Finding & Keeping the NEXT GENERATION (Ideas to help us reach the younger generation for Jesus)
After-school care
In this ministry of First Baptist Church, Gray, Georgia, students are separated by age to better facilitate their needs. Each day includes homework time, a snack, and outdoor and indoor play. Occasionally the group takes field trips, and organizers include a Bible study every week. This ministry serves church members but also reaches into the community to families who need help. “There are several families who are just desperate for after-school care for their kids because of financial hardship and jobs,” says After-School Ministry Director Shirley Billue. “They are really so thankful for this program. For more information please go to FirstBaptistGray.com/Shirley.htm

Out of the Box
OPERATION LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Jim Burnett, (Pastor Willow Pointe Church of Hattiesburg, Mississippi) tells the story of how their church purchased over 400 mini spiral 60 watt light bulbs and one by one placed them in plastic bags with the church’s logo on the outside and an informational sheet on the inside. Attached to the bulb was a card that said the following:

Jesus is the Light of the World. Just as this bulb will illuminate the dark areas of your home, Jesus brings light and understanding to life. John 8:12-When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
On the back it said:
Jesus Saves. This bulb has the potential to save you $46 a year in energy cost. Jesus promises to save you from your sin and God’s judgment. Romans 6:23 (written out)
Jesus Offers Eternal Life. This bulb has a life expectancy of none years or 10,000 hours. Jesus desires to give you eternal life which never ends. 1 John 5:13 (written out)

As these were distributed in pairs of two a two question survey was conducted.

1. Are you currently involved in a local church?
2. Do you have any specific needs in your life for which we can pray with you?

The results were exciting with 23 prospective families located who are now being praying for and contacted.
I encourage you to give this creative and practical outreach effort a try.

Finding & Keeping the NEXT GENERATION (Ideas to help us reach the younger generation for Jesus)
Ideas Targeted to Sports Teams (adapted from Athletes in Action)

High School Sports Party -Decorate one of your large church rooms with a sports theme and invite high school students in for a party after home games. Offer them free food (pizza and snacks), music (a Contemporary Christian Band), and games (Pinball, Ping Pong, Foosball, and video games).

Out of the Box

• Steaks and Salmon for Firefighters

Since 9/11 the general public has been aware of the tremendous job that they do for us day in and day out. Show them a little kindness by providing some steaks or salmon to grill. Let them know in advance that you are coming so they can have the grill fired up.

• Hand Out Coffee Packets for Time Change Weekend or Anytime!

Wake Up and Smell the Pura Vida Coffee! A church in Grand Rapids, Michigan had a great idea-give out pre-packaged coffee grounds to help people get through the time change weekend. They contacted Pura Vida Coffee for individual coffee packets that any church can order for give-away in your community.

• Pura Vida Coffee 2 oz. coffee packet give-aways The bags come in quantities of 21 per box. If you want to add your own custom labels, Avery Diskette Labels are 2 3/4 square and should work well (Avery Product #08196). For coffee pricing and blend availability, contact Paul at paul@puravidacoffee.com, or visit the web site at www.puravidacoffee.com.
• Blood Pressure Screening

The entryway of your apartment building or a grocery store is an ideal place for this outreach. Such screenings are common these days, so your request won’t sound odd. While checking out their pressure, explain your reason for being there that day.

• Free Bird Feeders and Refills to Convalescent Home Residents Most outreaches to those in convalescent homes will touch their extended family as well. Provide an acrylic bird feeder – the kind with suction cups that stick right to the window. Return occasionally to refill the bird feed and check in on your adopted elderly friend.
• Christmas Tree Giveaways

A few days before Christmas, lot owners are willing to give the trees away. With pickup trucks, deliver them to financially-stretched single parent families.

• Christmas Tree Collection

Everyone needs to get rid of his or her tree. A few days after Christmas, offer to haul them away for the neighborhood.

