When fall arrives churches turn their attention to outreach and evangelism. In fact, the GTBN event trailer gets more use from the middle to end of October than it does any other time of year. Fall festivals, Trunk or Treats, and a number of other seasonal activities fill the calendars as congregations seek connections with the people of their communities.
Now, I applaud any effort to build such connections. As the late Oscar Thompson wrote in Concentric Circles of Concern, the gospel moves through relationships. When these events are considered as bridges to new relationships, rather than ends in themselves, special outreach events serve a significant purpose.
But often Christians expend great effort and lots of money on events with little fruit to show for it.
So, how do you make the most of an outreach event? Consider these suggestions.
First, put your best effort and planning into the event. Any event you invite the public to reflects your commitment to the Lord. Our Lord deserves your best effort, and so do your neighbors.
Second, know your community and consider the needs and preferences of your neighbors above the preferences of church members. If the intent is showing neighbors you care, then truly show them you care.
Third, find a non-intrusive way to get contact information from those who attend your event. In the past guests would gladly complete a registration card for a chance to win a door prize, and sometimes just because you asked. Today people are much more guarded with their information. At an event I’ve been part of for years, we’ve set up a photo booth. We’ve taken pictures of guests with our custom backdrop, sending them later via Facebook or text message. These contacts become our basis for future connection. One thing’s sure: it takes more than a hot dog for people to give a stranger their address or phone number.
Fourth, make sure you have “floaters” on your crew. One of the most important jobs at any evangelistic event is to have Christians who are not working games or food service, but instead float between activities, meeting attendees, helping them feel welcome, listening to their stories, and responding accordingly. If it will take all your help to staff everything you have planned, cancel a couple of activities and designate those people to be floaters.
Fourth, remember the real value of such events comes through new connections. From this point, it’s essential that you not simply relax after clean-up and hope these people drift back for the next event. Take each new connection as a divine appointment from the Lord, unless proven otherwise. Seek ways to remain connected. I like to send a follow-up text saying, “Thank you for attending. I enjoyed our conversation. Perhaps we can meet for coffee sometime. In the meantime, if there is anything we can pray with you about or help with, please contact me.”
Finally, pray diligently not only for the event but for the people who attend. I believe God is sovereign, and that anyone who attended our event was there for a purpose. So I add them to my personal prayer journal, praying not only that the Lord would reveal Himself to them, but that I would discern a next step in relation with them, that I may be His instrument in their lives. For a reason I may not yet know, the Lord brought this person into my life. I seek to steward well that opportunity. I encourage you to do likewise.
BTW, this means you not merely consider them as “projects” but as people you genuinely care for. If the relationship is not real, it will not matter.
So often with events, church leaders think of the crowd. “Gather a crowd at an event, move the crowd into worship, where a few from the crowd will get saved.” I’ve found more fruit thinking of each one who’s in that crowd as a “lost sheep” or “lost coin.” If I can be an instrument of the Savior in their salvation, I get to rejoice with those in heaven over the sinner who repents.
What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim