2009-04-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

Define the neighborhood: Church members define their own neighborhood, usually 10 households on their own street or in their own residence complex. This works best in a person’s home neighborhood, the strategy is significantly less effective when church members are sent into some other neighborhood than their own.

Prayer, doorhangers: After praying for each household, church members put a doorhanger at each door announcing their intention and indicating when they plan to stop by. The doorhanger eliminates the natural fear of cold calling, allows the neighbor to know what’s happening in advance, and greatly increases responsiveness. We have thoroughly tested various doorhanger messages and developed one that works almost anywhere.

First doorstep visit: On the promised day, often a weekend, church members knock on doors, starting with households nearest their own. Invariably church members report being pleasantly surprised by the warm response. Some neighbors will have cans of food standing by the door waiting; others will thank the church member for taking the initiative. In most cases, this first round is a feel-good experience for all concerned, and the amount of food collected can be startling.

Note that the church gets “credit” in the community for the effort, but it doesn’t noticeably impact the church budget. The neighbors pay for the food.

Ask to repeat: When anyone gives food, the church member immediately suggests doing this regularly as a neighborhood project. More than 90% who give the first time, agree. The church member comes back two months later, collects food, learns more names, and accepts compliments for his or her hard work

Offer prayer: Repeat the process every two months. After any neighbor has given food a third time, usually about four months into the process, the church member says: “You have been so kind to give food now three times. Down at the church where we collect this food, we pray for the needy people who will receive it. We also pray for people like you who donated it. Is there anything in your family or your situation you would like me to pray for in particular?”

What happens: The response, immediate or in coming months, opens doors and hearts in personal and remarkable ways – to an extent no one ever quite foresees.

Drawing unchurched neighbors into helping do Kingdom work. Instead of first figuring out how to get them to visit church, then urging them toward some spiritual decision, and only after that suggesting ways to serve God, this strategy involves unchurched neighbors as upfront willing partners in doing something that greatly pleases God, even while relationships begin or deepen. It’s called withreach.

Longer Term (6 to 18 months, and beyond)

Once friendships have formed, once people begin to talk with neighbors at a truly meaningful level about their dreams and needs, once Christians are praying about what really matters to each neighbor (and some answers to prayer appear), once enough time has elapsed that neighbors can tell the interest is sincere and lasting rather than some quick outreach campaign, then any number of doors can – and do – open wide.

Neighborhood Bible studies form, or grow.
Mothers’ prayer groups appear.
Neighborhood fellowship groups proliferate.
Small group ministry is empowered.
New neighborhood-based small groups form.
Existing small groups gain new members naturally.
Neighborhood-based Angel Tree ministry can develop.
Neighborhood Christmas gatherings become more widespread.
God-given dreams for famliy and community begin to be fulfilled.
Neighborhood self-help ministries emerge.
De-churched Christians find connections.
Unchurched neighbors know where to turn in a crisis.
Churches uncover ministry opportunities previously unknown.
Church and community support develops for specific needs.
Ministry becomes driven by neighborhood-based Christians, instead of church staff.
Community and neighborhood improvement projects evolve.
Cooperation, partnerships among area churches develop.
City-reaching strategies are empowered.
Community transformation dreams begin to get legs.

Taken from /www.neighborhoodconnections.org

Reaching your Neighbors