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Many churches and Christian organizations have regular anniversary dates. Whether it’s the anniversary of the church itself, or an event that originated there, it is a great time to celebrate. Which raises the question, what do you say at an anniversary? Just like any other event, planning for a church anniversary celebration can be very stressful. You have to work on several preparations such as choosing the venue, food, entertainment, theme and more. However, it is just not the same if you do not have your speech prepared. A good speech will set a tone for the celebration. Everything else will only fall into place once you are done with your speech.

So what should you say to make sure that you will be congratulated by your peers? On the anniversary of the day your church was founded, you want the speaker to set a celebratory tone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also bring a challenge. Here are some tips for what to say at a church anniversary. Let’s face it, nobody likes to give speeches. Well, not if they’re having to deliver them. However, speech-giving is a skill that one must have because, at some point or another, most of us will be called upon to do it.

Inspirational Church Anniversary Messages

When we are asked to speak at a church anniversary (and we are able to say no as easily and often as we say yes), it’s not to prove how good a speaker we are (the congregation want, or don’t want that), but just to make a few meaningful comments. Hello and welcome to the celebration of [church name]’s anniversary! I’m so glad you could be here today to celebrate this milestone with us.

[Church name] was founded by [founder name] over 100 years ago, and it’s been a cornerstone of our community ever since. In fact, many of you here today are probably descendants of the original founders, and that’s something we’re proud of. We know that you’ll continue the tradition of building bridges between people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs in order to make this world a more welcoming place for all. We’ve grown from a small congregation into one of the largest churches in our city, and we want to thank each of you who have contributed to this growth by coming to our services every week. We couldn’t do it without you! Today is also an opportunity for us to reflect on how far we’ve come as an organization, but also how much further we can go together if we keep working at it together with faithfulness and love (1 Corinthians 13:2). Thank you, everyone, for coming today.

Today is a special day—it’s the anniversary of this church! And I am so grateful that all of you were able to take time out of your busy lives to celebrate with us. I have been thinking about what makes this church so special, and I realized that it’s not one thing in particular. It’s the combination of all of our individual contributions to the life of this community, which together make up something even greater than any one person could do alone. It takes a lot of people working together to bring about change in our world. We all have different roles and responsibilities, but when we work together, we can accomplish amazing things—and that’s what has happened here at [church name]. All of us have made sacrifices and given up things so that we might serve others better by coming together as one body through Christ Jesus. It’s been an honor serving alongside each of you over these past few years as we’ve grown closer to God and brought more people into His kingdom. Thank you for allowing me to continue serving with you!

What to say at a church anniversary

Church anniversaries are times to celebrate. The event is a great time to recognize what has been accomplished and look forward to the future. There are many things you can say at a church anniversary, but the key is to include information that people in attendance will find relevant and interesting. You want everyone who celebrates with you at the anniversary, including those who have been at your church for many years and those who are newer attendees, to feel included in your speech or remarks.

1. When a church has been around for as long as yours, it’s easy to feel like you’ve done everything there is to do. You’ve seen the good and bad times, the highs and lows, and now you’re at a point where it feels like there isn’t much more to do. But I’m here today to tell you that there’s still plenty of life in this old building!

In fact, if I had to guess, this anniversary is your chance to start something new: maybe it’s time for a new music director or choir director; maybe it’s time for an outreach program that reaches out to people who have never been part of your community before; maybe it’s time for a new youth group leader or group activities coordinator. Whatever the case may be, this anniversary is when you can start something new!

2. Dear friends,

I’m so glad that you’re here today to celebrate with us the [church anniversary] of [church name]. We are all so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to what the future will bring. The church has been a part of our lives for as long as we can remember, and we know that it will continue to be an integral part of our community for years to come.

I’m sure that many of you have memories from your childhoods of coming here with your parents, or perhaps even grandparents. You may have been baptized here, or married here. Perhaps one day you’ll bring your own children here for their first Sunday School class or baptism service. It’s hard to believe it’s been [number] years since this church opened its doors!

This church has had a huge impact on my life ever since I was a little girl. My mother used to bring me here every week after school—I can still remember sitting in the pews right up front, listening attentively as she taught me about Jesus and how I could become closer to him through prayer and worshiping Him each day in my heart and mind (she used to say “He’s everywhere”!).

3. It’s been a year since we founded this church, and I can’t believe how much has happened.

We’ve grown from a small group of people who all knew each other to a community of hundreds of worshippers who come together every week to celebrate the things that matter most: the love of God and our community.

I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, and I’m even more proud of all the ways you continue to inspire me every day. You are an incredible group of people, and I am so honored to be able to lead you!

When a church has been around for as long as yours, it’s easy to feel like you’ve done everything there is to do. You’ve seen the good and bad times, the highs and lows, and now you’re at a point where it feels like there isn’t much more to do. But I’m here today to tell you that there’s still plenty of life in this old building!

Guide on Church Anniversary Speech

At the church anniversary, you might: Give a speech.

