17 Summer Outreach Tips

7. Have a B.Y.O.S. cookout for the co-workers. The folks that work in office settings or in the trades can invite their colleagues to a “bring your own steak” party. The host provides the grill, charcoal, all the rest of the dinner and drink items, and the tableware. The visitors each bring their own item for the grill. (Anything that involves meat and fire is usually of interest to the male of the species.)

8. Get pizza delivered for the construction crew down the street. If your parishioners live in developing subdivisions, they can bless the construction crews by having fresh pizza delivered to them at lunch time.

9. Target the new neighbors. Ask the members to keep their eyes open for houses under construction and for moving vans. On move-in day, they can introduce themselves with a list of schools, churches and shopping in the area, along with contact information for the police and emergency services. Be sure to throw a brochure from the church in the mix!

10. Use your smartphone to make a video of neighbors around the church. Most smartphones make reasonable quality videos. Walk the streets around the church and film the area. If someone is out and about, do a “man on the street” interview (ask, “What are some of the needs people living in this area have?”). Then show it in church.

11. Invite a school principal to speak about the needs of children and families. Chances are, your church is near a school. Invite the principal or a teacher to address the congregation about needs of children and families in that school. Afterwards, lead a discussion about how the church can marshal its resources to address some of those needs.

12. Tell stories about people in the church who have done outreach. Your church almost certainly has someone who is passionate about evangelism and outreach. When you get wind of someone having engaged in an outreach activity, be sure to mention it and praise that person in the main worship service. Remember, whatever gets rewarded gets repeated!

13. Mention personal evangelism in every sermon. If you are doing personal evangelism, be sure to mention it. But be careful how you phrase this to make sure that the report isn’t about you. And only mention your own activities sparingly.

14. Ask the mayor or a town councilman to speak to the congregation. Have him or her address those areas of the community where the “lowest and the least” dwell, the problems faced by families, projected areas of growth, and how your church might speak to the community with needs.

15. Share flowers or fresh produce from your garden with the neighbors. This is a perfect excuse to meet the neighbors whom you haven’t spoken to in five years. “I just got this from my garden and I’m hoping you can use it. We have more than enough for ourselves.” Who knows where that introduction will lead?

16. Volunteer your services. While you’re washing your car, mowing the lawn or raking leaves, offer to do it for your neighbor.

17. Observe when neighbors are outside and what they do, then make it a point to do the same. If your neighborhood is full of dog walkers, buy a dog and walk it at the same time as most other folks. If your neighborhood is crawling with joggers or cyclists, join right in. Opportunities to share a bit of the gospel will present themselves naturally as you cultivate budding relationships.