25 outreach ideas

8/6/2019 25 Outreach Ideas

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Oac pbsg

sa, Cafoa

fom os of Outreachmagaz


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Discier:

Ideas excerpted and/or adapted rom stories that appeared in Outreach magazine

January/February 2003 through May/June 2005. Implementation steps and

checklists do not necessarily reect the actual steps used by the churches or ministries

described but are provided as a guideline. Please direct any questions or comments to

[email protected] or to the individual ministries.

Contents edited by:Lindy Warren, editor

Heather Johnson, associate editor

Lynne Marian, executive editor

Design:

Christi Riddell, design manager

Mike Noe, graphic designer

Cover design:

Keith Locke, creative director

2005 Outreach, Inc. All rights reserved.

OutreachPublishing

by Outreach, Inc.

2230 Oak Ridge Way

Vista, CA 92081-8341

(760) 940-0600


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INTRODUCTION

In each issue oOutreach, we spotlight the ideas, insights and stories ochurches rom across the United States and around the world. In this booklet, weoer just a ew ideas based on actual local church stories weve shared. o helpyou think through the steps involved with launching an outreach similar to theone described, a basic checklist is provided with each idea. However, we hope thatmore than anything these ideas challenge you to take a resh look at the people,resources and community needs that are already present in and around yourchurch, and then ask how you can meet God there.

In a hundred dierent ways, Outreachmagazine says love and serve. Webelieve that by loving and serving our communities with the hands o Christ,the Church will both expose people to the magnetic heart o God, and givelocal congregations a worthy platorm rom which to reach out and share the

Gospel message.

Live the Gospel. Be the Gospel. And be creative and generous as you love andserve your community authentically (no strings attached) leaving the results toGod. What kind o outreach will be born in your midst? It will be exciting to

watch it unold. E-mail and tell us what happened so that we can share your storywith other churches.

Tanks or being part o the community o outreach. It is our privilege to servewith you.

Te [email protected]


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SeCtiOn One

Most churches go in search o new people to reach out to, when enhancingministries to serve those they already have may be the easier and more obviousoutreach channel. Who has God alreadybrought to your church? Using yourexisting congregation as a springboard, launch new ministries that capitalize onthose God has placed in your midst.

whO DO yOUalREaDy havE?


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First, consult with your deamembers to get their input on what

will enhance their enjoyment o yourworship services. Locate a paid or volunteersign language interpreter, as well asback-ups to rotate. As interpretationis more crucial than translation, itsimportant that these people have

a strong spiritual walk and cansensitively communicate not onlyinormation, but inspiration. Provide interpreters with anadvance copy o the sermon and

worship songs. I your church oersmultiple services, it can be helpul tohave the interpreter attend an earlierservice and then sign a later one.However, advance preparation is thebest option. Increase the row and chairspacing in a designated dea section.People who use sign language need

more room to sing and talk. Make sureyour dea sectionhas excellent visibility o yourprojection screens. If lights are dimmed or some

O the 750,000 Americans who are dea, only 2% to 4% claim to know Christas their Savior.

bUIlDINg aDEaf mINISTRy IN yOUR aREa

1DEaf mINISTRySpEakS vOlUmESBrentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, enn., has attracted hundreds oamilies to the church because o their commitment to serve dea attendees.Tis ministry started with a ew, but the church actively promoted it and theword spread quickly throughout the dea community. Te church oers classes,socials, support groups and services, all or dea attendees and their amilies. In2003, Brentwood built a new worship center, designed specically or their deamembers, including more spacious rows and seating to accommodate signing;subwooers in the oor to channel the vibrations o the music; and screens andlighting to accommodate visuals. Te church was aithul with a ew people and

God brought the increase.

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Once your services have been enhanced to better serve the needs o your deamembers, promote your church to the hearing-impaired community through adsand articles in the local dea newsletters, and by hosting social events or the deaat your church. Te dea community is usually very well networked, and it wonttake long or the word to get out that your church is dea-riendly. Designateapaidstamemberorvolunteerleadertoprovideadvocacyforyour dea ministry both within your church and to the community. Includeoutreachtothefamiliesofthedeaf(i.e.,parentsofdeafchildren,spouses/signicant others) in the orm o socials, outreach events and support group ministries.Strive to make your church the spiritual center o the dea community in your area.

For more resources on dea ministry, contact Brentwood Baptist Church in

Brentwood, Tenn., which ofers training, tools and an annual conerence.

or all o your service, make sure youprovide supplemental lighting inyour dea section. I dea attendees

cant see, they cant hear. Add subwoofers to your soundsystem and direct them to your dea

section. Many dea people are verysensitive to the vibrations o music,and eeling those vibrations can

greatly enhance their enjoyment oyour worship music as well as whatthey will get out o it.

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Evaluate your communitysneeds. How many people cant speakEnglish? Will ESL courses benetyour community?

Seek instructors. eachingdegrees are not mandatory, althoughthey are helpul. Te classes requireabout an hour o prep time each

week. Youll need one teacherper class or level, which will varydepending on the interest withinyour community.

Seek child care volunteers orstudents during classes.

Advertise the course.

Covenant Lie has ound that word-

o-mouth alone has attracted manystudents to the class, but a small adin your local newspaper might helpspark initial interest.

A few weeks beore the course

laUNChINg aNESl pROgRam

starts, schedule a training session orteachers explaining the curriculumand the course goals.

The rst hal-hour o each classshould be a social time complete

with ood, drinks, music andconversations. Ten divide the groupinto their respective levels or the

next 90 minutes. Let your volunteerteachers customize their lessons to tparticipants needsand styles.

