Outreach / Community

[gogiggen]

Hey everyone, I'm a college kid, and I'm looking to get involved in a church, and I also want to get involved in outreach and being involved in a community of believers, but also a community around that church. That has nothing to do with what my question is: what kind of programs and such does your church have and do like this? I'm also wanting to get involved on my campus as we do not have a Christian group and I really want to get involved there and hopefully get people involved in the community at school. I just need some ideas of what all the churches out there do. I'm sure God will show me something, but I'm just wondering what you all do.

[mudhead1s wife]

David,
I belong to a church with a rather small congregation, we have regular worship Sunday morning. First they have Sunday School. While Sunday School is going on they have an adult discussion group. Our Sunday School students go up to confirmation and then those who are confirmed but struggle with the adult discussion we have a post confirmation class for. We have 15 min. of music worship and then our sermon. Sunday eve. they do a song service at anursing home. Wed. eve we have Bible Study, and we have a Youth Group that meets once a week as well. As far as outreach we have Vacation Bible School and every time we do a fundraiser we let people know in the community that they are welcome. Our Pastor visits a lot of the people in the community who are going through tough times. And this year we will be starting a community garden. We are building a new church and thought that it would be beneficial to extend some of the property to those in the community who wish to garden. All produce that comes out of the garden will be donated to those who live in the community.

Not sure if that helps but I hope it will.
Katrina

[Chuck7]

Hey Brother,
I thank the Lord that you want to get involved..If you can't find a church to get involved in ..don't let that stop you..I also plan to labor for the Lord this summer..There is only 21 school days left..Here are some things a person can do without even belonging to a church.

A. Go to your local salvation army or other outreach to the poor and ask if you can be of any service..That will be my first stop..The Talbot House.

B. Go to your local nursing home .I play the guitar..you could ask if you can do a weekly Bible study ..give a short message and sing a few songs.

C. Your local jail.I used to be a volunteer chaplain..You simply fill out a little paper work..be available.Jesus will fill your mouth with the right words.

D. A sign ministry..I've stood out by a busy intersection before for about 1 1/2 years wearing a huge sandwich board.I'd changes Bible verses every month..I would paint my boards with 4 inch letters..Many would stop..I would also give out tracts..

E. Help an elderly neighbor with yard work..wash her car etc..

There is plenty to do..

F. Also ..there are some short term mision trips available with some organizations..can be found on line..

Churches are great ..but don't let a closed door keep ya from serving the Lord.

"The harvest is great by the laborers are few..pray ye that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers in the harvest."

[Father Forkhorn]

gogigen, you might want to take a different approach. The reason to join a church is because it's teachings and positions appear to be true. Look at what they say and decide if this is what God wants a person to believe and belong to. If it's not, go elsewhere because falsehood is useless.

[Chuck7]

Excellent Advice..Brother Forkhorn..

[gogiggen]

Sorry guys (and gals), but it was late when I posted that and I kind of combined 2 thoughts I was having. Really the reason I was wanting to know what kinds of ways your churches get involved in the community is because I was trying to gather ideas for a Christian group on campus, and was just wondering what kind of unique ways different churches helped out in the community and get ideas of things for us to do. I have no idea why I stated my post as I did, because me looking for a church to get involved is another thing I was thinking about. Sorry about that.

[Kosherboy]

Well we have, Hospital Visitations to pray for the ill.
Counceling for teens in trouble.
A Drug Rehab for adults and the Young.
Missionary work , such as going to another country to Build churches or homes for the poor , let's say in the summer
for someone like you.
A food bank , packaging food and meeting the people that come in to pick up food, a great time to witness.
There are a million things you can do for the Lord.
Keep that desire up and the Lord Will bless you abundantly.
Shalom

[happytrigger]

We help in food banks, make hygiene kits to be sent around the world. Donate clothing we own that is still in good shape that does not fit. Tie quilts for mothers with newborns. Do food drives. All you need to do is look around and look for something that is good to do and you will find it staring you in the face. Just saying hello and smiling to those you pass while walking lifts their spirits.

[mudhead1s wife]

One of the other things we do is we help do fundraising for the Pregnancy Resource Center. They do a walk for life every year. For fundraising they do a baby bottle campaign. The baby bottle has a bible verse on it and you put it where you will see it on a regular basis and put money or change or checks in it. We usually keep the bottles for a month and then turn them in.

For volunteer work at a college campus you could offer free tutoring, around holidays you could find homes for kids to visit when they can't make it to see their family for the holiday. A lot of college kids are strapped for cash so you could do your own kind of food bank for college kids. Kind of like take a penny leave a penny. Car washes for grocery and gas cards for those who need, or for raising funds for the cost of one kid to travel home for the holiday. For bible studies you could meet for coffee and donuts and spread the word to have people pick a topic they'd like to learn about put it in a bowl and then pick out a new subject each time.

Hopefully this is more of what you are looking for.