14 Simple Outreach Ideas with an Eternal Focus

 

It always seems during the Christmas season our hearts are more focused on the needs of others than other times during the year.  As Christians, we should always be others focused.  I have lots of ideas on how to reach out to others with the gospel but they don't come to fruition too often.  One of the reasons is I don't take the time to plan.

Before I get into some ideas on reaching out to others with the gospel I want to state the reminder that your husband and family are first.  If you do not have things together at home and your own family is being neglected while you are out doing good for others than your priorities are out of whack.  Your closest neighbor to love is your own family.  You may be good at giving and sacrificing for others outside your home but you need to take the time to give and sacrifice first for those in your home.  It doesn't have much impact on your children if they are second to those outside your home.

Moms with little ones underfoot this is going to look different for you than for moms like me (actually grandmothers) who don't have little ones underfoot at home anymore.  My time is still to be a priority to my husband, children, and grandchildren but I have more available time to reach out in ways that you are not able when you are in the midst of raising a young family.  Remember you are raising a family to have an impact for God's Kingdom.  The example you set before them in the area of servanthood in your own home will have the biggest impact on how they reach out to others when they are on their own.

Do not compare yourself with others.  Every family's situation is different and you are already having an impact for the kingdom that someone else isn't. If you tend to compare take some time to watch this video by Carolyn Mahaney.  The purpose of this post is not to make you feel guilty but to get you thinking on simple ways to make an eternal impact.  

Before you start take the time to ponder and pray as a family on ways you can do this together.  Involve your children and please check first and get the go-ahead from your husband.  He is a good source to go to and to ask how you are doing with your time at home and he may have some great ideas on reaching your community with the gospel.  Working together as a family will grow you all into being others focused. 

As I stated earlier, planning is key to reaching out.  Just like any other project you need to have a plan of action for it to happen.  If you are going to hand out tracts they need to be accessible.  If you want to give someone a bible you need to have some on hand. If you want to have a family over for dinner you need to invite them.

Here are some easy and simple ways to reach out to those around your community and around the world with an eternal focus. 

Simple Outreach Ideas:

1.  Take the time to see the needs of your own church family that you can meet.  Does someone need a meal, phone call, card or just some time with you?  Can you provide a material need, babysitting services, yard work, or housework that needs to be done?  We don't have to wait for a committee to be formed to meet these needs.  When you see a need you can meet – meet it – pretty simple.

God's Word tells us in Galatians 6:10 to “let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers”. In Acts 2:42-46 tells us how the believers provided for the needs of one another and how the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

We sing the song – They'll know we are Christians by our Love – that is referring to when unbelievers see the love we have for God and the love we have for the family of God.  Do not neglect the needs of your brothers and sisters – they should be a priority in your life for areas the Lord has provided for you to meet. They speak powerfully to an unbelieving watching world and confirm who we are in Christ.  We still need to verbalize the gospel – more on that later.

2.  Keep some basic gospel literature and bibles handy in your car, home, and purse for times when you would like to leave someone with a little more information.  Here is a great 2-minute video on preparing your car to share the gospel and another one here on packing your purse with tracts.  Just being mindful to hand one out when you haven't been able to share the gospel puts the gospel in their hands.  Isaiah 55:11 tells us God's Word will not return void – it will accomplish His purposes.

Box in the back of our car

3.  Christmas is a great time to hand out a tract and a gift.  Living Waters has some neat tracts that you could put some fresh one dollar bills inside to hand to people as you are out and about.  Not too many people out there turn down a gift of cash.

4.  Christmas Carol in your neighborhood.  Pack little treat bags and add in a gospel tract and information to your church.  Easy and fun.

5.  Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru window and leave them a gospel tract.  This is a favorite idea and one we have enjoyed doing.  It is easy and I love it because the drive-thru attendant is handing out the tract for you.  Make sure you give one to the attendant too!  Fun video to watch to see how easy this is.

Video Link – Evangelism Drive-Thru Two Minute Tip by Fish With Trish

6.  Write a letter to a believer who is suffering persecution.  This has been an encouragement to be able to send a letter to a brother or sister around the world who is in prison and suffering for their faith in Christ.  We like to print out their information and keep it on our bulletin board to pray for them as a family.  Voice of the Martyrs Prisoner Alert makes this easily available for anyone to do.

 

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