Creative Evangelism -- Cultivating Fruitfulness Day Five

Cultivating Fruitfulness

Radical Hospitality -- Day Five

It seems to me that Pomme de Terre UMC is engaged in four primary means of invitation:

1. Newspaper advertisements and community posters for special events (i.e. pot lucks, fundraiser dinners, special worship opportunities such as Christmas Eve, special outreach events such as concerts or children's activities).
2. Some congregation members invite friends and neighbors on occasion.
3. Several church members invite they have met who they think might be interested in experiencing the congregation.
4. Twice a year community wide mailings of the church newsletter.

What could our congregation do better?

1. Host events specifically aimed at inviting new people into the life of Pomme de Terre UMC (i.e. teacher appreciation night, parent's night out, etc ...)
2. Conduct two to four (Christmas, Easter, Back to School, Start of Summer tourist season) specific, targeted advertising campaigns that use multiple media (newspaper, mailings, advertisements, etc ...).
3. Start servant evangelism ministries where we spread our message by doing random acts of kindness for people (The most common example of this is to pass out bottles of water with a label or short message attached that explains how God quenches our thirst or washes us clean at Pomme de Terre UMC).
4. Host Bible studies, discussion groups, or get togethers outside of the church. Why not have small groups meet at the bowling alley, the boat dock, or the local bar and grille?

I think PdT UMC is great community where we are sharing the love of God with one another, so we already have what people are seeking! We just need to find new and creative ways to share our experience of God's love with others.

What are you ideas?