Guerilla Outreach - Part 2

A colleague sent me a nonstandard outreach idea this spring. He said that craigslist is a great place to find people who are in need and touch them with God's love.

Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements – with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumes, and discussion forums.

I have used craigslist before to buy some golf equipment but never considered it as a tool of ministry. I was a little hesitant to solicit our service having heard about widespread misuse.

After publishing our ad we soon connected with a young lady who had just moved to town with only what she could carry in her little car. She was living in a one bedroom flat above a bar in a nearby city.

She sounded genuinely interested in re-establishing her life saying that she didn't want a handout but was willing to contribute financially to her need.

I solicited our congregation for household items and got a good response. We asked for and received quality used household and personal care items.

The next step was to contact our Special Operations Team who on two separate trips delivered the items and shared God's love with this lady.

Two weeks ago I received an email from Shannon who said that everything we collected and delivered was 'needed and used'. What really made this outreach so satisfying is that Shannon said she was touched by our kindness and would like to help another person in her same circumstance.

Out of the box outreach? Yes. Don't know if we'll do it again, but it sure was fun.

Small Things Bring Great Results

The key to success in outreach is faithfulness in doing small things. It is possible to accomplish great things - big things - as we pursue a path of consistently done small things. I have a saying that explains things well: "Small things done with great love will change the world." We can do no large things.

When we try to do things on a large scale we end up making a mess of it all. Yet as we sign on for small things that are done consistently over the long haul we end up doing lasting things. God is able to take our small things and make them line up to become something great. God loves to breathe upon our acts of faithfulness and in turn make something great out of them.

Be encouraged. Your small things will add up in order to make something great come about. Look for open doors for doing small things God is showing you. Start today with small steps of obedience. God can (and will!) do amazing things with a life that is set on obeying him.

Reprinted by permission from Steve Sjogren's ServeCoach.com

Mission of the Church

The church’s mission is to reach others for Christ and to help them become mature followers of Christ. When our plans or priorities conflict with that mission we must change. The mission statement Christ issued for his followers is actually quite simple, “Go and Make Disciples“. Somehow along the way it is easy for a body of believers to forget that mission.

Some get caught up in developing and carrying out a decades old great “master plan” that present day ministries must suffer to complete this plan. It is as if nothing is more important than following the plan. Unplanned opportunities to reach others for Christ are ignored in strict adherence to this great plan. What good is it to have a well-designed facility when there is no one to use the facilities?

Others get caught up in the functions of committees especially those that focus on the internal workings of the church that they lose sight of reaching others. Suddenly things like decorations and the appearance of the church become a higher priority than providing the necessary resources for outreach ministries. Keeping the church looking nice is good but what good is it when there is no one left to maintain the church?

For some adherence to traditions and maintaining the status quo becomes the primary focus. They become unwilling to move out of their comfort zone unaware that the unless the church is willing to adapt and change its method we will lose an entire generation. What good will our traditions do when no one is left to follow them?

I am reminded of something one of my seminary professors Dr. Roy Fish used to say. “The primary mission of the church is evangelism. Everything aspect and ministry of the church should be about evangelism, if it is not then we must change or jettison the things that are not.” What things must be changed or jettisoned from your church?

Reprinted by permission from The Dee Zone by D. E. Herrod http://thedeezone.wordpress.com/

Growing Past Resistance

Today I am going out to serve the community. In fact I am writing this piece from the backseat as Janie drives us to the initial gathering point.

Today, like many Saturdays, I have a number of excuses going that could keep me from going out. It's funny how no matter how many times great things have happened during outreach I still experience personal resistance to outreach.

I know from experience great things will happen today as we go out. So what is a person to do when resistance sets in?

I don't think I will ever grow past this resistance. It has been a regular feature of my life for years. All I can do is decide to not pay attention to such inner ramblings that stand in the way of progress. This much I know for certain - when I ignore the part of me that stands in opposition to the progress of God I am blessed and I progress spiritually.

Long live our godly ignorings! Long live Saturday outreaches!