Helpul curriculum resources:altesl.com and daveseslcae.com. To supplement your ESLcourses, host monthly international

events open to the community;encourage ESL students to invite theiramily and riends. Te event can beseasonal. For example, host a Fourtho July picnic or a May Day party.

With no ofcial language, the United States has more than 300 dierentlanguages spoken today, representing a diverse and increasing population thatdoesnt speak or understand English. Covenant Lie Church in Gaithersburg,Md., is serving its community by helping break the language barrier withEnglish as a Second Language (ESL) courses. More than 60 students enrolledin the churchs courses are nding that neither English nor the Gospel needs tobe oreign.

ESlTRaNSlaTESgOD


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Ask parents o disabled childrenin your church or com-munity what

their needs are and how your churchcan best serve them

Do your homework. Consultwith any experts in your churchor community and recruit them tocome into your church and presenta training seminar on working withdisabled children.

Sign up volunteers to workwith the ministry and require themto attend the training seminar.

When they sign up, ask them to listareas o interest: recreation, ood/

CUlTIvaTINg aDISablED mINISTRy

rereshments, parent support, etc.At the end o the seminar, gather

volunteers and let them know whatand when your rst project will be.

Start small. Dont attempta simultaneous roll out o all oMcLeans programs. You dont

want to overwhelm volunteers.Host a VBS geared to special needschildren. Gauge community interest

and volunteer support. Advertise. Place iers

throughout the community ingeneral locations (drycleaners, salons,local businesses, as well as places

aCCESSThE DISablED

McLean Bible Church (MBC), outside o Washington, D.C., reaches morethan 700 area amilies who have children with disabilities through its ACCESSministry. Te ministry began in 1996 as the result o a church newsletter ad tocare or a child with special needs while the parents were in church. An MBCmember who answered the ad realized that caring or special needs childrenprovided a way to reach others. Trough ACCESS, the church oers Sundayschool classes, riendship clubs, summer day camps, VBS, parent support,seminars and respite care programs that allow parents to enjoy personal time

while leaving their child with church volunteers. Te church is touching people

who would never contact a church otherwise.


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geared to disabled children and theirparentsschools, doctors ofces,speech therapists ofces).

On the rst day o the event,give each child a nametag and askparents to complete a registrationorm, listing contact inormation

(including cell phone number), aswell as any specic challenges, oodallergies, etc.

Partner with another church.I your church is small, ask anotherchurch to join you in servingdisabled children and their parents.

Numerous resources or caring or special needs kids are available. ACCESSMinistries (accesscenterinc.org) is also mentoring churches nationwide that

want to develop a similar ministry in their area.

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4Know anyone in your church who likes riding motorcycles? For FellowshipChurch in Grapevine, exas, a time o motorcycle riding has become aneective outreach to the unchurched in the greater Dallas area. A group ochurch members sharing an afnity or motorcycles began riding together onthe weekends. Gradually, members began inviting their motorcycling-lovingco-workers, neighbors and riends to ride with them. Now, Fellowship Ridershas home teams and participates in various community service projects together,such as Prison Fellowships Angel ree Christmas program. Te group is one wayFellowship is creatively reaching amilies in its community.

Gather members in yourchurch who ride motorcycles andgauge their interest in starting an

outreach to their community. Ipossible, identiy a leader or pointperson to head the ministry.

Ask the leader to organizeat least two aternoon rides or thegroup. Encourage him or her to prayor the group beore and ater eachmotorcycle ride.

As this group continues tocome together, ask the leader toencourage members to invite theirco-workers and neighborsanyoneinterested in joining others to ride.

REvvINg Up fOR abIkER OUTREaCh

Suggest to the leader thathe or she oer an optional 10- to15-minute devotional either beoreor ater the ride. Make sure everyoneknows theyre not required to come.

Encourage the leader tobegin recruiting people in thegroup to organize longer excursionsand post-ride meals; organize andprint contact inormation sheetsor everyone who regularly rides;

and produce and deliver iers thatcan be placed in the community(motorcycle shops, mechanicsgarages, auto stores, etc.).

Ask the leader to suggest

bORN-agaINTO bE wIlD


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For more inormation on biker outreach, contact the national ministry FellowshipRiders atellowshipriders.org.

a community service project thateveryone can get involved in, such asvisiting an orphanage. Fellowshipsministry gets together to deliverChristmas presents to children oimprisoned parents through Angel ree.

As the ministry grows, gaugeinterest in starting small groups thatmeet in homes during the week.

Ask two to three couples to hostsmall groups (no more than 10 to 12people in each group).


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5jUmpSTaRTINg

a kICkbOxINg OUTREaCh

Whether its at the start o a new year or the beginning o summer or all,people want to get into shape, especially women. And oten women want to cometogether in a group to lose the pounds and stay healthy. Radiant Lie Church inDublin, Ohio, continues to see its kickboxing classes that began as a ministryto women in the church become a real outreach to women in the community.

As word got around about the classes and more women invited their riends andamily to participate, Radiant Lies class soon saw more unchurched womenthan members.

Secure a certied instructorwhos willing to teach a one-hourclass each week, by networking

with congregation members and

their contacts. Or contact a localgym that oers kickboxing. Manyclass instructors work as individualcontractors and are looking or extra

jobs. Make iers promoting the

class. Include date, time, place andinstructors contact inormation,

and make sure participants know tobring a towel, mat and water. Advertise the class. Placean announcement in your churchbulletin, encouraging members to

invite their unchurched riends. Askpermission to hang iers or postersin local salons and grocery stores.

Also, put an announcement in your

communitys newspaper, but makesure it doesnt run in the Churchsection.

