Intentional Outreach

Each year I pick a word and scripture to focus on. Last year, my word was “out” and my scripture verse was the Great Commission. This year, my word is “Intentional” and my scripture verse is 1 Corinthians 9:24- 27. “You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.”

I’ve been thinking and studying this thought as it pertains to my life and to my work. My plan is to be even more intentional about reaching out and sharing the gospel with others. I love my family and my church family- too much! What?! Well, in looking at my life, I am surrounded by awesome people, but they are mostly already connected to the church. (Don’t worry! I still plan to spend just as much time with all of you that I am blessed to have in my life!) So, reaching out has to be more intentional because it means I have to go to new places and find new people to share God with! So, here are some ways I am working on being intentional in my outreach. Some are new and some I started last year.

1. I spend Monday afternoons at a coffee shop. This has been a really great experience so far and I have loved connecting with new people and current friends. So far, in the 2 visits, I have connected with a church member who hasn’t come in years, a church member who just started coming again after a year without coming, someone who has been to the church a few times and is interested in learning more about the church, 2 moms not from the church who have brought their children to a childrens event recently, an active family that regularly attends church and the children and youth activities, and 2 young adults who were very hurt by another church and were raised going to church but stopped after being hurt.
2. I visit the preschool often and have a regular storytime visit every month with each class. This month we are ice skating in the classroom! So much fun with preschoolers!
3. Wednesday has become my tech morning. I have been writing newsletters to reach out to parents of children who have participated in activities at the church as part of my tech day. I also share the newsletter on facebook.
4. I am discovering Instagram. It’s a process, but my goal is to post challenges (in AM) and encouragement (in PM) daily.
5. I walk my dogs before work every morning. I use this time to listen to a Bible study and several devotions. But, I also use it to pray for my neighborhood and am carrying brochures to be able to hand out to people I talk to who might be interested.
6. Facebook can be a terrible thing. But, I have been using it lately to reach out to people I haven’t seen in awhile who may be struggling. I’ve met with 4 people just this week who I connected with years ago and who are interested in finding out more about the church. Also, I am involved with several parent groups and community groups on facebook and continually share what is going on.
7. I’m not promising anything, but as I thought about places to go to connect with new people where I would enjoy and that would be good for me too, I had a church member invite me to a free class at a new workout place. And, as I thought about it, I realized maybe this is a way to reach new people as we connect while meeting regularly every week. I’ll keep you posted on whether I survive tomorrow or not!
8. Thursday I am meeting with people from drug court to see if I can become a mentor with that program. A friend who has done this now has brought 2 people to church who now regularly attend.

So, those are just 8 ways I’ve incorporated God and sharing His message into my world. But, I feel there is another responsibility I have, and anyone who is a leader of the church. We have to equip others to incorporate sharing God’s message into their world. It may look different than mine, but the focus is the same. So, that’s what I intend to work on.

Why do we all have to work to build up the church and spread the gospel? Yes, I work at a church and therefore it is my responsibility to do those things. But, aren’t we all Christians and commanded to “Go and make disciples of all men”? If you went to work and told your kids to make their bed while you are gone and you come home and they haven’t made their beds, but they say “we talked a lot about making our beds and we watched great videos on youtube about it! We even wrote a song about it!” How happy would you be? So, how good are we at following God’s command of what we are to do until He comes back? What can you do differently this year?