Reprinted by permission from Steve Sjogren ServeCoach.com

Bread Giveaway - Fun Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Outreach

Everybody likes bread! Especially from those high-end bread stores with Bread Company somewhere in the name… Did you know that you can arrange to receive day-old bread from specialty bread stores for FREE? You can also check with national chain grocery stores that have in-house bakeries.

Talk to the store manager and explain your outreach concept. Tell a few stories of the people you are helping and you will likely establish your "daily bread" connection. It will only take one or two of these connections to begin a substantial ministry in your community.

Many of these stores do not have a reliable source to distribute their old bread to. The key is to be consistent and reliable in picking up their bread. You will need to have a team and as schedule so you don't disappoint the bread store managers. As a good public relations gesture, write a letter of thanks to the store manager for his company's generosity to the community (and don't be surprised to see it framed and posted on the wall of the store).

The ministry is simple and straight forward. Knock on the doors of the houses and apartments. Say, "Hi, we're giving away fresh, free high-quality bread. Could you use some, or do you know anyone in the neighborhood who could use some?" Give recipients an outreach card and offer to pray for them as you hand out the bread.

How Do You Find People To Give Bread To?

Cold calling (just knocking on doors) in lower-income neighborhoods and apartments complexes works fine with this project. Stay away from neighborhoods closest to the donating store.

(A couple of years ago we partnered with a local assisted living facility to serve their residents. After picking up bread at the local Panera Bread Company a team of 6 took our fragrant gift to the apartment complex. The bread was well received by the residents.)

Reprinted with permission from 2009 Serve! with Steve Sjogren

Friendliness: Tool or Toil

Comedian Alan King said, “Be friendly to everyone. Those who deserve it the least need it the most”.

Friendliness is a wonderful attribute that can open the door to a person’s heart. A cold personality is a detriment to evangelism. You can be spiritually confrontive if your facial expressions and body language convey warmth and love. Is friendliness an attribute that comes naturally to you or is it an effort?

I have experimented with friendliness to test its power to change the response that I receive when sharing God’s love. In almost every instance, people are more open to you when offer a friendly smile and a warm greeting.

A smile: a happy, honest, friendly and genuine smile. Go ahead, try it. Flash a smile. But let me warn you, it is contagious, it’s infectious. Just a simple smile can uplift someone’s day. It is a universal expression of happiness. Smiling is the first part of friendliness that plays an important role in personal evangelism.

We can each do our part to strengthen and build bridges between the church and our community. Never underestimate the power of friendliness, of a smile or of a positive attitude.

Next time you walk past a mother and child on the street, or pass an acquaintance in the hall, don’t be shy, try starting the infectious smiling disease. It doesn’t take any time or hardly any effort, but by smiling you are brightening someone’s day and beginning the building of a bridge of friendship between communities.

It all starts with a simple smile –the calling card of friendliness.

God-Rated Outreach

Although movies can be a stumbling block for Christians, they sometimes present an opportunity to open a spiritual discussion with an unbeliever. Although it may be rated PG-13 for thematic issues, it may be God (God) rated for spiritual application opportunities.

This article by Sue Skalicky in Leading Outreach encourages Christians to take advantage of a film's God-rating by inviting others to share their lives as reflected on the big screen. Controversial, yet offers much food for thought.

Rate Your Church For Evangelism

Many churches and ministries profess to have an evangelistic mission. Far fewer are able to make it happen. It might be helpful to objectively assess how your church measures up by taking the following evangelism quiz.

(Give yourself one point for each positive response.)
____ Does your mission statement include the lost?
____ Do you pray for the lost in your community on a regular basis?
____ Is there leadership in place to carry out your vision for outreach?
____ Is part of your annual budget committed to outreach related activities?
____ Are personal evangelism techniques taught periodically?
____ Do teams from your church share Jesus on the streets?
____ Are salvations regularly counted and reported to the congregation?
____ Are your congregates encouraged to invite their friends to church?
____ Do you periodically hold services where visitors are welcomed?
____ Do your church leaders model invitational evangelism?
____ Does your church perform acts of kindness to show God’s love?
____ Are you known as a church that actively involves itself in the community?

SCORECARD: Maximum score is 12. If you responded positively to 6 or more questions you are on target to fulfilling the bible mandate to reach others with God’s love.

