The Easter Aftermath: 5 Metrics Pastors Can’t Afford to Ignore

Gloo | 3/20/25 10:29 AM

Easter Sunday is one of the biggest days of the year for churches. Attendance surges, new faces fill the seats, and engagement spikes across every ministry. But after the celebration fades, one key question remains:

What happens next?

The key to turning Easter momentum into lasting church growth lies in tracking the right numbers. By analyzing these post-Easter metrics, pastors can identify  what worked, what needs improvement, and—most importantly—how to nurture deeper connections with visitors and members

Here are five critical post-Easter metrics every pastor should monitor tracking and how they can guide your next steps.

1. Service Attendance: Who Came, and Who Stayed?

Easter typically brings an influx of visitors, but the real measure of impact is how many return. 
Key Metrics to Track:

  • Compare Easter attendance to the Sundays before and after. 
  • Track new visitors vs. returning attendees — who stayed engaged?
  • Identify patterns in growth or dropoff to inform future engagement strategies.

✅ Next Steps:
If attendance spiked but didn’t hold, focus on stronger follow-up messaging—texts, emails, and personal invitations to keep new guests engaged. 

2. Next Generation Attendance: Are We Reaching the Future Church?

Engaging children and students isn’t just about today—it’s about building the next generation of the church.
Key Metrics to Track:

  • How many children & students attended Easter services?
  • Did parents bring their kids back the following week?
  • Was there a spike in new families visiting your kids’ or youth ministries?

✅ Next Steps:
If family attendance was high, consider sending follow-up texts with resources for parents, invitations to kids’ events, or info about student ministries.

3. Total Giving & Giving Units: Measuring Financial Health

Easter often brings an increase in generosity—but was it just a one-time spike, or does it indicate deeper commitment?
Key Metrics to Track:

  • Compare total giving on Easter with a typical Sunday.
  • Track the number of first-time givers—this shows engagement beyond attendance.
  • Look at recurring giving trends—did new donors continue giving after Easter?

✅ Next Steps:

  • Thank first-time givers with a personalized message showing the impact of their generosity.
  • Provide easy ways to give regularly, encouraging sustained support.

4. Congregant Participation: Who’s Getting Involved?

Church growth isn’t just about attendance—it’s about engagement. Are people moving from sitting in a pew to becoming active members of the church?
Key Metrics to Track:

  • Track volunteer sign-ups after Easter.
  • Measure small group participation—are people seeking deeper connections?
  • Look for new faces in service teams, classes, or ministry programs.

✅ Next Steps:

  • If engagement is low, create targeted invitations via text or email for small groups or volunteer opportunities.
  • Make it easy for people to get involved with simple sign-up options (e.g., “Text SERVE to join a team!”).

5. Online Engagement & Digital Reach: How Far Did Easter Go?

Easter isn’t just about in-person attendance—many people experience church digitally first.

Key Metrics to Track:

  • How many people watched the livestream (live & replay)?
  • What were the top-performing social media posts leading up to and after Easter?
  • Did website traffic increase around Easter—and did visitors explore next steps?

✅ Next Steps:

  • If digital engagement was high, keep posting sermon clips, devotionals, and interactive content to maintain interest.
  • Use insights from top-performing content to guide future social media and outreach strategies.

Conclusion: Use Data to Drive Lasting Growth

Easter is more than just a celebration—it’s an opportunity for long-term church growth and engagement. But if you’re not tracking who came, who engaged, and what impact was made, you’re missing out on valuable insights.

The good news? You don’t have to track this manually.

With Gloo Insights, you can track church health, measure impact, and use AI-powered insights to drive smarter decisions and lasting growth.

Start using insights to grow beyond Easter—learn more today!