Media Outreach

Something has been on my mind a lot lately. It is the notion of a church’s involvement in the community.

I think there is an unfortunate mindset that the church’s involvement in the community should be on the church’s terms.  I know I’ve totally been there.  Don’t get me wrong – events that the church hosts and invites the community to can be vastly successful.  I’ve seen it in person!

However, I feel we may be missing one small detail.  Our connection to the community need not always be on our territory.  And by territory, I don’t just mean the physical church terrain. I mean the metaphorical territory of our Christian comfort zone.

Hosting revivals, passing out water bottles and throwing Easter egg hunts CAN reach people.  But if we look at Chet Holmes book The Ultimate Sales Machine, we may find that we aren’t reaching the majority of the population.

Chet Holmes discusses that only 9-10% are ready or open to “buy” in the majority of commerce transactions.   The rest of the 90% are not considering it or aren’t interested.  What makes us think the church is any different?  Someone has to have total buy-in to value attendance to a church service or event over watching TV, sleeping late or going to their kid’s soccer game.

We must keep in mind that the majority of people aren’t looking for a reason to attend church.

The reason the church will host events, is to be relevant to the community and engage them in a way that is appealing to them.  But unfortunately, this only appeals to the small percentage of people that are actually interested in attending that event AND would consider participating in an event hosted by the church.

Seems like a quandary to me.   But what if we started using the activities already happening in the community as a way to build relationship with unbelievers?  What if, instead of hosting an Easter egg hunt, all of your volunteers serve or participate in the community wide event?  AND, furthermore, what if we did it all without expectation?

Strategy is always key in a successful endeavor, but we can’t view every unbeliever as an opportunity to share the gospel.  We can view every human being as an opportunity to show God’s love unconditionally.

So what does this all mean?

It means that in the long run, hosting events is not the only key to reaching our culture.  We need to broaden our horizon.  By coupling participation in community wide events WITH events hosted by the church, relationships will be created that were once non-existent.

Exhibit A.

This is John. He lives a few homes down and plays in the community softball league.

Instead of hosting a Christian softball league or inviting him to the Men’s Retreat of Holiness in the Most High King of Kings, maybe you could join his team.  Play alongside him instead of trying to have him play in your “territory”.

The homerun you hit creates an instant connection with him.  From there, you guys become buds, exchanging stories of lawn care battles and life with kids.

After several months, possibly years, the authenticity of Christ should be reflected in your attitude.  At some point, it will “leak” out that you attend church.  I mean if you are heavily involved, life has a way of revealing that without flaunting it.  Now when he receives that postcard in the mail, inviting him to the 4th of July cookout hosted by your church, he’s interested in attending, whether as your neighbor, or as someone interested in what you have.

With those necessary relationships in place, attendance to services and outreach activities will increase.  Why? Because each person has a felt need for what Jesus offers.  Regardless of if they know it or not.  If we build authentic relationships with people, there will be no convincing needed for someone to want what you have – because you have what everyone wants – hope, peace, joy, love, support, a future.  They will be drawn to any event you invite them to because they know you enough to be drawn to what is in you.

These activities and relationships must all happen without expectation though.  We expect God to move. But it is up to Him for the how and when.

Photo By: Weronika Zubek