by Scott Berkey/ May 1, 2014
Summertime is here and that means it’s time to get outside the walls of our churches and start impacting the kids of the community. Outreaches have the potential to unite your team around a common vision, bring new volunteers into play, and even help you develop deeper relationships with the core members of your team. In order to have a GREAT outreach, we must remember these five keys:
G—Get started early. It’s never too early to start preparing for a successful outreach event. Ask questions in the early stages and clearly identify answers. This helps you make wise choices as you move forward. Three questions we try to answer are: Who are we going to target with this outreach? When and where is the event going to happen? And what supplies are we going to need to make it a reality?
R—Recruit the right people. The right team makes all the difference. For an outreach event to be great, you will probably need lots (and lots) of people. Take this opportunity to bring fresh perspectives to your core leadership team. The right mix of faithful, every-week leaders, and brand-new leaders can generate a ton of positive momentum for your event.
E—Excellent resources are essential. When selecting a resource, look for something that is appealing to kids. Refuse to buy into the hype. Dig into a variety of options, review them, and go to the local Christian bookstore to open them up. Make sure you are getting a tool that will advance your cause. For a list of great resources, go to the My Healthy Church Web site. It would be wise to bring part of your team to the table to help you make this important decision.
A—Announce it to the community. People will go out of town during the summer for vacations and family trips. Let your church family know of the event early enough so they can plan to be there. Don’t hide information. Your event should not be the best-kept secret in your church. Encourage families to share the news with their neighbors and friends by providing them with door hangers and “bringvitations” (an invitation to “come to this with me”). You might even consider appointing a team member to lead the publicity for your event. Finding someone who is well connected with the community will help the event’s influence grow.
T—Take time to pray. It would seem that for an outreach event this would go without saying, but I can’t emphasize enough the importance of covering your event in prayer. When praying, be sure to cover the leaders, kids, and families who will be impacted by the outreach. Also, if your event is outside, it’s a great idea to pray for incredible weather!