• Bait at Local Fishing Spots

This brings new meaning to the verse from Psalm 51, “I am a worm and not a man.” Those who fish with live bait need worms, grubs, goldfish, minnows, or whatever. Purchase these critters in large quantities from a bait shop, go to the lakes, and give them away.

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)

• Encourage Sunday School Classes or small groups to meet at locations in the community away from the church, like McDonald’s or other restaurants. Ask permission to post signs about the gatherings and ask folks near your table to join you. If your church uses an open enrollment philosophy regarding Sunday School/Bible Study (and I hope it does) ask those attending if you could enroll them in Sunday School/Bible study.
• Introduce visitors to your staff and ministries in a relaxed setting by providing a free casual lunch, dinner or fellowship. This could be done at the church, a home, or in a nearby restaurant.
• Never mistake young people as “the future of the church.” They are the church and we should integrate them into the life of the church now. With that in mind, consider having at least one young person represented in some form of church leadership.
• Using technology to reach teens is dirt cheap when you compare it to the cost of a building. It takes more time than money and a willingness to apply what you’ve learned about the tools they are using to communicate. Therefore, engage relationally in online environments where youth hang out. We don’t have to compete with Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, but we should use them to connect with teens. Anywhere they are, we should be too.

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)

A church member suggested the church create a facebook page.  I was not convinced the idea would be beneficial but had a college student who is a member of Friendship to create the page with hopes it would allow the church to share Jesus with others. We have had the facebook page for only two weeks now and have created contacts with nearly 50 people.  Many prayer requests have been submitted via the site and it has given me an opportunity to “chat” with not only church members but also community members who I do not get to talk to very often.  I have been astonished by the response to the facebook site.  There have been some problems getting the site to allow us to name the page Friendship Baptist Church and we currently are using the name “Baptist Church”.  Look us up on the site Facebook and let me know what you think.  I would encourage other churches to think outside the box and look for new ways to fulfill the great commission given to us by Jesus.
 Robert Rosier (Pastor of Friendship Baptist)

 

OUT OF THE BOX @ EASTER (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)

• Hold and after-service barbecue or a pre-service breakfast. Have everyone who attends bring a canned food item for the local food bank.
• Enlist a photographer to take free family photos as people arrive at your community’s Easter egg hunt and send the pictures and information about your church to families via email.
• Host financial management seminars covering getting out of debt, retirement planning, saving for college and thriving as a single-income family.
• Organize a job-share and computer training conference in your church, providing training in resume writing, clothing for job interviews, interviewing skills, phone skills and basic computer skills.

Whatever you do make sure folks know you are providing this service because Jesus loves them. And finally, PUBLICIZE, PUBLICIZE, PUBLICIZE!!!!!!

 

OUT OF THE BOX Christmas Ideas (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)

• Give away rolls of tape for gift wrapping outside the post office, or a local business. (Get permission first!)
• Invite your community to an evening of Christmas movies for the family on a big screen, complete with homemade Christmas snacks.
• Provide childcare at the church (free of charge) so parents can go Christmas shopping. Be sure to invite the community.
• Send carolers into the community and be sure to hand out information about your church’s Christmas events.
• Challenge members to make a dozen homemade cookies at the beginning of December to hand out to neighbors and area businesses with invitations to church.
• Offer to wrap Christmas gifts (free of charge) at one of the local business. Be sure to have a sign with your church name listed as well as information about your church available.
• Have your instrumentalists play Christmas carols at the entrance to one of the local businesses. Make sure they have prepared adequately and remember to ask permission of the manager ahead of time.
• Have a team of rakers rake leaves in a local neighborhood. Be sure you tell the home owner this was done because you love Jesus and Jesus loves them.
• Pass out free bags of popcorn to customers leaving a local video rental store. Customize bags with the church’s logo, address and service times.

