If I was a Community Pastor I would… CREATE & ENGAGE #9

Create opportunities to engage and build relationships with the community. Be a hub for social activity where relationships can start, deepen and grow.
Do things that locals what to be apart of. This means knowing the community you are ministering to and trying to reach.

Does your local community love art? Are there artists in your area, lots of art schools, art community courses, theatres, galleries or are they educated people who happen to be more consumers of art? Perhaps then hold an Art Exhibition & Prize, run drama classes after school for kids, or an adult ‘acting in the everday course’ helping adults build confidence.

Does your local community have a social conscience? Do they have a social conscious? Are they a community who have money and are big consumers, can you play to that and see about engaging with them by thinking about using Fair Trade Products where they can? Maybe your church should hold a Fair Trade Market (see Tribes and Nations for more info). When you do hold the markets do it outside on the street, show people your church is alive, open the doors to the building, get some live music, play music through the church speakers and let people feel free to wander through and have a look.

Or maybe you can actually “do good” with your community.  Maybe your church could host Winter appeals, Toys & Tucker in assocaition with Anglicare – advertise, do letterbox drop and collection pick ups or drop offs.

Or be the initators of good intitiatives like Clean Up Australia day. We did this earlier in the year: Clean Up Kiribilli. It was a great success.

Does your local community have a large migrant population? Run ESL classes, teach english and use the bible to do it. Get in contact with Cathyn Threw from Anglicare – she has all the resources for you esl@anglicare.org.au

Does you local community love sport and fitnesss? Get a player from your local rugby club and get him to run a fitness session, book the local personal training team to run boot camp with a bunch of people and offer it to the community to join in for free.

Does your local community have a vibrant and rich history? Why not run a history tour. Do your research and take people around your local area, showing them interesting buildings, sights and share some facts. End up at your church and explain the history of the church… perhaps your church is designed in the shape of a cross “cause in Christianity the cross is central to faith” …. etc…

Think about what your community loves and put it on!!!

And when you do – don’t be ashamed at the gospel – you perhaps don’t have to bash the bible over peoples heads… but if you host a fitness morning with a free breakfast after why not say grace before you sit down to eat. Weave the gospel in!