For the typical Japanese, coming to the church for a worship service for the first time is a very intimidating idea. They don't know what to expect, and they don't know if they will be accepted as part of the church group.  Even Christians may feel very intimidated at the idea of trying to find a new church after a geographical move.  Obviously, for Buddhists, Shintoists, and members of other groups, the church threshold is even more difficult to cross for the first time.  The church Open House events that we held at Fukushima Cho Church in Hiroshima were intended to provide a non-threatening opportunity for people to enter the church for the first time. We often advertised these events through literature distribution and we used the talents of short-term teams to put on special shows, etc. The actual events were either at the church or at a nearby public park. Hot dog barbecues and outdoor singing were favorite events that made it fun. A special invitation to a fun event can be just the opportunity needed to help someone make the decision to come to the church for the first time.