Find Your People
Whether your church is in the middle of a huge metropolis or it’s on the outskirts of a tiny town, you have plenty of opportunities to reach out to the people living in your area. If your church desires to reach the people in your community take the first step and extend a welcome to your neighbors. Here are some ways your church may want to consider:
Host a Community Event
Everyone loves a block party! Find a creative way to create events for your community to be a part of. Invite community members to a fun afternoon or evening filled with opportunities for building relationships.
Volunteer Often
Your church is made up of people with all sorts of gifts and talents, and they can use those talents to help others. Find local events or organizations that need help and get to work.
Join Your Neighbors
You are part of your community—so be a part of it! Attend local events, get to know local business owners, and take time to cultivate relationships with community leaders.
Bring Your People In
Invite New People to Special Events or Services
Do you have a special Back-to-School service? Does your children’s ministry always perform a song for Christmas? These types of events are perfect opportunities for church members to ask their neighbors to join them. Take it a step further and get to know them better as you enjoy a cup of coffee together after the service or event.
Invite New People to Life Groups and Meetings
If your church has a moms group, senior adults luncheon, weekly meeting of college students, or some other lifestyle-type group, don’t keep it to yourselves—invite your community to join you! This is a great way to minister to people who are seeking community but may feel unsure where to begin. As you invite your neighbors to be part of these groups, take the time to get to know them and ask how you can pray for them.
Be Present
Communicating with your community may sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Your church should be an integral part of its neighborhood which means you have endless opportunities to reach out to those around you. Your authentic efforts to get to know your community will enable you to cultivate deep Christ-centered relationships. Even better—these new relationships will only flourish as you continue to invest more time and effort into them.