Check with your churchsinsurance company or legalrepresentatives about liability waiversor participants. At the beginningo the rst class, discuss saety rules,

teach people how to monitor theirheart rate and ask participants tosign a waiver in case o health issuesor injuries.

If your church has a mobile

fEllOwShIp wITh akICk


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sound system, use it. You can also usea CD player with a good bass.

When participants arrive, ask

women to complete an inormationcard, including their contactinormation and birth date. Oer ascale i women want to

weigh in. Begin each class with ashort prayer.

Create cards to pass out tonon-members at the end o the class.

Te card can include church servicetimes and inormation about variousministries (singles, small groups,

divorce recovery) or upcoming lie-skill seminars, such as nancialmanagement or parenting teens.

Each month, send outinormation about upcoming events/activities in your church. Make sureevery participant receives a mailedbirthday card.

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Beore launching a haircut ministry, consult your state cosmetology regulationsregarding acility and operator licensing.

Pick a date and time or theevent. You can plan it as a solegathering or pair the ree haircuts

with another outreach event or yourchurch. Everyone, no matter who theyare, likes to look nice and having aproessional haircut oten makes themeel special. Put together a team ovolunteer hairstylists, who can bringtheir own equipment including chairs,mirrors, blow dryers, curlers, etc.(Dont orget to think about electricaloutlets and extension cords.) Offer evangelism training toteach your volunteer stylists to share

the Gospel in casual conversation,while developing riendships withthose they encounter. Promote the outreach throughiers (check your local government

assistance ofces or guidelines) orrun public service announcementson local television and radio, and innewspapers. Be sure you mentionthe service is ree, with no stringsattached.

Gather information aboutother resources and ministries thathelp the less ortunate (clothing,toy and ood distribution agencies).Ten, create a resource sheet you cangive to each haircut recipient, along

with inormation about your churchand its ministries. Ask other congregationmembers to greet participants at the

door and host the event by settingup rereshment stations among thestyling stations. Prepare them tooer counsel and prayer throughoutthe day.

I youve got a couple o hairstylists in your midstor know a ew Christianstylists in your area who would volunteer their timeconsider beginning aunique outreach by giving new dos to those in your community who cantaord a proessional haircut. Open Door Ministries in Crowley, exas, pampers

women, men and children, while sharing Christ and building new relationships.

SNIp aNDShaRE

STylIzINg yOUROwN haIRCUT mINISTRy


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7maRRIagE

ENRIChmENT

Most growing communities have young couples and amilies. One o the bestways to build relationships with unchurched couples in your community is tobecome a valuable resource. Consider having couples take a personality test aheado time, and having a certied acilitator score the tests. Ten, host an event

where couples go through the test results to learn more about each other, as wellas meet other couples in the area and nd out more about your church. Pointo Grace Church in Jacksonville, Fla., ranks this event as the most successuloutreach the church has hosted or couples.

Decide how you want to hostthe event. Options include askingyour couples small groups to host theevent in a home or planning a larger

event at the church and breakinginto small groups.

Select the type o personalitytest (Myers-Briggs, DISC, MarriageInsights) that you want to use andorder the copies.

Find a facilitator and/or marriage counselor who can

help explain the test results andanswer questions.

Pick two dates and beginpromoting the series. Mostacilitators will say that you need

plaNNINg fORmaRRIagE ENRIChmENT NIghTS

two nights to adequately discussthe results.

Ask small-group leaders topass out invitations or to blanket

a neighborhood or apartmentcomplex close to your church. Askparticipants to register in advanceand give them at least three weeks totake the test and return it. Point oGrace keepsthe groups small, between ve toeight couples.

Encourage all ages to come.While you may think an event likethis would appeal to young couplesonly, understanding personalitypreerences is key to marriage, and


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couples o all ages can use thisinormation to strengthen, and insome cases preserve their marriage.

Use the nights as a springboardto tell the couple about an upcomingsermon series on marriage or anongoing marriage series on a

weeknight. Make brochures available,

providing inormation on the seriesand couples ministries. Be careul tooer any church inormation in a

low-key manner. Plan a special event,

like a dinner or a vow-renewalceremony to celebrate the completiono the series.

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8Is anyone in your church a proessional photographer? Oer ree Christmasor Valentines Day photos (or tailor the event to your community) either at yourchurch or at a community location. One church in exas makes the most o thehigh schools homecoming weekend. Te team mascot is a bulldog, so the churchbrings in a amilys bulldog and hay, then parks a trailer at the ootball stadium.

A photographer takes photos o amilies and students with Otis the bulldogadorned with a red (teams colors) bandana neckerchie.

Te photos can be made available on disc or or pick-up at the church, or e-mailed as a git along with an invitation to your holiday service or an upcoming

service. Some churches weve proled oer this outreach beore kicking o asermon series targeted to seekers.

phOTOgRaphIC

mEmORy

Select a holiday or

community event and begin buildingyour outreach around it.

Networkwith your congre-gation to learn i theres a member

whos a proessional photographer.I theres no one in your church,consider asking a photographer inthe community. Most photographers

look or ways to connect with thecommunity and advertise theirname. Plus, asking someone whosunchurched to serve with you is oneo the best ways to introduce him or

DEvElOpINg aphOTO OUTREaCh

her to your church and to Christ.

Workwith the photographerto pick a date. Make sure yourphotographer is available or at leastthree to our hours, dependingon the number o photos that youestimate taking.

Advertise in places applicableto your event. I it will involve

students, ask permission to leave orpost iers at schools, as well as atthe local youth hangouts in yourarea. I the event targets couplesor Valentines Day, leave iers at


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bridal and tuxedo shops, oristsand restaurants oering ValentinesDay packages. Encourage your

small groups to let their riends andneighbors know where they can getree photos commemorating theirspecial day. And dont orget thepower o e-mail promotion.

