Once you know Jesus, it’s only natural to

One of the reasons a congregation exists is to win souls for Christ and to help in welcoming these new Christians. Sometimes we can falsely assume that everyone in the congregation understands this mission of the church. Some simple planning can help you begin to share that mission with the entire congregation. Working together you can all be more successful in fulfilling the church’s mission.

Start by identifying a mission statement, setting your goals and making a plan of action.

1. MISSION STATEMENT: Why does your congregation exist? Why has God put this congregation here? Does everyone understand that it governs what we do?
2. GOAL SETTING: Based on your understanding of why God put us here, what good things should be happening in your congregation?
3. ACTION PLANNING:  What actions can we take to make these good things happen?

Sometimes, as well, we can falsely assume that everyone in the community understands the mission of our congregation. It’s also helpful to apply the same mission, goal setting, and action planning steps above to develop ways to share the mission with the community.

Below are several outreach project, event and program ideas that you can not only use to introduce your congregation and raise awareness within your community, but invite the community to partake in the fellowship of the church, These ideas can also help spark more ideas that would work for your specific congregation.

• Mail your church brochure/invitation to your community.
• Distribute the brochure/invitation by your youth group.
• Conduct a door-to-door canvass to find prospects that aren’t affiliated with a church.
• Conduct a phone campaign to find prospects that aren’t affiliated with a church.
• Provide connection and support to children of prisoners by joining Project Angel Tree.
• Enter a float in your local parade and hand out pencils which read, "God Bless America" and the name of your congregation.
• Pay to have your congregation's name listed on telephone directory covers and diner placemats.
• Hand out water cups or orange slices to participants in community walk/run races.
• Mail smoke alarm batteries to prospects with a note: "We want our neighbors to be safe. We're also concerned about eternal safety…" etc.

• Hold a "Christmas (or Easter) for Kids" which invites neighborhood children to an afternoon of singing, crafts, treats, etc. to free their parents for shopping.
• Similarly, hold a "Parents Night Out," providing supervision so that parents have some free time.
• Offer your church as a polling place.
• Conduct free "Parenting Seminar," "Community Health Fair," as well as the traditional Vacation Bible School.
• Provide "after school care" for latch-key kids.
• Use direct mail to invite people for special services at holidays, or for a series of services with specific themes.
• Conduct a "Festival of Friendship" in which members invite friends, relatives, associates and neighbors to worship.

PROGRAMS FOR REACHING THE COMMUNITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

• Contact new residents through Chamber of Commerce or Welcome Wagon service.
• Contact new residents with mail, phone, visit.
• Contact parents of new born babies to congratulate and offer your service.
• Advertise in newspaper and Yellow Pages, community access cable TV, radio.
• Utilize an Evangelism Committee composed of laity to call on prospects.
• Provide members with business cards for the church so they can invite others.
• Follow up with a gift for church guests: loaf of bread, cookies, jars of sundae topping, sports water bottle with congregation name.
• Guarantee personal contacts with guests within 36 hours of worship by laity.
• Mail prospects your monthly newsletter, or make a special newsletter for them.
• Visit people that aren’t affiliated with a church in the hospital.
• Conduct "Invisible Sunday School" program which provides crayons, picture to color, children's Bible story/lesson in packages handed out by dentists, etc.
• Make available bumper stickers, refrigerator magnets, children's stickers.
• Greet guests warmly with the Pastor at the front door, members outside and inside.
• Establish a web site on the internet for your congregation.
  

The strategies listed below are examples of what your congregation might keep in mind as it seeks to reach out with the GOOD NEWS of Christ Jesus. Look at these strategies as ideas, not as "do these or your congregation won't grow!"

• Reserve the best parking space for guests.
• Make sure signs directing to the church and signs in/on the church are clear.
• Make sure the property is as attractive as possible.
• Make sure your church's answering machine gives clear and concise information about worship hours, location, etc.