#outreachquickguide

Outreach Quick Guide: In the Name of Love

Provided my Manna Church

The Idea: Empower and equip the members of your church to communicate the Gospel in tangible ways by engaging in easy, low risk serving in their own everyday lives. This helps to break the need for the Church leaders to program outreach and encourages it to become part of the lifestyle of the people.  

Number of Volunteers Needed: 1- 1000

Supplies Needed:

List of Simple Outreach Ideas (see www.serveday.com/resources for example)

Outreach Cards

Side A: “In The Name Of Love” and your Worship service times and locations.  

Side B: An explanation that connects to the Gospel. Have a link on the card inviting recipients to tell their story (this is a great way to capture stories to share them with your church)

Card verbiage example:

What happened here?

Someone just showed you the love of Jesus – no strings attached.

Jesus Christ was the greatest example of this that ever existed.  He diedon the cross to pay for sins that were not His own – they were yours.  The person who gave you this card has experienced that revolutionary love and is passing it on to you.  

Tell us your story

Basic Instructions:

Have cards bundled in packs of 5-10 and make available in your church lobby (a stand located at the exits works great)

Do an “In The Name Of Love” campaign introducing this idea to the church. (Sermons/teachings/etc)

Explain that the point of this outreach is to do something for someone else with no strings attached (anonymous works the best!).  

Example: Go to Starbucks and buy the order of the car behind you and ask the server to hand the outreach card to them when they go to pay.

Avoid the “bait-n-switch”

See a great SERVE idea but aren’t quite sure how to pull it off? Well thanks to churches like YOU we’ve been able to start a library of SERVE “Quick Guides”. Leaders break down their outreaches into practical step by step instructions, supplies needed, volunteer roles, the “wins”, safety tips, and more. 

Find the library here (and stay tuned for more resources to come)

SERVE “Quick Guide” - Food Truck Buy Out

Skyline Church in VA provided all of the information you need to do to pull off a “Food Truck Buy Out” outreach in your city. They shared that they’ve been able to reach more people through this serve than any other outreach events they’ve done. 

Thanks, Skyline family, for sharing!

SERVE “Quick Guide”: Truck Stop SERVE

Provided by City Light Church. Thanks so much, guys! 

Our friends at Impact City Church in Los Angeles have shared a SERVE "Quick Guide" with us. Here you'll find everything you need to know to host a "Laundry Love" outreach in your city - including volunteer roles, supplies needed, and step by step instructions.  Thanks so much for sharing, Impact City Fam!

download the guide here...

SERVE “Quick Guide”: Gospel and Groceries

This SERVE "Quick Guide" is provided by Ps. Tommy Luong at Zoe Church in Los Angeles. From a list of supplies needed to team roles, step by step instructions and the goal of the day - Ps. Tommy breaks down everything you need to know to successfully pull off a "Gospel and Groceries" event in your city. Thanks so much for sharing, Tommy and the Zoe fam!

Outreach Quick Guide: Free Garage Sale

Contributor: Church of the Pines, Tyler TX

The Idea: It works just like a community garage sale except we GIVE everything away for FREE.

Team Roles:

40-45 Volunteers Recommended

Pre Event:

Advertisement

Donation Pick Up

Logistics

Sorting

 Day Of Event:

Set- Up Team

Greeters

Check-In Team (Shoppers check in where we give them a certain amount of tickets. Tickets can be used in exchange for items. We set a maximum number of items shoppers can choose from each category [clothing, shoes, household, etc.] to ensure there is enough for everyone who comes.)

Shopping Buddies (Shopping Buddies are assigned to help guide guests through their shopping experience, help them keep track of their tickets, shop in a timely manner, build relationships, and offer prayer.)

Kids Team (This team is all about making sure that the children have a great experience while their parents shop!)

Car Loaders (This crew helps shoppers load up their “purchases”.)

Clean-Up Team

Supplies Needed:

Storage for donations

Bags (large and small)

20 round tables

(2) 6 ft tables

15 chairs

Posters for labeling

Signs

H stakes for the outdoor signs

Cleaning supplies 

Sharpies

Name tags

Tickets

Acts of Kindness Cards

Bottled Water

Basic Instructions:

Pre-Event:

Advertise that you are accepting donations

Pick up donations/store in storage

Advertise your Free Garage Sale to the community

Sort and load up donations

Set-up

Day Of Event:

Greeters welcome guests

Guests Check In and receive shopping tickets and instructions  

Pair shoppers with shopping buddies

Open Kids Activities

Enjoy the day!

Clean Up

Donate any remaining items to a local Thrift Store, organization, or a place where there is a need.

 Wins

Getting to connect with people

Meeting physical needs

Opportunities to pray with people one -on-one

We had some people from the community attend church with us the next day!

Extra Tips

Consider adding an extra layer of service by offering to deliver bigger items to peoples’ homes.

Name tags are a must

To make it extra fun, we also hired a local food truck and gave away free meals.

We offered face painting and games for the children - We also plan to create an intentional VBS type experience for the children next time around.

Make sure you are marketing the correct way to the community you are serving.

Mother's Day is almost here and what better opportunity is there to honor and serve the women in your city?

Last weekend, The Birmingham Dream Center gave out flowers to women living on the streets, delivered hygeine kits and handwritten cards to mom's in prison, and hosted a "Lemonade on the Lawn" with free lemonade, nail painting, and bracelet making station.

Purpose Church partnered with residents of a local nursing home to make "Happy Mother's Day" cards for new moms at Women's Hospital. Each resident was asked to share a word of advice that they would like to pass on to the next generation of mothers.

ITown Church gives out gift bags to mom's with babies in the NICU. They've shared their "how to" steps in this Outreach Quick Guide. It's got everything you need to know to coordinate this serve idea in your city.

Another way to make a difference on Mother's Day is by honoring not just Moms, but also those who Mother's Day may be difficult for. Whether it be those walking through infertility, have had miscarriages, lost a child, or even families who have lost mothers. Simple gestures that acknowledge and honor those who are hurting can mean the world.