At the church anniversary, you might:

Give a speech. This is a traditional way to celebrate an anniversary, especially if you have been given special recognition as part of the celebration. The main thing to remember is that if you are giving a speech, it should be short and sweet. Your audience will appreciate brevity!

Talk about the history of the church and past anniversaries.

If you’re speaking at a church anniversary, it’s important to include a brief history of the church and past anniversaries. Also talk about the church’s current status, including any changes or events that have taken place since last year’s celebration. Talk about what the church has accomplished in recent years and what goals they hope to achieve in future years as well.

Acknowledge members who have been at the church for many years.

You’ll also want to recognize members who have been at the church for many years. This is a great opportunity for you to mention their length of time at the church, any contributions they have made, and any special achievements they have achieved.

Talk about how much growth has occurred at the church in recent years.

The growth of the church is a sign that God is blessing the church and its people. In fact, when it comes to churches, growth is often considered a good thing. If you are planning on saying something at your church’s anniversary, then mention how much growth has occurred there in recent years. It’s important to note that this does not necessarily mean that there were more members or attendees—the congregation could have gotten smaller but done other things better so as to increase their overall impact on the community.

Include that there is an increase in people attending church services, events or programs.

The church has experienced an increase in people attending services, events or programs.

The number of volunteers has also increased, which means we can now offer more programs and extend the reach of our ministry to those who otherwise would not have access.

Mention any notable achievements of the church, such as getting a new building, paying off debt or becoming recognized in the local community.

Mention any notable achievements of the church, such as getting a new building, paying off debt or becoming recognized in the local community.
Give a brief history of the church and its origins.
Talk about what the future holds for your congregation.

Discuss goals for the future of the church and what it needs to achieve those goals.

As you discuss goals for the future of the church, list them in priority order. The first goal should be “mission critical,” or essential to your mission statement and identity as a church.

Next, describe what each priority goal will require from your congregation. Will it take more people, equipment, space? Describe how you will achieve each priority goal and what resources are necessary to do so.

Finally, describe how you will measure success when it comes time to celebrate reaching one of these milestones (this can be tricky—what does success look like for this particular milestone?), then talk about how everyone will celebrate once it’s achieved!

A good speech will focus on balancing acknowledging where you have come from vs. where you are going.

You should also focus on what you want to do in the future. Plan for how your church is going to grow, and where it needs improvement. You can talk about these things in relation to past achievements, but don’t get too caught up in those or they will dominate your speech.

When planning out what you want to say at an anniversary celebration, try focusing on these thoughts:

What do we need to achieve? What do we want our church/organization/company/etc., etc., etc., etc., ad infinitum…to accomplish?
What does success look like? How can we measure it? How will we keep improving as a result of our efforts?

Church Anniversary Scripture

Here is a list of some meaningful church anniversary messages and bible verses to commemorate the church’s beginning, present, and future.

#1 While this church may have started from humble beginnings, it is amazing to see how it has brought together such a large faith community over the years. On this anniversary of the church’s founding, I’d like to congratulate you on bringing your ministry to so many people and using it to do so much good.

#2 While this building may be only bricks and stone, the community it houses makes it shine like a house of gold. As another year passes, I thank you for being the glue that brings our faith community together.

#3 Although it’s only been one year since this church was founded, the amount of growth that has occurred has been incredible. Congratulations on the great work so far, and best of luck for what is yet to come.

#4 With each passing year, this church seems to not just grow older, but stronger in its outreach and more dedicated in its mission. On this anniversary day of the church’s founding, I thank you for continuing to be a leader in our faith community.

#5 Through thick and thin, you have been the rock that has kept this church together. Thank you for your years of service and may this church’s ministry continue for many more to come.

#6 While this church was founded just one year ago, it’s impressive to see how much it has grown. Thank you for all you do in the church’s ministry and may it continue for many more years to come.

#7 May this anniversary of our church be a sign of its continued good work and blessed ministry. Thank you for all you’ve done and will continue to do.

#8 As this church completes another successful year, thank you for all you’ve done to keep our faith community spiritually healthy and for making this church’s ministry truly impactful.

#9 I never cease to be amazed by the power of God in keeping a congregation together, faithfully worshipping Him week in and week out. May God’s immeasurably love rain down upon you for spreading the gospel so diligently.

#10 I am praising God for this church and the way God has used it to bless me and so many others over the years. May God continue to lead and guide this congregation through you.

We’ve covered a lot, but the most important thing to remember is that you want your speech to be engaging, sincere, and relevant. Don’t overthink it and try to make it too long or too stuffy—remember that you already know this audience well and can connect with them on a human level! You don’t need any fancy phrases or complex ideas because these are your friends who have made up their minds about who you are already. Your best bet will be keeping things simple; just say what needs saying in plain English (or whatever language spoken at church!). And don’t forget the thank-you part! It may sound obvious but thanking those in attendance for their service makes all the difference when it comes time for next year’s celebration.

What To Say at a Church Anniversary