Recruit volunteers to make abackdrop and provide rereshmentsor a small git bag to each

participant. Include in each git baga connection card, as wellas event-related goodies, likechocolate kisses or candy hearts orValentines Day.

As each coupleor amilywaits or their turn in ront o the

camera, ask them to ll out a card,including their contact inormation(how theyll receive the photo) and

any special dates. For example, i itsa Valentines Day photo, ask them toprovide their anniversary date.

Shortly after the outreach,e-mail or mail photos, along with aconnection card and inormation onupcoming events or relevant messageseries at your church. Make sure you

ollow up quickly. Keep a record o any special

dates they noted and senda card. Most people dont expecta church to remember their specialdays. Be a church that showsyou care.

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SeCtiOn tWO

Oten your next great outreach idea is as close as your churchs own physicalresources. What does your church have? A building? Gym? Field? Kitchen?Chairs? Churches across the country have used their existing resources to movebeyond their own needs to launch a creative outreach into their community. Letthese ideas spark your creativity, too.

whaTDO yOU

alREaDy havE?


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Startwith what you have.Count your chairs so that whenpeople call, you can let themknow immediately i you canaccommodate their need. Make sureeach chair is in working condition.

Make magnetsthat say, NeedChairs or Your Next Event or Party?

Weve Got Tem. Make sure theword FREE is ront and center.Include your churchs name andcontact inormation (the number ore-mail they should contact or thechairs). Te magnets can also mention

your other services: weddings,unerals, prayer chapel, counselingservices, support groups, etc. Blanket your com-munity

with the magnets. Pass them out at

large community events and at parks,and include them in any git bagsyou give to rst-time guests. Askmembers to give them to their riendsand neighbors, as well as take themto the ofce. Many ofce lunchrooms

oer a place where items like thesecan be let. Ask a volunteer or churchsecretary to coordinate the calendar.Making this a one-person job

will help avoid conusion and anyscheduling conicts. When someone calls, let them

know where and when to pick up thechairs and when (date and time) theyshould be returned. Te inevitablequestion, Tere is no rental ee?oers a good opportunity to say, We

9Got chairs? What church doesnt? Even i you dont have a building, you haveolding chairs. Heres your chance to create a connection pointoer chairspeople can borrow or ree so that the next time someones having a party orevent, they turn to your church. Your church can serve your community, whetherits a celebration like a wedding reception or baby shower, or difcult times, suchas a memorial service.

lEND a ChaIR

ORgaNIzINg aNOUTREaChOf ChaIRS


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just want to be a church that servesour community.

If you have enough people with

trucks, volunteer to deliver the chairs.I not, make sure a church memberis there to greet whoever picks themup. Ask him or her to ll out a contactcard, including the date o the eventand purpose. Make the picking-up

and returning process quick andconvenient. In your follow-up

correspondence, personalize theletter or card: We hope your bridalshower on X date was a hit! Includeany inormation about upcomingchurch activities as well as a FreeChairs magnet or ier.

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Estimate the costs or yourchurch and budget. I your churchhas ve visitors a week, monthlycosts or a visitor git programcan be as low as $20. Decide i the git will be given tothe guest at church or sent later in

the mail. Some items will mail easierthan others.

All gifts should be labeledwith your churchs name, logo andperhaps even contact inormation.

Consider the gits durability.Will your git hit the trash beorevisitors even get in their car to head

home? You want something that lasts,not or a day, but perhaps weeks,months or even years.

Consider the gits message. Asports bottle may suggest that your

church is active, and a rst-aid kitmay say that your church is helpul.

Consider the season. Summer isa great time or can coolers. Winteris ideal or a bag o Pura Vida coeeand/or a latte mug.

Other ideas: include a

mail opener, ashlight, glue stick,bouncy ball, note pad with pencils,

jar o honey. Places to look:Goldman promotions:goldmanpromotions.com/vannasharp

Heavenly Honey Farms:

honeyangels.comJ&S Specics:jsspecics.comOriental rading Company:orientaltrading.com

Pura Vida: puravidacofee.com

10When it comes to church guests, more may just be more. Te visitor git is atool that many churches use to say welcome and to help guests remember theirvisit. But visitors wont remember i the git is little or insignicant. So go BIG.Make sure the git, and consequently your church, can be seen and remembered.bIg

gIfTSfOR

fIRST-TImEgUESTS

makINg ImpRESSIONSwITh gOOD gIfTS


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CREaTINg ThERIghT mENU

Advertisewith iers andposters at the high school or localice cream shops, malls and movie

theaters where youth hangout regularly.

Contact the high school to ndout at what time and or how longlunch is served. Enlist volunteers availableduring the day to grocery shop,cook, serve the meals and clean

up. Te number o volunteers willdepend on the interest shown in therst ew weeks.

Make the menu healthy, butun. Consider ordering in pizza once

a month. Ask existing youth group

members to commit to coming and

bringing a riend to help get the clubup and running. Invite youth group leaders and/or ministers rom your church andsurrounding areas to come each weekand mingle with the youth.

Before students head back toschool, oer up a prayer or guidance

and protection throughout the nextschool week. Invite all the youthback the next week or lunch, as wellas weekly youth night, Bible study,church services, etc.

1Does your church have a kitchen? Consider providing a lunch club or highschool students at your church. Tis idea works great or churches located nearan area high school.Pick a day o the week, and provide a lunch or students or ree. Youthleaders, existing youth group members and non-churched youth are given achance to interact and build relationships. Encourage your youth group to inviteunchurched riends. Students relish the opportunity to eat somewhere other thantheir school caeteria.

lUNChClUb fORSTUDENTS


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12 Send iers to kids via local

schools which read, Day Camp:Your kids will be on summer breakor X number o weeks. Let usentertain them a week or FREE.Te key is to advertise a day camprather than a traditional vacationBible school.

