50 OUTREACH IDEAS
Whether you’re a small ecclesia, a CYC, or an individual
we have some outreach ideas for you!
The list is never ending, but the whole idea of this kind of work is to reach out with whatever you have to give to others – go the extra step and see the reaction of people when strangers offer that ‘unexpected gift of grace’. It might take time, as the community will expect you to want something back from them. But with time, relationships are kindled and you give love a space to grow and an opportunity for God to work.
Every community is unique and you need to know your neighbors to help them. So search for the need and tailor your outreach. Also discuss together what skills you have in your church – get to know each other and allow people to put their talents to work in simple giving.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Rent or donate your hall space to the community
- Community café at your hall
- Community choir
- Sponsor a local assisted living facility or nursing home
- Parent and toddler group
- Charity Coffee mornings
- Foodbank donations or run a food pantry in your hall
- Join or set up a time bank (https://timebanks.org/)
- After school and breakfast clubs at your hall
- Allow locals to use your car park during the week
- Christmas or Thanksgiving Day meal for your local community
- Carry cafe vouchers to give to the homeless
- Community lunches or Saturday breakfasts
- English speaking classes (ESL)
- Knit & Natter groups
- Sales for charity
- Set up or help at a soup kitchen
- Help packing people’s shopping in local supermarket
- Kids’ Holiday club
- Free car washing
- Prayer sessions – invite your community to give prayer requests
- Car trunk sales
- Summer street party
- Prayer walk- take time to walk through the local streets and ask God to help you find those in need
- Random acts of kindness
- Set up a community pantry
- Crafting days for adults
- Plant bulbs and flowers around the community
- Offer exercise classes
- Free wi-fi and Computer access
- Hot meals for the elderly
- Garden clearing for locals
- Free Extra tuition – teachers
- Support workers- provide classes on grief, addictions, mental health
- Board games evening
- Mechanics- free oil change
- Accountants- budgeting advice
- Church in the park- move outside
- Chefs- cooking classes
- Organize Refugee accommodation
- Donate to local charities as an ecclesia
- Post ‘gifts’ to your neighbors- for example, seeds at Easter time
- Offer your hall for health screenings or blood donations
- Hand out free bottles of water at ball games
- House repairs for the elderly
- Movie on the lawn and a BBQ for your neighbors
- Thanksgiving community dinner at the hall
- Family Fun Around the Bible (FFAB): Arts and crafts for elementary kids (accompanied by parents) with Bible Story, songs, followed by a meal (you can signpost families from your local food bank).
- Free help with tax returns.
- Another way to do outreach is to work with an established charity. Here are a few national charities that have branches all North America:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Covenanthouse.org
- Hope4college.com
- 30hourfamine.org
- red cross blood.org
- Aa.org
- planet aid.org
- Comfortcases.org
- Yougivegoods.com
- jbjsf.org
united states, almost 35%
are found sleeping