 

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
Host A Rodeo -Host a bike rodeo to equip young riders with the best lessons for sharpening their bike safety as well as to reach out to the community. Here’s how: 

• Hold the event at the church parking lot or playground.
• Create a “street” with chalk or spray paint lines (if on grass) that kids can ride around and mini traffic signs to teach the rules of the road-stopping, swerving, braking and more.
• Help kids master balance in a snail race to be the last to cross the finish line.
• Test bike control by having riders weave around cones set in a slalom pattern.
• Emphasize the importance of helmets with a helmet fitting station.
• Teach hand signals and enforce traffic laws.
• Get kids interested in bike maintenance with an “inspection station” where bike mechanics check seat height, brakes, tire pressure, chains and more.
• Reward participants’ hard work by handing out certificates.
• Have prayer and a short devotion and hand out gospel tracts (designed for children) and possible new testaments.

 

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
Consider taking a team from your church to minister in Southwestern Pennsylvania for a week. This one Association has 9 counties (one with no Southern Baptist Churches), 3 million people, 2 million unchurched, and 71 SBC Churches. Consider the following: 

• 1 SBC church for every 2,777 people in Georgia
• 1 SBC church for every 61,225 people in SWPA
• 1 SBC church for every 91,000 people in Metro Pittsburgh area
• 3600 churches in the Georgia Baptist Convention
• 385 churches in the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania

Let’s help our brothers and sisters make it very difficult to go tell hell from Southwestern Pennsylvania. For a list of needs and mission trip opportunities, please give us a call at DBA or email me at rsmithdba@windstream.net.

 

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
God’s Kidz Music Camp
Consider having a fun, summer music camp for the children in your county and surrounding area. Churches having done this have seen many conversions, reaching families who normally would not attend any church. The one week, M-F schedule is as follows:
9 a.m.   -Silly (fun) songs with the children
9:10     -Begin working on the musical you will present on Sunday evening
10:00   -Snack Break and Bathroom
10:20   -Small groups and drama rehearsal
11:00   -Large group rehearsal
12:00   -Lunch (sack lunch provided by each family)
12:30   -Leave for afternoon activities such as bowling, skating, nature preserve, parks…
3:00     -Return to church and parents pick up children

This is a wonderful outreach event that your community will embrace and greatly support. The goal is to have the children perform a musical drama on Sunday evening with only one week’s rehearsal. It sounds crazy but I know it works!

For more information please call our office at 912-583-2713.

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
Ministering at the Poles
It’s election time and many churches have found ways to minister at election sites. If your church is a polling place or is near one you might consider the following:

1. Provide free coffee to voters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
2. Offer to help with parking issues by directing traffic.
3. Have men and women available to escort folks into the building with umbrellas if it begins to rain.
4. Provide breakfast, (and/or) lunch, (and/or) supper for poll workers at no cost.

If you do any or all of these you will be surprised how it will bless the community. Remember, this is not a time where you tell folks who to vote for. It is however, a time to show kindness in the name of Jesus!

 

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
Plant A Church
I pray for the day when every church in the Daniell Baptist Association is involved in church planting. Below are some ways churches of every size can be involved in church planting:

1. Church Planting Activities -Help a new church with prayer walking, backyard Bible clubs, evangelistic surveys, or Scripture distribution.
2. Sponsor or Co-sponsor -Come alongside a new church with finances, prayer, and friendship.
3. Core Group -You could send members out from your own congregation to help plant a church.
It’s going to take all kinds of churches to reach our area for Jesus. New churches come from the Lord and they come from you, your church, and your Acts 1:8 partners. Be a part of helping to start a church. You can do it and DBA can help.

 

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
An outreach event an individual might use is a Christmas Tea given for women and girls.  This can be done more simply than you might imagine, and because so many people are open to friendship and sharing the faith at this time of year, it is even possible to present a non-churchy Gospel presentation in FIVE minutes if your invitation states that someone may be sharing a few inspiring thoughts about the season.  Guests come prepared to share a favorite Christmas memory. Ask few neighbors to help you and then follow up with an invite to your church’s Christmas Eve service. For neighbors who miss the tea, take a little plate of goodies with your name and phone number and look for future opportunities to impact them.  

It is so fun to see God work a miracle in a neighborhood.  All he needs is one person who will seek His strategy and do His bidding, whatever simple thing it is.  He will cover any mistakes and pour out joy unspeakable, so make this Christmas count.  It is a strategic one!  

 

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)

Race to Win
Sunday School Growth Campaign
As you begin the new upcoming Sunday School year you might consider a Race to Win high attendance day. Ask classes to set a numerical goal for their class and then, once you have added those numbers together you have your high attendance goal for the entire Sunday School. Once you have the goal set and the date established, decorate the classrooms, foyer, and Worship Center four weeks prior to the high attendance day (Victory Sunday).
Decorate the rooms, foyer, and sanctuary with anything racing oriented. I know of one church who even put a sports car on the platform. Other ideas include putting Go-carts in the foyer and worship center. If you need racing ideas go to http://www.orientaltrading.com/.

Whatever you do, encourage the folks to bring the lost. You might even want to have a pinewood derby race for the children on the Saturday prior. Sermon ideas include: The Winners Circle, Racing to Win, and Are you in the Race?

For more ideas on Racing to Win please give Robby a call at the DBA office.

 

Party-driven Sunday School growth

• You can double your class in two years or less. It only takes 40% growth, or an average class going from 10 to 14 in a year to double in two years or less. Yet, the results are amazing. A group that doubles every eighteen months can reach a thousand people in ten years. That is a fact of simple math. Fact is, there is a world-wide movement of God by which this is happening.
• Parties are one of the best ways I know to grow a class. Here is the formula: invite every member and every prospect to every fellowship every month.

A Sunday School leader had a dinner and a movie at their house last Friday night. It was great. They had a Pot-luck dinner at 7:00, and a movie to follow. Curious thing, they didn’t have any new people show up at the party, but they had their all time high attendance on Sunday. I have seen it happen more times than I can count.

Have you tried it? Why not follow the scriptures that say:

• Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner. Romans 12:13 [Living]
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 [NIV]

David Francis, leader of Sunday School for Lifeway endorses the party driven approach. For more details link to the full pdf file at: www.lifeway.com/sundayschool

  

OUT OF THE BOX (Ideas to help churches reach people for Jesus)
Free Hot Chocolate -Cocoa provides first contact in Friday evening evangelism.
by Charles R. HughesMichael and C.J. respond positively while standing in the baptistery. “Are you trusting Jesus Christ alone for eternal life?” Both young men say yes. We first met them at the Laundromat one block from the church.

 

Ours is the tiniest church in town, 75 seats in the auditorium and the small house next door is our office and education space. We faithfully support missions around the world, but we wondered how our church could reach those in our community who need Christ. That’s when we started giving away free hot chocolate.

Every Friday night starting at 5:30, we walk through our neighborhood, talking with the people we meet and offering cups of cocoa. (We call it FEET, Friday Evening Evangelism Training.)

A freshman ministerial student leads out, taking a few young people with him. Those we meet on the streets, we ask to take an opinion survey.

• In your opinion, as we seek to build ministry in this neighborhood, should we focus on children, youth, adults, or seniors?
• In your opinion, why do some in our community not attend church?
• In your opinion, what does it take for one to enter heaven?
• May I share with you how I came to know for certain if I were to die I would go to heaven?

Using a brochure, we share a five-point gospel presentation based on the acrostic TRUTH. We also invite them to church and ask if we may send a postcard after our talk. That starts several follow-up contacts. Follow-up is the key.

C.J. and Michael came to church wearing rings in their ears, noses, eyebrows, lips, and tongues. They stayed after the service to talk with Ricky, who first offered them free hot chocolate, and with Wayne, a drywall contractor. While church members prayed in another room, C.J. and Michael asked questions and later professed their faith in Christ. Soon they were baptized.

Friday night is not usually the time to plan recurring ministry, but it works in our community. Our church has grown from 30 to 40, including young men like C.J. and Michael, who have joined in sharing cocoa and the gospel.