Choose a themed curriculum, asyou would or a regular VBS program.

Enlist the appropriate numbero volunteers based on the number o

children and class size. Host a pre-party or the

volunteers. Use this time to pray,train and even have the volunteerstry some o the crats the children

will be making or the snacks theywill be eating.

Each day of camp, sendchildren home with inormation ona amily-ocused ministry at yourchurch (Sunday school, upcomingsermon series, etc.).

On the last day o camp, hosta carnival-like party children caninvite their parents to. Kids canpractice a skit or song throughout the

week and present it to their parents.

Invite families back

or uture church events and orservices with amily-oriented sermonseries. Pass out connection cards asthey leave.

Sixty-seven percent o all parents need some orm o summer care or theirchildren, according to a recent United Way/University o Georgia studyexamining the childcare needs o two-parent and single-parent amilies withschool-aged children.

Can you help? I you have a VBS each year, you can. Crosswinds Church inSan Marcos, Cali., renamed their VBS a ree, o-track Christian day camp andpromoted it to the local public schools. In a week, the camps lled up with morethan 200 kids, mostly unchurched, and a dozen amilies joined the church as aresult o the camp.

makEOvERfORvbS

TRaNSfORmINg yOURExISTINg vbS


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ORgaNIzINg aChaplaINCy mINISTRy

Identify retired pastors orqualied lay leadership in yourchurch or area. Approach thisperson or people to introduce theidea. Teyll likely already haveareas o interestplaces theyrequent or people groups they havea passion or reaching. I not, beready with options.

Equip the would-be chaplainwith counseling training and anyother resources they may need ortheir ministry.

Encourage pastors to visit a

place o interest, such as an airportor local business. Preerably, theyllhave already built a ew relationshipsthere beore they approach someone.

A chaplain program should bebased on the needs o the people itserves. Some chaplains attend weeklysta meetings and oer a prayer atthe end. Te group knows it cancall on its chaplain when they needto talk or want prayer. Some simplyhang out, oering prayer supportand services during operating hours.Tey may regularly eat lunch ordinner with the sta and even host aBible study.

Get the congregation involved.Invite your chaplain(s) to oer a ve-

to 10-minute testimony during aworship service o how God is usingthem in their role to serve and reachthe unchurched in their community.

13We hear about the chaplains in the military or chaplains or sports teams, butdo you have other places in your community where pastors or retired pastors canserve as chaplains to a group o people or a place? Tink about your area. Doyou have an airport, a business, a hospital, a re department, a coee shop oreven a laundromat? All oer opportunities to meet unchurched people in yourcommunity and learn their needs.

ChaplaINSIN

UNExpECTED plaCES


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Invite a well-trained organistto prepare a selection o music.Classic hymns may be the core o theperormance, but even classical orpopular music can be a good choice.

Te concert can run 30 to 60 minutes. Invite your senior adult groupto host the event and provide aluncheon ollowing the concert. Pot-luck is ne, but consider catering or aprepared meal to add a touch o class.

Make sure your host providesa warm welcome and encouragestable talk.

Promote the eventthroughout your community usingannouncements in the local paper,and on radio and bulletin boards. Postiers at the local senior center, library,

retirement communities and otherlocal gathering places. Many senioradults have discretionary time anddesire a social connection.

Offer a rafe prize and use

the entries as a way to gather contactinormation or ollow-up to yourguests.

Not all senior adults have achurch oundation or aith in Christ,as is oten assumed. In this day opraise choruses and contemporary

worship, beautiul hymns richlyplayed on an organ can provide apowerul and moving connectionto childhood aith, and perhapsopen the door to a renewed spiritualconnection or many senior adults inyour community.

4Does your church have an organ that rarely gets used? Lake Avenue Church inPasadena, Cali., has a beautiul pipe organ. But rather than simply letting thecostly instrument collect dust all week, the church has engaged local and eveninternationally recognized organists to perorm ree lunchtime concerts in thesummer. Te events typically target senior adults, and run as outreach events.Here are some tips to help you put your organ (or perhaps another musicalinstrument) to use, as well.

ORgaNCONCERTS

ORChESTRaTE

makINgmEaNINgfUl mUSIC


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Evaluate your churchs acility.

What space/rooms are open andwhen?

Enlist a volunteerwho willbe the point o contact or thoseinterested in using the space. Tisperson will be in charge o managingthe schedule.

Contact key community leaders

or ofces such as the chambero commerce, visitors bureau orcommunity center. Let them knowyou have space available i theymay need it. Provide them contact

inormation i they are interested.

Announce that you haveavailable space in your weeklybulletin and announcements, as wellas on your church Web site. Simple

word-o-mouth started by yourmembers helps.

Each time the space is used,enlist volunteers to be at the church

during the allotted time. Tesevolunteers can open doors, showpeople the space, help them withanything they may need, and alsolock up at the end. Be sure to set

15Open your church doors, and youll nd the unchurched in your communitymore open to coming in. Oer your church auditorium, or other availablespace, to be used or community events such as plays, art shows or chamber ocommerce events.Christ Community Church in Ottawa, Ill., has a two-story conerence centercomplete with state-o-the-art video and audio equipment. During the week,the church allows the space to be used by a local radio afliate, the chamber ocommerce and Ottawas Visitors Bureau. Although this initiative was merely a

display o hospitality on the churchs part, opening the door to the communityhas encouraged many seekers to connect in more spiritual ways.

