community impact ministry

You have been meaning to invite the Robinson family over since you moved in

across the street (a year ago), but it just has not happened yet. You have soccer games, business trips, family vacations,

and church obligations that keep your schedule jam-packed. You are not alone. Our culture pushes us toward a busy

lifestyle. We believe that your daily connections can change lives. Here is an opportunity to do this together with a new

outreach called Neighborhood Night Out.

We are planning our outreach for Saturday, September 20, but you will want to get started now. This planning guide will

help you figure out what kind of gathering will best suit you and neighbors.

what does this gathering look like? What do you want it to look like?• a street block party where everyone brings food• a backyard barbecue with many neighbors• a dinner party with a few neighbors• a _______________________ with ____________________

_____________________ (your choice)

how long should the event last? That is entirely up to you and your neighbors. The goal is to get together and have a fun and relaxing evening.• Some people will sit out and converse for hours, and

sometimes families with younger kids or infants will want to go in a little early and get their kids to bed.

• Some people may come, eat, and go home. Others may come, eat, chat with those that they know for a few minutes, and then go home.

• Remember, other neighbors may not know anyone either so they may be timid, intimidated, or uncomfortable. Just coming to the event may have been a stretch for them. Say hello to them. Tell them you are glad they came, compliment their food choice, ask their names, and introduce yourself and your family. If they are close, tell them where you live. That will be a successful first contact with them.

where will it be? Your gathering should be “in your own backyard.” • in front of your house• in front of several of your neighbors’ houses• at the neighborhood pool• at the club house if you live in an apartment• ________________________________________ (your choice)

If you are new to your neighborhood and do not know anyone:• Start by introducing yourself to your next door neighbors on

both sides of you. Begin by becoming friendly neighbors. It may take a week or two, or even a month or two.

• Spend more time outside in the front yard planting flowers or shrubs, mowing the lawn, or watering, anything where your next door neighbors, or a neighbor down the street, has an opportunity to walk by. In other words: be visible and available for conversation and interaction.

• When you engage with a neighbor and introduce yourself, ask an easy question about the community that you are trying to get settled into, or ask them about their family and their names. When the conversation has ended, go write their name or names down and where they live.

If you live in an apartment complex:• Look for every opportunity to say “hello,” “how are you,”

and strike up initial conversations. Your first neighborhood night out may be just having a few people, or even one family over for dinner.

what’s your neighborhood scenario?If you have been in your neighborhood for a long time and know a lot of your neighbors:• Talk with some of the neighbors you already know and

suggest that you want to have a party. Let them get involved with you and you can take off from there.

If you have been in your neighborhood for a long time and do not know many of your neighbors:• Talk to the ones you do know and get them to help you

and get them to introduce you to some of the neighbors that you do not know, or have them invite some of the neighbors that you do not know. It is alright to tell them that you do not know all of your neighbors and that is the purpose of the party.

• If the above suggestion seems a little intimidating and uncomfortable, then make it a dinner party with the neighbors that you do know.

Don’t confuse soul winning with being a witness. They are two different things.

Joseph Aldrich says, “Many have been taught that evangelism equals soul winning, and have tried ‘soul winning’

with disastrous results.” Take time to pray regularly for your neighborhood gathering.

do i need to send out invitations? You can choose from one or more of the choices below, but whatever you decide, remember to be personal and welcoming.• You can send out invitations if you would like.• You can also post the event on the telephone poles around

the neighborhood.• You can put yard signs in the yards of those that are assisting

with the party.• The best way to invite people is to go door to door and give

them the invitation personally.

how do i organize the food?There are lots of options when it comes to food.• Make a sign-up sheet with categories (i.e. meats, salads,

vegetables, desserts, drinks, other).• When you go around with the invite, let your neighbors

sign up, or get their phone numbers and tell them you will call them after they have had time to think about it.

• If you have another responsibility, maybe one of the other neighbors that is helping you plan the event will take the food responsibilities.

• Everyone may want to chip in some money and cater from a barbecue place.

• Use your neighborhood committee to decide what to do.

what should we do at the event? Do we play games or group activities?• No— unless it is an idea that others bring up.• No—unless you are in the minority on your neighborhood

committee.• No—the idea is to get around to many people and chat

about anything and everything. Besides, you do not want to get the competitive juice flowing in anyone. Sometimes competition can bring out the worst in people and that would be counterproductive to what you are trying to accomplish.

does the party need a theme? • Not necessarily. If you are good at pulling off a themed

party, then do it.• If someone helping you put the party together is good at it,

then do it.• If it is too much work, then do not do it. Again, a relaxing

evening is the goal.

What are some suggestions for some neighborhood themed parties?• Decade party—you could pick the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, or

the 1990s. • Favorite sports teams• Favorite country or a “where you’re from” outfit party• Movie character costume• Favorite band costume

Don’t confuse soul winning with being a witness. They are two different things.

Joseph Aldrich says, “Many have been taught that evangelism equals soul winning, and have tried ‘soul winning’

with disastrous results.” Take time to pray regularly for your neighborhood gathering.

what are the night’s goals? You will probably not be able to go from a new acquaintance to seeing your new neighbor come to Christ in one evening. Some good first time goals are:• Make some new relationships in your neighborhood.• Make some commitments to further the relationship in the

future.• For the ladies—getting your kids together for a play date,

recipe exchanges, a dinner date, walking, jogging, etc…• For the men—getting together for a game on television

or going to a game, playing golf, helping repair a car or something around the house, helping with a landscaping project, loaning tool, or expertise that your neighbor does not have.

• Affirm the new relationships when you see them again by telling them how much fun the evening was and that you all should get together again soon.

• Get their phone numbers so you can contact them at a later date.

remember the reasons why . . .

To be a good neighbor and a light in the darkness. We need to be involved in the lives of people in our immediate community—our neighborhood. We may be the only light they have in this world.

To start conversations with our neighbors to learn more about them. When we learn about their lives, we can pray more effectively and find ways to meet their needs.

To share our story to build connections. This gives us a chance to represent Christ with kindness and gentleness.

To be a witness to those around us. Our commission as the Church is to go out into the world and make more disciples.

We desire to see your daily connections change lives. E-mail your questions to:

starthere@stonebriar.org