greeters/Helpers

Support logistics, QR codes, and free gift distribution

The best presenters and volunteers? People who’ve been on a Team Trip. They’ve seen it, felt it, lived it, and they speak from the heart.

Looking for a full setup checklist?
We’ve created a detailed Friendship Sunday Event Checklist to guide you through every step. (See: Friendship Sunday Event Checklist)

This Is the Moment

The presentation during your Friendship Sunday service is the heart of the event. It’s where people are invited to say yes to Friendship right from their seats.

Whether you have a full service or just a few minutes, this moment matters. We’ll work with you to fit the format and flow of your service, but here’s what it typically looks like:

Suggested Presentation Elements

  • A short personal introduction or story from the presenter

  • A clear explanation of what Friendship is and why it matters

  • A compelling video that brings the CarePoint experience to life

  • A direct invitation for people to scan the QR code on their seat and become a Friend

  • A reminder to stop by the Friendship Wall and show their confirmation to receive a free gift

This in-seat response is the most important moment. It’s when people make the decision to change a child’s life—and often, their own too.

We’ll provide:

  • A script or talking points

  • The best video for your service length and context

  • Slide graphics with the QR code

  • Volunteer and tech team instructions

You don’t have to memorize anything or carry the whole presentation. We’ll help you make it personal and powerful.

Need help preparing the presentation?

Check out the Presentation Prep Guide for a sample flow, suggested talking points, and tips to make the message clear and impactful.

Let the Story Continue

This moment was the launchpad, not the landing. Let’s keep going.

What Happens Next:

  • Leave the Friendship Wall up one more week.
    It’s totally optional, but it gives people who missed Sunday, or just needed more time, a chance to respond.

  • Thank your church family.
    Use whatever channel fits your style, whether it’s email, social media, or a quick stage announcement. Celebrate their “yes” and remind them: this is just the beginning. (See: Follow-Up Resource Kit)

  • Keep the vision alive.
    In the weeks that follow, show short celebration videos provided by Children’s Cup. These stories of impact will help your church stay connected to the difference they’re making through Friendship. (See: Follow-Up Resource Kit)

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

This isn’t a one-time event. It’s the start of something lasting.

Just like we invite others to become Friends to children through monthly giving, we want to be friends with your church, your team, and your community.

We’re grateful to walk this journey together. Your yes to hosting this event opens the door for hope to grow in the lives of children. It also strengthens a shared mission that has the power to transform communities and change the future.

Let’s keep building this beautiful friendship.