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time limits (two to three hours) onusing the space.

Before the group leaves, havevolunteers pass out cards thankingthose who attended the event or

allowing the church to serve itscommunity, they should also invitethem back. Also, provide church

inormation, including service timesand ministries.

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16 Contact the prison, and let them

know that your church is interestedin beriending prisoners. Ask aboutvisiting times or when a group ovolunteers may be welcome. Inquireabout the needs and desires o theprisoners. Te prisoners in a womensacility will have dierent needs thanthose in a mens acility.

Choose a particular ministry.Perhaps its providing a worshipservice or prisoners once each

month. Maybe you can start yourown recording ministry, similar toMothers Voice. Or you may justenlist volunteers willing to visitand correspond with prisoners on a

monthly or weekly basis. Enlist volunteers based on your

ministry ocus. Open your ministry to the

rest o the community. Otherchurches members may be interestedin participating as well as theunchurched in your community.Let your community know aboutit via iers let at grocery stores,laundromats, gyms, etc. A prisonministry can also serve as a

connecting point among neighbors. Be consistent. Make your

ministry weekly or monthly andstick to it. Provide an example oGods reliability and care.

Is your church located near a prison? Tis proximity can be a great opportunityor outreach, as many churches in Pennsylvania have discovered. Mothers Voice,a ministry located in Leesport, Pa., works with area churches to help incarceratedmothers stay connected to their children. Church volunteers record incarceratedmothers reading their childrens avorite bedtime stories; the recordings are thengiven to the children in hopes that the sound o their mothers voices will rockthem to sleep.. Tis is only one way to show those behind bars that your churchcares. Providing worship services in prisons and one-on-one mentoring arealso appreciated.

CaRINgfOR ThE

INCaRCERaTED

RaISINg ThEpRISON baRS


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SeCtiOn three

In each issue oOutreachmagazine, we share the stories o churches across thecountry that have applied innovation to outreach and are connecting with peoplein resh, authentic ways. How can your church become the spiritual center oyour communitya place that everyone knows they can turn to at their point oneed? Here are some ideas to get your wheels turning.

fREShIDEaS

fOR OUTREaCh


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the CVLI license does not allowit. Print iers and place them inlocal businesses and cards that

members can give out in thecommunity. On the day o the event,Emmanuel puts up extra bannersaround the building. Plan a brie introduction.Beore Monsters, Inc. started,

Emmanuels pastor introducedhimsel and the church, and spokebriey about ear.

Have members wear shirts withthe church logo, signaling to visitors

who they can come to with questionsabout the church or its ministries.Make sure you have church brochuresavailable to hand out.

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CONSTRUCTINg ahEalINg plaCE

Contact your local AmericanCancer Society (ACS) chapter andask them or resources (pamphlets,

books, Web sites) to use duringvolunteer training, and to giveout to patients and amilies.

Recruit 20 to 30 volunteers.Promote the ministry in your churchbulletin and any e-mail newsletters.I possible, make an announcementduring a weekend worship service. You

may also want to contact surroundingchurches and post iers. Includea contact number and/or meetingspecics or potential volunteers.

Host an initial meeting todescribe the ministrywho it willserve and how it will unction. Have

ACS reps on hand to train volunteerson how to answer questions and oergeneral inormation. Post or leave iers describingthe ministry (you may want tocall it a support group) in stores,drycleaners, the local doughnutshop, as well as doctors ofces and

oncology centers. Make sure peopleknow they arentrequired to attend church or evenbelieve in God to participate. Keep

8How many people in your church are directly or indirectly aected by cancer?Now, think about how many people in your community are dealing withcancermany who have no spiritual anchor. Your church could be a place ohealing or hundreds o people.Christ the King Catholic Church in Mesa, Ariz., partnered with the AmericanCancer Society to launch a ministry, Healing Trough the Body o Christ, tocancer patients and their amilies. Trough it, they oer inormational resources,prayer support and a one-on-one outreach program that pairs cancer survivors

with people recently diagnosed with cancer, or with amily members.

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the contact number or Web siteront and center.

When people call orinormation, tell them about yoursupport groups and when they meet.

Ask them i theyd like to be pairedwith a cancer survivor.

Each month, host a lunch orget-together or your volunteers.

Ask a ew people to talk about their

recent experiences with the ministryand encourage everyone to askquestions and to learn rom eachothers experiences.

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Choose a neighborhood withmany amilies. (Beore using anapartment complex, secure themanagements permission.)

To promotethe event, distributeiers. alk about the trip during

services and organize a mission teamthe same way youd approach anoverseas mission trip.

Designate volunteer

leaders or each area (invitations,rereshments, games, ollow-up) anda speaker/team to present the Gospel.

Create door hangers orinvitation iers the team candistribute a week beore and the nighto the event in the neighborhood.

Purchase food. Cooking out

is always a good option. Te smell oburgers and hot dogs on the grill is acrowd magnet.

Plan games and entertain-ment

as simple as basketball and ace-painting, or as elaborate as carnivalrentals, based on the location andyour budget.

Offer information about yourchurch and its services to parents.

Arrange or rides to weekend worshipservices or interested attendees, and beprepared to oer aid to those who mayask or it later.

Ask team members to shareabout the trip during a serviceand post photos rom the night onchurch bulletin boards and Web site.

