This is such a beautiful story that was just written by a colleague of mine named Kerry Kind about a church where God convinced them that the annoying semi trucks bothering their little plains church were in fact a mission opportunity. Now they reach out to hundreds each day. Check it out by clicking the button below:
So, two questions related to this:
1) What’s something your church is doing, no matter how small, to think big about reaching out?
2) What’s something you haven’t done yet but that you’re thinking of doing–that you’d like to run by us here?
My answers:
1) What’s something your church is doing, no matter how small, to think big about reaching out?–> Our church just came out of what I believe is it’s 7th “summers cool” week–where we bring in kids to be read to by mentors, and get jazzed about reading. It’s huge for the “summer gap” in reading in our county.2) What’s something you haven’t done yet but that you’re thinking of doing–that you’d like to run by us here?–> I’ve been thinking about reconnecting with my card-playing friends as I neglected that in the past 4 months. Feeling too distant from the unchurched of late.
Thanks for sharing that, David. That is “Missional Holiness” in action right there! (A little plug for the Missional Holiness Conference hosted by Calvary Wesleyan Church in Bethlehem, PA in September – http://www.MissionalHoliness.org).
Six or seven year ago, we discovered that the large apartment complex (with 1,000 units) next door to our church had a problem with teens getting into trouble after school and during the summer. The sheriff said that most of their calls in our community came from that complex. So we held a community meeting and invited the sheriff, the apartment management, the apartment residents, and folks from our church. We all brainstormed what we could do together to help.
The result: The apartment management donated a section of its maintenance building for a community center, where volunteers from the church and residents from the apartment complex could work together to provide positive activities for kids during after-school hours and during the summer.
it’s been a beautiful partnership which has grown each year. And we’ve welcomed hundreds of people from that apartment complex into our church family.
One thing I’ve thought about, but haven’t done yet, is to get a cooler full of water and soft drinks and take it to the local park to give out to people hanging out there.
Love the apartment connection–being so specific is a good, but sometimes disheartening thing, I’ve found. There are few quick solutions and easy answers for these settings, I’ve found–it’s easier to give money far away, than invest so locally and personally.
so glad you’re doing that, even though it’s harder.
a Christian Cart Cooler is a great idea!
My wife and I are actually the local/global (glo-cal) missions pastors at our church. We work with all three campuses spanning about 60 sq mi. Needless to say we keep busy! I did however, have something I’d like to run by y’all:
Black Friday Outreach.
I thought of it and haven’t seen anyone else do anything like it. Basically, we’ll set up a few tents, rv’s, etc. at various Targets & Best Buys around our area. Different teams will take shifts with coffee, donuts and offering prayer as well. It is basically a way to build relationships with people while they are standing in line. Now we are in Louisiana, so we have a little bit better weather to deal with than our northern counterparts, but ultimately it’s a good idea.
Here’s where I need the help, this “good” idea needs to move to a “great” idea. I know this will only happen with collaboration. Any ideas to make this great?
Such a cool idea… I would think coffee for people standing in lines is a good one… go to where the crowd is = good principle.
It is crazy how early some people get up for that stuff.
Don’t know how to make it better. I would think it would be hard to “get people to come to you”… so I wonder if “roving carts” might work better than tents. Also — then you don’t need to secure as much permission… a tent you’d need Best Buy to give permission for, in advance