Making a Significant Contribution

Since the first of the year I have heard the Holy Spirit say, “Your best days are ahead”. I know that it is His encouragement to me to prepare for greater opportunities to contribute.

One of my core values is that I must believe that I am making a significant contribution. Whether it’s my marriage, family, community or ministry, being part of the solution energizes me greatly.

Recently I have been reviewing God’s plan for the last third of my life. One of my prayers is that I will continue to make significant contributions to the world in which I live. I’m 63 years old have a sound mind, am in great physical condition and financially stable. (When my precious father was my age, he was retired, enjoyed gardening and playing solitaire.)

1 Corinthians 2:9 encourages me. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

An opportunity has arisen in the last few weeks to expand our Outreach Department and reach into areas of our community that once seemed impossible to me. These opportunities, although challenging, possess two very important components: I have experience that brings me great confidence; I have desire that brings creative energy. This is a formula for success.

Thanks for following Reaching Out Loud! As these new outreach ventures take shape, I will keep you informed.

The Church Has Left the Building

One of the most popular and rewarding outreach ministries is servant evangelism. SE involves doing acts of kindness for people who don't expect it, simply to show that God loves them.

Servant teams regularly reach out to the community through Operation Outreach, a high energy, group activity that provides opportunities for everyone, including families who want to serve together. Typical our servant evangelism projects include:

Rock the Neighborhood One Wednesday night a month in June, July and August, Operation Outreach becomes a church-wide event as hundreds of outreachers put on yellow t-shirts and invade our communities to wash cars, clean windshields, mow yards, and pick up trash, impacting people in a positive and practical way with the love of God.

Angel Food Ministries Each month we host Angel Food, a food program that sells food boxes, filled with meat, vegetables, eggs, and much more for only $30. We have mobilized hundreds of workers, many who come from the community to help distribute food and have also fed thousands of families who don't attend our church.

Baskets of Blessing Thanksgiving is a time when hundreds of needy families in our community look forward to receiving a food box complete with turkey and all the trimmings donated and delivered to their home by LWCC congregates.

CrestView Toystore Nothing says Christmas to a child more than toys. Yet the families of many children who attend CrestView School are unable to afford them. LWCC and Maranatha Christian Academy annually donate thousands of toys and distribute them to

Homes for Heroes Life must go on for the families of deployed soldiers. When a home maintenance or repair need arises our Homes for Heroes team will perform yard work, and fix or repair projects to demonstrate support for our troops.

Serving others often involves going to where they are. A small act of kindness nudges a person closer to God, often in a profound way as it bypasses ones mental defenses. This often results in a heart open to the gospel – a gospel of love.

Reaching Out Loud

This initial blog entry should probably describe my intentions as a blogger. The name reachingoutloud is a play on words and suggests I’ll be blogging about what I believe is the primary responsibility of every Christian – to openly demonstrate God’s love to those who don’t know Him. I intend to offer practical insights on being a light of evangelism in the dark world that most of us live in.

Outward Focus
Steve Sjogren’s book Outflow changed my paradigm of ministry. I learned that my life is to be filled to the brim with God’s love, joy and hope. It starts with a deep relationship with God, then flows out to touch my family and friends, my neighbors and my world.

Tending the Flock
Most churches invest the majority of their time, money and people power on tending the flock. (I was the pastor of a small rural church for almost seven years, so I know the importance of growing up God’s family). Yet the biggest step of maturity is when Christians learn to reach out beyond their own needs and serve others.

My process of maturity began in 1980 when I became born again and began attending Living Word Christian Center. The first years were spent at the feet of my pastors-teachers Mac and Lynne Hammond. There came a point, however, when I knew I needed to become a steward of the truths they taught. That's when I entered the minstry of helps and began reaching out loud.

The Church Has Left the Building
When it comes to the question of where should the church invest it's resource, I must admit that I am biased. If the church is to reach it’s full potential, it must equip the saints for the work of the ministry. This work is primarily outside it's four walls.

That is where I live. That’s how I think. Outreach consumes my life. The Lord has seen to it that I am able to reach out and get paid for it - although I would do it free.