19While mission trips abroad oten elicit excitement, worshippers dont alwaysapproach community evangelism with the same enthusiasm. Liven up yourregular outreach activities with monthly, one-night mission trips to a nearbylow-income neighborhood. Abundant Lie Baptist Church in Lees Summit, Mo.,promotes its Monday mission trips like an overseas block party that worshipperscan participate in. Te secret is to hype the events as though they are regularmission trips abroad.

mONDayNIghTmISSIONTRIp

plaNNINg fORmONDay aDvENTURES


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Identify the needs in yourcommunity. Do people need ESLclasses, help with writing a resume,clothing or job interviews? Your centermay ocus on teaching basic computerskills (keyboarding, word processing,spread sheets, basic accounting), as

well as sot skills, including how todress or an interview, interviewingtechniques, phone skills and interviewollow-up tips.

Recruit a team o volunteers (40people) every six months who will

work with participants and sta the

computer center. Ask participantsto call the center to schedule anappointment with a volunteer.I your church is small, considerpartnering with a ew other local

churches. Ask church membersor donations o proessionalclothing, used, working computersand printers that can easily beupdated with new sotware. Use

any monetary donations to coveroverhead costs, including computerpaper, printing cartridges andInternet lines. Promote the center in yourcommunity with iers, newspaperads and bulletin board notices ingrocery stores and unemployment

agencies. When people start coming,

welcome everyone, and dont turnanyone away. Volunteers should greetthem, assess their needs and work

0Ever thought o employment assistance as a ministry? How many people inyour community are jobless or unable to nd a good-paying job? Your churchhas a prime opportunity to reach out to the jobless and unskilled in an area thatphysically, mentally and spiritually aects peoples lives, how they view the worldand how they look at your church. Consider organizing a job care and computertraining center in your church.

COmmUNITyjObCaRE CENTER

STaRTINg aNEmplOymENT mINISTRy


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with them. Encourage volunteers tobe patient and conversational. Make sure you have plenty o

coee, water or other reresh-ments available.

As they leave, ask everyone tocomplete a contact card. Tis mayalso be a good time to set their next

appointment i they preer to workwith a specic volunteer.

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Contact local organ-izations,schools and urban congregations

asking or projects. Eight to 10community projects should beavailable to volunteers each Saturday.wo o these can be held onyour church grounds, or parents

with young children wanting toparticipate.

Advertise. Let your

neighborhood know that serviceprojects will be available on certaindays each month. Teyre pre-arranged, so those interested needonly show up. Provide members

with iers to pass out in theirneighborhoods.

Enlist volunteer leaders. Foreach project, youll need a leader

willing to oversee the transportation,necessary equipment and otherdetails. Many o the projects can runcontinuously.

When people arrive, ask themto sign up or the project they wish

to participate in. Before the groups leave or their

assigned projects, provide a 15-minutedevotion and prayer asking God tobless the service done on that day.

21Most typical Americans spend Saturdays running personal errands andcatching up on their housework. But the rst day o the weekend lookssignicantly dierent or volunteers with United Methodist Church o theResurrection in Leawood, Kan. Between 100 and 300 volunteers spend their rstand third Saturdays involved in community service projects, including helpingout in soup kitchens or health airs, painting inner-city churches, assemblingteacher appreciation gits and teaching youth soccer clinics. All o these are parto FaithWorkmission projects pre-arranged by UMC o the Resurrection. Teexible, yet scheduled, opportunities attract the churched and the unchurched

who simply want to make a dierence.

SERvICE maDE EaSy

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pREpaRINg fOR aCaR-b-CUE

Budget between $1,200 and$1,500 or the day to make theevent ree to the community.

Advertise the event, which

can be held on a Saturday aternoon,in your local papers. Web sitessuch as autoswalk.com andcarshownews.com allow you tolist your show. Incorporate a widespectrum o categories: cars, trucks,motorcycles and even plastic modelcars. Tose groups can be broken

down into years, automakers,unnished, etc. Enlist volunteers. Youll

need about 60 to 80 volunteers,depending on the size o your show.

Te main job o volunteers shouldbe to mingle.

For the barbecue,enlist volunteers to buy, prepare and

serve ood. Be sure to provide picnictables and chairs or people to relax,socialize and eat.

Use your church grounds orparking lot to display the cars. Iyou have a gymnasium, you canmaximize the space to display themotorcycles or plastic models.

Consider alerting neighbors to theevent and the potential increase instreet parking.

A sound system can playChristian music throughout the

22CaRSaND

baRbECUES

A classic car show might be classic or your communityparticularly or themen. And even i theyre not the most avid motorhead or rodder, chances areyoull attract them anyway i you turn the show into a barbecue, as well.

Salem Avenue Baptist in Rolla, Mo., sees more than 1,200 men, many owho bring their amilies, at its annual car show. About hal o the attendeesand participants are unchurched and have returned to the church or otherevents or ministries.


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event. Te system also allows you toannounce the contests and winnerso various categories as selected byparticipants and spectators.

All categories should haverst-, second- and third-place

winners. rophies and wall clocks

are good prizes. All entrants canbe given a magnetic card with thechurchs logo, phone number andservice times.

Keep the children entertainedby providing easy games, such as abean bag toss, with prizes.

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23STaTION

kICk Off Get permission rom your

local youth sports association tohost the station. Make sure theyunderstand that the booth isdesigned to serve, not proselytize.

Create a small booth with atable, a canopy and a large sign that

says Care Station and hosted by(church name).

Recruit a rotating team obooth hosts to set up and man thebooth each Saturday throughout theseason (dont orget the play-os).

You can decidewhat to oerat your station but some suggestions

are large containers o drinkingwater so players can rell theirbottles, loaners o spare cleats, shinguards and socks in varying sizes andcolors.

Simple rst aid suppliesincluding Band-Aids, antiseptic, icepacks, and towelseven a cot willbe used and appreciated.

The station could also oerree cell phone use and lost parent/child services.

One host should be trainedto oer prayer support or laycounseling; advertise the availabilityo a soccer chaplain.

