It is challenging to preach the gospel message to a postmodern audience. Churches must be intentional about evangelism, using multiple avenues, both traditional and innovative, to help people experience the gospel. Below are five innovative ideas that work best when there is a heart to reach people. It is not the ministry but your love and prayers that make the difference.
1. Creative community care
In the past, effective community services included stop-smoking plans and clothes and food distribution. Today, effective ministries include job-finding and training, family counseling, substance abuse programs, literacy for new immigrants, and financial planning. These programs deal not only with the physical aspect of ministry but the emotional, social, and spiritual ministries.1
Gather information from the many organizations specialize in trends, demographic data, and the specific needs of your community. A mechanic may be willing to donate labor costs, or a dentist could provide free cleanings for those without insurance. Build a database listing the skill sets of members who can be called on.
2. Sports ministries
One of the fastest-growing ministries today is sports ministry. It does not require a budget or many people. One of our members started a Sunday afternoon soccer program. With soccer rising in popularity, we attracted approximately 50 kids from the community. We ended with refreshments and an invitation to join our youth group. Every week or so, one or two joined.
If you have a gym, invite the community once or twice a week. At one church I pastored, we opened our gym twice a week to the community. People came, sometimes as many as 60 people. The event lasted about two hours. Right in the middle of these two hours, our youth pastor had a short devotion lasting five minutes.
3. Community Bible study group
You would be amazed how many people with no church background are actually interested in learning about the Bible. Start a community Bible study group outside of the church building. Advertise where other short courses are advertised. A businessman started a breakfast Bible study for his coworkers in a conference room at work. Others hold Bible studies in the common room of their apartment complex. To make the Bible come alive to the unchurched, use visual aids, music, film, or drama—anything you can.
4. Park ministry
Take the gospel to the parks. This kind of witnessing is especially effective during the summer. One church goes to the park every Sabbath afternoon in the summer and invites people to join them for songs and a devotional thought. They had a special program with gifts for the kids and refreshments for everyone at the end. Park ministry is a great way to get the youth and young adults involved in church ministry. Make sure this is presented as professionally as possible because this may be the only image of Christianity some people get to see.
5. Community choir
Starting a community choir is great for bringing new people into the church. You can advertise in the local newspaper, hand out flyers, and hold auditions. In one church I pastored, this was very effective in bringing many talented people into our church. We started with big Christmas and Easter programs and then went on to programs for special days like Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving. Six families joined our church over the course of five years because of the community choir.
Harvest
No one of these ministries will be the answer to building up your church. But when you use several of them to bring in a few people each, you will soon notice an increase in your church family. Do what God has called you to do, and you will experience a great harvest.
- Monte Sahlin, Adventist Congregations Today: New Evidence for Equipping Healthy Churches (Lincoln, NE: Center for Creative Ministry, 2003), 19, 20.
