Archive for outreach – Page 2

The Return (Inviting Guests to Come Back)

By Tom Belew · Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 29th, 2017

Getting in the diamond with your guests may be easier than you think! If you are going to succeed with your group, relationships are extremely important. You want to know you are connecting with guests, and ensure that your relationship is inside their circle of awareness. So what does that look like/mean?

Most group leaders make a follow-up phone call and most churches send a letter. It would seem that leaders are concerned about getting too close too soon, when we actually want to get close quickly. We want our guests to come back next week!

In contrast, I have learned most people come back to a group if there was more than a call or letter. Numerous times a guest has told me they came back because someone in the group:

  • Visited them
  • Invited them to lunch
  • Invited them to a fellowship activity
  • Invited them to go to an event with them
  • Offered to sit with them in worship

Three weeks ago, we had guests in our group and I was thrilled to see what happened:

  • The group leader took time for everyone to introduce themselves.
  • As the group dismissed at least three families went over to get better acquainted.
  • One family sat with them during worship.
  • I heard a family invite them to lunch even though they had several children.

By the way, they came back, and stayed for a church fellowship on their second Sunday.

Tom Belew is the Small Groups & Childhood Specialist for the California Southern Baptist Convention.

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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The Front Porch (What To Do On A Home Visit)

By Jeff Ingram · Comments (0)
Monday, August 28th, 2017

Don’t give up on the home visit just yet! Many church leaders today think visiting prospects and inactive members simply does not work anymore. This may be true in some situations like gated communities and some apartment complexes. Perhaps front porch visitors these days are not always invited in for coffee and cake, but some meaningful conversations can still take place.

For one thing, knocking on someone’s front porch door is a way of showing the person/family that you care enough to go to the trouble of driving to their home and checking on them. It’s more personal than a phone call, text, email, card or letter. Eye contact is a good thing.

Maybe the goal of a front porch visit should be to simply show you care – your Sunday School class, Small Group, or church – is interested in you and your family. It’s always a good idea to leave a Bible study or devotional book or magazine, with their name typed on a mailing label stuck on the cover.

My church recently sent me and two others to go door-to-door, telling people we were praying for their neighborhood and how we could pray for them. It went like this: first house, serious illness for grandchild; second, lady going through a divorce; third, lady taking care of her husband with dementia; fourth, single mom dealing with rebellious daughter; and last, a lady taking care of her sister recovering from surgery.

There are many needs and hurts behind those front door porches. Most will never be addressed without the front porch home visit.

Jeff Ingram is the Adult Ministry Strategist for Louisiana Baptists.

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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The Phone Call (What to Say On A Follow-Up Call)

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Sunday, August 27th, 2017

BEFORE CLASS: James came to your church for Sunday School. He was brought to class by the Sunday School greeter who shared James’ registration form.

The class greeter welcomed James and introduced him to the class. No one embarrassed James by asking him to speak out loud. James had a good experience during class. Several spoke to James as class ended.

AFTER CLASS: The class greeter walked James to a restroom and worship. In worship, the greeter sat with James and introduced him to some of those around them. At worship end, the greeter tells James he enjoyed spending time together and invites him back to class.

WITHIN 72 HOURS: Bob, a member of the class, contacts James by phone. Bob thanks James for being in class. They share a couple of comments about the lesson and the group. Bob then asks James if he has any questions about the class or the church.

After answering James’ questions, Bob invites James to a class fellowship planned in a couple of weeks. He even offers transportation.

Bob then asks how he can pray for James and his family. Bob writes down what James shares. Then Bob asks permission to pray with James. When James agrees, Bob prays for James and his requests.

Bob closes the call by thanking James again for coming to class and says he hopes to see him again Sunday. James is more likely to return because care was expressed!

Darryl Wilson is the Sunday School and Discipleship Consultant at the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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The Ask (Asking A Guest to Join the Group)

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 26th, 2017

Mark 1:17 reads, “Follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fish for people.” (HCSB)

Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus asking people to follow Him. Jesus wanted people to join Him on His mission to seek and save the lost, but to accomplish this mission Jesus made the habit of asking people to join Him.

Yet many Sunday School classes and small groups often forget to ask a guest participating in their group if they would like to join it!

People will rarely enroll in a group unless they are asked. An informal survey of people joining the church’s small groups or Sunday School are often people that are joining the church and are simply taking the next required step of membership. Asking someone to join your group is so simple…

Ask them!!

Here are a few helpful ideas…

  • Make sure enrollment cards are available at every meeting. That also includes a writing utensil that works.
  • Combine the guest and enrollment cards. Simply add a checkbox to the guest card that states: “I would like to join this group.”
  • Whoever is responsible for taking roll in the group should ask every guest to fill out the guest card, and be sure to ask them if they would like to join the group.
  • If possible, the person responsible should offer to fill out the guest card for the guest. Not only does this lead to asking the above question, but it also means that someone can read the handwriting on the card!
  • Use the proper verbiage and attitude. “Would you like to join our wonderful group?” sounds so much better than, “You wouldn’t want to join our group… would’ya?”
  • And… a guest does not have to be a church member or attend three consecutive times to join or enroll in the group!

All it takes is “the ask.”

_____________________________

Bob Mayfield is the Sunday School/Discipleship specialist at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Bob also has his own blog at bobmayfield.com.
Follow Bob on Twitter at @bobmayfield and on Facebook at facebook.com/thebobmayfield

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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Forged With Food: Why Group Socials are Valuable

By Jonathan Jordan · Comments (0)
Friday, August 25th, 2017

Sometimes we find ourselves attending a group but for some reason connection points are difficult to achieve.  Your group might have a great ongoing study, but never underestimate the value of socials.  A meal attached to “social” is an invaluable tool in the Sunday School toolbox.

Socials are an incredible part of our groups and in some new groups it might take as much as 50% of our group time.  How could this be you say?!  It is the nature of people to desire a connection with others and have friends.  In the beginning words of the Bible it is clear we are not to be alone.  We are social beings.

  • Group Socials provide a place for us to get to know one another.
    Sometimes 10 minutes of “hello” is not enough.
  • Groups Socials provide a place to make friends.
    Many times ice breakers help to achieve a new comfort level because we are getting to know the people in our group through a simple game.
  • Group Socials provide us a place to be accepted.
    Sharing a meal with someone is a very disarming event.  We see it many times in the text and is great way to begin conversations with others.
  • Group Socials can eliminate loneliness in people’s lives.
    We have no idea how lonely people can be in a crowd.  Many people go months, years in fact with sharing a simple meal with friends.

Never underestimate the power of group socials.  I would encourage some type of gathering at least once a quarter.  This one action could galvanize your group and push them to invite friends to the groups as well.  Sharing a meal with someone is a wonderful way to bring together and grow your group.

Jonathan Jordan is the State Missionary at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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