Excerpt from March/April Outreach Magazine
By Lynne Marian
Spring Into Action: Servant Outreach Ideas for Spring
Post-Easter is typically a time for church events designed to connect with your Easter guests. But while we normally think of events and ministries that draw people to the church building, this year consider ways your church can go out into the community to make an even more meaningful connection.
Here are some ideas for ways to connect with what may be going on in the lives of people in your community this spring:
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Planting: Depending on your area, spring thaw often means a time to re-seed lawns, fertilize shrubs and plant flowers. Come alongside senior citizens and offer teams of landscape servants to help them make their seasonal transition.
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Baseball: In the spring many communities turn their attention to Little League and softball. How can your church get involved? We know of one church that has built a top-notch, lighted practice field on their grounds and offers it free of charge to local teams. Consider turning that grungy park restroom into a public-friendly, clean facility full of amenities to serve the Little League families, Pick up trash after the games on Saturday or offer to fill in for “no-show” snackbar volunteers. And why not recruit retirees to be assistant coaches?
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Prom, graduation and more: Many high schools are in full swing, planning elaborate, often expensive graduation events that require significant volunteerism. Could your church offer cap-and-gown scholarships for underprivileged students? What about a senior breakfast the day after prom?
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Volunteerism: According to professor and researcher Thom Rainer in his book, Surprising Insights From the Unchurched, many unbelievers look to the Church to provide a conduit for volunteerism. While we normally think of inviting the community to be served by us, think about inviting them to serve with us. By offering people a chance to see Christians acting like Christians—giving with no strings attached—they will come to appreciate and better understand the heart of God.
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