Spring Time = Outreach

Here is one idea from ServeCoach.com

Helium Balloons or Balloon Animal Giveaway, give balloons and cards to children with parents at a local park. Need balloons, helium tanks, ribbon and connect cards. If helium is not available, make balloon animals instead. Get some long balloons and little hand air pumps, and ask a local clown to show you how to make some simple balloon animals (or look online)

92 Ways to Share Your FAITH!

I'm a member of The Pocket Testament League. They offer tracts / Gospel of John and they also share testimonies from other members who have have used the tracts. Here is a good teaching / summary of how many have shared the good news of Jesus. There are an unlimited number of ways to share God's Word with the lost. Here are 92 ideas for sharing that we've pulled out of letters and stories our members have told us about: READ ARTICLE FROM THE POCKET TESTAMENT LEAGUE

Holiday Outreaches.... Time to Make Plans!!!

Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it. Get planning NOW!!! Here is a great article from our friend Steve Sjogren.

3 Fun and Inexpensive Holiday Outreaches

$1 Car Wash Outreach

We have all seen servant evangelism done with a "free car wash". This have been successful in sharing the love of Christ in a practical way. Some people however are apprehensive about taking advantage of such a deal.

What if we advertised a $1 car wash and instead of us receiving $1 per car.... get ready...... wait for it.... we give them a dollar? Many outreaches cost something. For our church, the low side (of cost) is around $100. So with that budget in mind.... go and wash 100 cars :) All of the other materials can be gathered from folks in the church...friends... and family.

Think about it and let me know how it turns out.

Engage Culture....

Engage culture: 
Do you have any friend outside of "church"? Jesus was a “friend of sinners.” He did that by eating with them. We must be friends with the culture. We need to be missionaries. What do you like to do? Drink coffee? Go and hang out at the local coffee shop... and be friendly. Don't be a like a salesman trying to turn or burn someone to come to the Lord. Just be yourself.... hopefully you aren't an overbearing legalistic sort  of person :)

What was Jesus like? People wanted to be WITH JESUS.
When was the last time people were knocking down doors to get into your church/small group?
Our problem is perception.

What people 1) See.... 2) Hear..... 3) Experience = perception

Ponder that equation. Put on a fresh set of eyes. When you come into contact with people... when people go to your church or small group.... what do they see, hear and experience?

Recommended Resource from Greg Laurie

What are you doing to take advantage of the open doors that are being presented to you, as friends, neighbors, loved ones, and coworkers are wondering what to do with Jesus?

You see, God's primary way of reaching people is through people. Yet studies have shown that 19 out of 20 Christians have never shared the gospel. You might be saying, "But Greg, I want to share the gospel—I just don't feel like I know enough."

From Jeff - This is a great resource for a $5 investment! Here is a link for those who are interested:

Booklet Link

Easter Outreach..... Do something Different!!

Outreach magazine recently asked readers to share some of their best Easter connection ideas. The result: 21 seasoned ideas that have been proven effective. As you read them and begin to brainstorm, be creative and consider how God wants your congregation to reach out to those who don't know him this Easter.

Here are 7 of those 21 ideas~

1. Community humility. We participate in a community-wide Easter service held at a local college stadium. Pastors from various denominations come together to plan, pray, share ideas, and divide the workload and costs. Because of the pastors' humility, the services have had great success in our community. – Trinity Assembly of God, Algood, Tenn.

2. Easter road show. Develop a team that can conduct Easter services – even a children's service and egg hunt – at locations around your community. Housing projects, senior citizens' developments, even trailer parks are good. You'll hit individuals and families who might never have the chance to visit your church and hear the Gospel. – Adapted from SonRise Christian Church, Goose Creek, S.C.

3. Lily gratitude. Instead of spending money on Easter lilies to decorate the church, purchase lilies as a donation to local businesses, hospitals, law enforcement, schools, etc. Attach a small tag from your church: "With appreciation during this Easter season." – Adapted from First Southern Baptist Church, Lawrence, Kan.

4. Resurrection run. We hold a resurrection run motorcycle rally and invite motorcycle enthusiasts from the community to join us. – FAITH Riders Motorcycle Ministries, Cookeville, Tenn.

5. Easter labyrinth. On Easter, we promote a labyrinth experience featuring stations of the cross. Even unbelievers are interested in a spiritual experience that helps them learn about the true significance of Easter. – Adapted from Harbor Trinity Church, Costa Mesa, Calif., and New Generations Church, Albany, Ga.

6. Easter signs. In cities where increasing restrictions are affecting public signage, creative churches are using silk-screened, corrugated plastic yard signs. Planted on the front lawns of church members, the signs invite neighbors to Easter services and events.

7. Love jars. Our ladies outreach group fills canning jars with brownie mix – layered and sealed with a lid covered with seasonal fabric. We make a personal visit to the home of each of our Easter visitors. It's a non-threatening, non-preachy visit that simply says, "We're glad you came ... hope to see you again." – Memorial Baptist Church, Verona, Wis.