Creative ways of some churches

[wally]

The title of the article is "Churches get creative with their community contacts" I've been searching ways to contact neighbours because (1) our church members have limited number of non-church going people whom they could invite to church, (2) our church members felt that they have already asked many prospective/possible members to come to church numerous times and are feeling bit offish to ask one more time, and (3) we feel the need to continually serve the neighbours with the love of Christ.

Have your church or others that you know do other ways of contacting neighbours who could be possible new church goers? Of course, Alpha is one, but in our area, almost every church is doing alpha (we are one of very few who have not done it lately).

[Evangeline]

I think the idea of contacting/involving children in activities is a good one.  Granted, some parents may see this as free babysitting and take full advantage of it, but others may want to come along and get involved as well.  Didn't you have a Spring Break day camp idea going on a couple years ago?  That looked like a good idea to me.  Or after school drop in?  I know of one church plant that began a children's community choir.  Not sure exactly how it worked out in the long run, but again, it sounded like a good idea to me.

[al clarkson]

This is a great resource, as it reminds us that we DO NOT have to "reinvent the wheel"--perhaps it means to be ready to serve a meal to a hungry neighbourhood or community, and draws folks from within together.
 
FWIW...Alpha, Seniors and Shut-ins luncheons and Men's Breakfasts are events I've personally been involved in recently within my congregation--any coincidence to the issue that feeding folks and developing community are involved