I’m playing around here and this is the rough draft of 101 Outreach Ideas for Small Churches. Any others you want to add? I’d love to hear any stories you have about any outreach ideas you’ve used. I’m working on a book, and would like to include real stories from real churches. Time for your 15-minutes of fame! Here’s a start –
101 Outreach Ideas for Small Churches
- Sponsor a school or classroom
- Angel Food Ministry
- Family movie night
- Super Bowl party
- Resource center for senior programs, etc
- Host a music concert
- Block party
- community festival
- Halloween alternative
- Community heroes
- Christmas nativity tour
- community garden
- art show
- build a labyrinth
- free hotdog lunch
- school supplies
- parents’ night out
- mothers morning out
- partner to raise money for a local cause
- invite former members back — homecoming
- themed worship
- recognize special groups
- pulpit exchange or joint worship with other congregations
- community vbs
- community thanksgiving service
- thanksgiving for singles, seniors, and others
- trunk-or-treat
- day camps
- multi-generational groups
- crafting, scrapbooking, quilt-making groups
- day trips for seniors
- senior adult programs, lunch
- talent show
- church yard sale
- blessing of the animals
- free carwash
- make a difference day
- martin luther king day events
- english as a second language
- computer access
- computer training
- grief workshop
- grandparents day
- mothers day
- fathers day
- advent activities, booklet, devotion guide
- milestone celebrations — anniversary, debt-free, etc
- achievement recognition — ball teams, championships, etc
- election day activities
- county or state fair booth
- tradeshow booth
- tourism booth
- homebound ministry
- grief ministry
- nursing home ministry
- report card rewards
- skate park
- soundcheck like event
- lock in
- lock out
- youth service corps
- door-to-door food collection
- christmas parties for seniors, kids, families, target groups
- school recognition
- college day
- financial peace courses
- driving courses that target very young or AARP groups
- election forums
- non-profit helping agency fair
- volunteer recognition and thanks
- social services, community action partnerships recognition
- literacy program
- addiction programs
- single adult programs
- single parent groups
- special needs events
- health screenings
- diet and cooking classes
- book discussions
- neighborhood inventories and assessments
- prayer ministry
- open sanctuary or prayer room
- daily office
- taize services
- community celebration events
- community unity events
- community newsletter or bulletin board
- newborn gifts
- newcomer welcome baskets
- graduate recognition
- community music program for children, seniors
- helping resource inventory and volunteer directory
- home blessings
- weddings and funerals
- boy scout, girl scout, b&g club sundays
- second sunday fellowships
- personalized invitation
- Easter, palm sunday invitations
- food, clothing, and cleaning supplies pantry
- civic club sunday
- family skate nights
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Chuck,
Hey brother. You probably don’t remember me but I met you in the roundtable discussion room at the NOC. Anyhow, some folks from our church are having a little Xmas party for my wife’s former school kids (she used to teach kindergarten). We’re doing it our house, and inviting neighborhood kids, along with some church kids to give us a critical mass. This will be our 2nd year. We do a little rotation of crafts, snacks, games, and Xmas lesson. If you want any more info, let me know at geoffsnook@gmail.com
Hi Chuck
What a great list. And a way of making people think. I’d add one thing – integrate whatever activities a church does with its website, and make the website outsider-friendly. We try to suggest ways to do this at
InternetEvangelismDay.com/design
Blessings
Tony
A church in my neighborhood gives out DVDs at Christmas time. They go caroling in the neighborhood and drop the DVDs off at houses as they go. I can’t remember last year’s DVD..maybe “Jesus of Nazareth.” (No, I don’t remember the DVD, but I remember who gave it to me.) For a less expensive option, how about offering CDs of your choir singing Christmas classics?
This is just in time for our group! We got ourselves togeather, now it is time to serve. I also like the cd of
Christmas Classics if it can be produced with excellent sound quality.
God bless your ministry. You are invited, WWYD, “What Would You Do” if somebody just gave you a church, no strings attached. willohroots.wordpress.com
Adopt-a-Mile program
Thanks for the list! I see some great ideas here.
Great list! Thanks for posting it. One we recently did was a “Got Leaves?” raking outreach. We put a sign out letting the community know we would rake leaves for free on a certain day and listed a phone number to call for an appointment. We had nine calls requesting an appointment along with 4-5 referrals of friends or widows who might be interested. In all, we did 11 houses and parts of 3 others before getting rained out. A few of us went out on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning to finish the houses we weren’t able to get. Most asked about giving a donation to the church but we told them we wouldn’t take any but just wanted to show God’s love in a practical way. Had some surprised responses and a few good conversations. In all there were 53 of us who went out including all age groups.
Hi Chuck,
If it’s on the list but I didn’t see it, I’m sorry:
Christmas Caroling
We had people crying with happiness that we came singing Christmas carols at their doors last year.
It built some real bridges to people we hadn’t yet reached.
Stay in contact with visitors, members and just about everyone through REAL, paper greeting cards that are processed through the Internet–similar to how online bills are processed but a card is mailed not a check. These are NOT e-cards. I’d love to tell you more about this as it is revolutionary in effective outreach. E-mail me for my phone number. Visit the website to send 2 free cards. Trust me. You’ll like it and it won’t cost you a dime to try it.
Chuck,
I love this site! It is great to find a place to share ideas. My wife and I started an outreach & follow-up ministry at our home church in Akron, OH. We have a few different ideas. A few of us at our church go door to door hanging door hangers every Saturday without fail. We have REACHed a community of over 9,000 people in just over 4 months. We started a mail campaign to friends and families of people at our church. Between both outreaches we have added about 25 people who have started attending faithfully because of it in the past 10 months. We have people visit almost every Sunday! We have seen people saved and lives changed. God has moved in a mighty way! We created a website where everything God gives us can be downloaded for free at http://www.time2reach.org. Our goal is to see America turned upside down with the gospel! God Bless you Chuck for what you are doing!
Thanks for the info. For some reason we lost contact since last summer. I hope to be a regular reader on your site.
God Bless
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Hey there my friend,
I stumbled across this page. Theses are great ideas. However, could I encourage you. The emphasis of your page really needs to be One Million ways to share the Gospel. God gives us multiple opportunities to share the Gospel each and every day.
Honestly, there’s really no need for BIG events. If we simply follow the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, He will guide us to people He is already convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment.
Listen, I do not say these things to persecute you. I simple want to exhort you to allow the Lord to lead His people to the lost souls He’s already convicting.
Want help? visit: http://www.goodpersontest.com and http://www.wayofthemaster.com
God bless you my friend.
Chuck
Yesterday our congregation hosted a Blessing of the Boy Scouts preceeded by a tasty breakfast. Scouts, parents and other family members attended filling up the small sanctuary. We blessed the boys and leaders in their endeavors and for their upcoming trip to Philmont. In August we are having a blessing of animals with ark in the park – live music, games, hamburgers. Late August we will have a Blessing of Teachers as they return to another teaching year.
Other ideas, mother/daughter and father/son banquet.
I am glad that you are wanting to do something.Ther are many great tools and ideas outthere you can tap into, outreach.com But the please the best thing you can do is keep Christ in Christmas. He is not an x. Please be mindful of this thank you.
I enjoyed the list. Pretty thorough! Thanks for the information.