If its really hot, run a misterhose around the sun shade, andyoure sure to attract a crowd.

Make sure your church also

sponsors at least one team or, ipossible, a team in each division.

Have church connection cardsavailable in the station to hand outto station visitors.

As the end o summer approaches, most amily-oriented communities getSoccer Fever, with soccer moms (and dads) making the weekly mini-vanpilgrimage to their local elds to spend endless hours in the sun watchingtheir kids play. Capitalize on this. Say We care about whats important to ourcommunity, by hosting a weekly soccer care station.

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24TRaININg fOR

ThE RaCE Budget around $2,500. FBCO

charges participants between $20and $30 depending on when theyregister. Children under 10 areallowed to register or ree.

Advertise your 5K as any othersecular-sponsored 5K. Market itwhere other 5Ks are marketed. Otenrunners receive packets or iers aterlocal community runs, alerting themto upcoming runsand events in the areabe sureyours is included.

Consider contacting a localathletics store or help in creatinga registration orm and advisingvolunteers on how to clock and timeparticipants. Recognize the store you

partner with in the same way yourecognize your sponsors. Also, enlistactive runners and walkers in yourchurch to lend their experience andexpertise.

Ask members businesses tosponsor the event in exchange orprinting the companies names andlogos on banners and pre-event iers,as well as the backs o -shirtsthat participants receive the dayo the event.

Enlist members to volunteer indierent areas: publicity, marketing,set-up, signage, registration tables,ood and water bottles, trafcdirecting, mingling and clean up.

Map out and secure a course in

walk/RUNa5kMore than 7.7 million people participate in 5Ks or similar events each year.And a small group o runners at First Baptist Church in Oviedo, Fla. (FBCO),

knew their community included many o these people. Tey decided to hosttheir own 5K. Te churchs rst race drummed up so much attention that theyvemade it an annual event, drawing 600 runners and walkersonly 20 o whomare church members. Instead, nearly 100 church members volunteer, givingFBCO a chance to interact with its community, as well as community visibility.


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the area surrounding your church;be sure to contact city ofcials toapprove the course. Also, contact thelocal police station to help block oportions o roads, i necessary. Select a local organizationsuch as a ood bank, crisis nursery orcancer associationto benet romthe proceeds.

For children, provide un runs

ranging rom 100 to 800 yardsdepending on the age group.

Offer bagels, granola bars andjuices ater the race to encouragepeople to stay and mingle.

In addition to -shirts,consider giving away water bottleslabeled with your church andsponsors inormation.


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Pass iers out to the womenin your congregation to share withamily and riends. Also leave stackso them in grocery stores, libraries,

drycleaners, etc. Te ier shouldinclude: your events theme, anysupplies participants should bring,contact inormation o the leader orthose with questions and childcareinormation. Depending on howyou customize the event, chargeparticipants $10 to $15 or the

necessary supplies. Select a theme. For example,

at summers end, your churchcan host a summer vacationscrapbooking event. Holidays like

Christmas, Easter and Halloween arealso good themes.

If your church is large, chancesare you have members involved in

scrapbooking. Check to see i theyrewilling to lead or help lead the event.

Gather supplies in advance.Supply cutters and scissors. Purchasethe necessary paper stock, stickersand pens (color and style dependingon theme selected) ahead o time.

Consider contacting a local

crat store, such as Michaels orArchivers. Oten, stores will hostthe event at a discounted price. Tiseliminates the need or gatheringsupplies and also brings the event

25SCRapbOOkINg

mOmENTS

Now a $3 billion industry, scrapbooking is in! Nearly 25 million people

scrapbook in the United States, and there are more than 3,000 scrapbookingstores nationwide. Bring women into your church to help them turn theirmemories and photos into lasting impressions. Te relationships built at ascrapbooking event may also make lasting impressions or the unchurched

women who attend.Host a two- to three-hour event on a Saturday morning or aternoon (when

husbands are generally home to watch the kids) or on a week night, but consideroering childcare.

CROppINg aSCRapbOOkINg EvENT


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out into the community rather thaninside the church.

This event can turn into amonthly ministry and ellowshipcomplete with coee and breakaston Saturday mornings. Moms

will love the hands-on crat and

time to come together withother women.

For more resources, visitremindersofaith.com andscrapbookyourlie.com.

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Tebestoutreachideasarentnecessarilythemostexpensive,highprole,orelaborate.RealoutreachhappenswhenChristiansdemonstratetheloveofChristinwaysthataremeaningfulandtangibletounbelievers,magneticallydrawingthemtotheLordoftenthroughthechannelofalocalchurch.

We Asked Churches Across America ...

IneachissueofOutreach

magazine,wetellthestoriesofhundredsofchurchesandthediversewaystheyareshiningthelightofChristintheircommunities.Includedinthisbookletarestep-by-stepinstructionsandresourcesfor25creativeoutreachideas,alreadyworkinginchurchesacrossAmerica(plussomenewones!),including: Photographic Connecton.GenerateareturnvisitfromyourChristmas/Easter-onlycrowdwiththismemorableidea. Visitor Gift?MakeItBig.Guaranteethatyourvisitorsdontslip

outunnoticed. Unconventional Chaplaincy.Wherecouldyoubecomeachaplaininyourtown?Firedepartment?Seniorcenter?HowaboutalocalStarbucks?

Magnetic Church.Couldyougeteveryoneinyourcommunitytoputyourchurchinformationontheirfridge?Giveawaymagnetsatlocalevents. VBS Makeover.MakeyourregularVBSanoutreachtour-de-force.Heresthewayonechurchdidit.

Plus 20 more fresh and proven ideas!

Making Connections

That Count

25 outreach ideas

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