10 Great Ideas to Help Churches Shine In Dark Times

Money’s tight, unemployment is going up and it seems every day has a new crisis. Your community is aching for a glimmer of hope. Your church's outreach for Christ is needed even more "in such a time as this."

While other institutions are cutting back and slowing down, your church’s continued outreach and community service will stand out even louder and clearer than ever. During these uncertain times, don’t just provide a glimmer of hope, be a beacon that leads to the Light of the World!

Here are some suggestions to ignite your outreach efforts:

1. Spread Hope in Your Community: Preach a sermon or message series on finding hope in tough times Send a direct-mail invitation to your neighbors inviting them to come to your message series to find hope.

2. Serve the physical needs of your community, the nation and the world by planning a service day like Faith In Action Sunday.

3. Answer questions your community may have about the future by planning a What in the World is Going On? Campaign -- for the whole church or small groups.

4. Conduct a food drive for the local food bank(s) in your area (research shows they are depleting their supplies quickly right now)

5. Offer a community job-care clinic in your church with resume help, online job hunting ideas and open positions collected from your members who own businesses or from local businesses.

6. Host a free movie night for kids or adults at your church using film such as Fireproof, Last Sin Eater, Facing the Giants, etc.

7. Offer a free or low-cost Kids' Night on a Friday night at your church to help parents (and kids!) have fun when money is tight. Parents can go out on a date, and kids can hang out together and do fun activities. Get the youth group involved!

8. Plan a financial stewardship course and/or offer budgeting resources. Target the stages of life most relevant to your neighbors.

9. Use the mechanical skills of the guys in your congregation to offer a car-care clinic (changing oil, tune ups, lube jobs, etc.) to keep your neighbors' auto maintenance costs down.

10. Give away stamps outside the post office – be sure to include a card with your church information and an invitation to attend your services.

More ideas at Outreach.com


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