A Deeper Dive July 15, 2017 Mt Olivet United Methodist Church Presented by the United Methodist Church in Northern Virginia

A Deeper Dive July 15, 2017 Mt Olivet United Methodist Church Presented by the United Methodist Church in Northern Virginia

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Goals of the day: What do I say about MY faith to my neighbors? WHO are our neighbors according to the best demographic research? How do I use the ASSETS of myself, my congregation and my church to reach my neighbors? HOW do we connect several outreach events to reach our neighbors? What PRACTICAL WAYS are people using in Northern Virginia to do this work of connecting to our neighbors and neighborhoods? What is our PLAN OF ACTION? Question to start the day: What do you hope for from today? Page 3 of 17

Scriptures for the day: Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Luke 10:25-29 New International Version (NIV) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it? He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind ; and, Love your neighbor as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live. But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? - I Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Page 4 of 17

What would you say if someone asked you: What has God done in your life? How is being part of a church community relevant to your life? Who or what were you before Christ? Who or what are you with Christ? One way to summarize & practice a brief faith testimony is Cardboard Testimonies. Where I was on my own: Where I am with God: Page 5 of 17

Who are Our Neighbors? Think about the eight homes closest to yours: A: Do you know? The names of all who live there B: Do you know? What they do for a living, where did they live before here? C: Do you know? Their hopes & dreams? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Page 6 of 17

Getting to Know our Neighbors better: -Demographics gives one set of clues -Prayer Walking can give another set of clues - Bridge people who represent demographic groups in our neighborhoods but not always in our congregation A Trip to MissionInsite: www.missioninsite.com code=qqbrm Follow instructions to set up your own username and password From your QuickInsite: Who is Our Neighbor? How many neighbors do we have in the area around our church? What is the population in the study area around our church? Write down that number on the index card and place in the middle of your table, to remind you these are PEOPLE, not just numbers! Page 7 of 17

Is the population projected to grow or decline? By what percentage? Notes from reviewing our neighborhood demographics: Our Top Mosaic Groups: % % % % Notes from reviewing our Mosaic Groups : First Ideas: How might we reach our neighbors?? Page 8 of 17

Our Church Resources Review of Assets for Connecting What gifts and talents are in your congregation (nurses, teachers, historians, clowns, business owners, etc.) What building/property assets do you have (large lawn, a gym, a sanctuary, a nursery) What assets are close by your church in the community (public park, metro stop/parking, nature center, historic home, hospital, fire station) Page 9 of 17

Strategically Connected Outreach Events What makes a good connecting event? Connects to what we ve learned about the neighbors targeting the micro groups keeps things focused and less costly, although ALL are always invited Review your demographics & Mosaic information for clues! ASK people in the target demographic what are you looking for? What kinds of events do you like to attend? Easy to understand, easy to join, and relevant The easier you make it to come or be invited, the more likely people will actually come let people drop by, just show up if they can, join in with a mission project Develops a way to build relationships, not just host, or give something out Have a Fall Festival, but don t focus on making hot dogs and hamburgers- bring in food trucks, and release volunteers to MEET people and build relationships. Collects names and contact information Development of an invitational database Have a Night in Bethlehem, but don t forget the census taker (part of the story!) getting names and emails for follow-up later. Or have a drawing of a great prize, and have them check on their registration Interested in other events Connects to the NEXT event that you have already planned. 3-4 events per year keep people thinking about and coming back to the church. Targeting families with small children with an Easter Egg roll, but also a summer Families in Mission event and a Blessing of the Backpacks as they enter school. Ideas from other churches: -Movie night for preschool families and other families of young children, followed by firepit & s more night with moon bounce, followed by Christmas caroling for preschoolers and families. (Fast Track Families was the Mosaic Group) -Series of Historical lectures and walks for American Royal Demographic -Senior Sophisticates A Health fair, followed by an international food cooking class, followed by a Christmas carol/advent celebration Page 10 of 17

Your Turn! Create a strategic plan for 3 connecting outreach events What assets does your church have? What are the needs/interests of your neighbors? How will you invite them? How will you get their names and email/addresses? Event #1: Assets we could use: (places, people, events, connections, schools, etc.) What are the needs/interests of your neighbors you are meeting? (Check Mosaic descriptions) Describe the event: How will you invite them? What kind of publicity will meet this demographic (again, more clues in the Mosaic descriptions) How will you collect contact information? What can your church members do to be radically hospitable at the event? How can you ensure people from the church are in conversation and developing relationships with your neighbors? How will you invite them to Event #2? Page 11 of 17

Event #2: Assets we could use: (places, people, events, connections, schools, etc.) What are the needs/interests of your neighbors you are meeting? (Check Mosaic descriptions) Describe the event: How will you invite them? What kind of publicity will meet this demographic (again, more clues in the Mosaic descriptions) How will you collect contact information? What can your church members do to be radically hospitable at the event? How can you ensure people from the church are in conversation and developing relationships with your neighbors? How will you invite them to Event #3? Event #3: Assets we could use: (places, people, events, connections, schools, etc.) What are the needs/interests of your neighbors you are meeting? (Check Mosaic descriptions) Describe the event: Page 12 of 17

How will you invite them? What kind of publicity will meet this demographic (again, more clues in the Mosaic descriptions) How will you collect contact information? What can your church members do to be radically hospitable at the event? How can you ensure people from the church are in conversation and developing relationships with your neighbors? Follow Up is AS IMPORTANT AS THE EVENTS: How will you continue to stay in contact with your neighbors? How will you invite them to things like worship, missions projects and future events? How will you develop deeper relationships with them? What I learned from listening to the ideas of other groups: Page 13 of 17

More Ways to Connect the Art of Neighboring Sit in front of your house Take a prayer walk your neighborhood Throw a party! Invite ALL the neighbors. o Celebrate your dog s birthday, your kids, your best baked goods, BBQ cook-off o Do less on real holidays, and more just because Set up a neighborhood watch or emergency contact list Create interest groups like book clubs, game nights, etc. Impromptu kickball games, scavenger hunts, movies projected on the garage door things kids love, their parents and grandparents will love! How the Church can help us meet our neighbors? Divide up the neighborhoods, practice prayer walking together Set out a prayer box or food sharing box for or book sharing box Invest in children s games, party equipment, and share the kit Don t do VBS the old fashioned way. Do it the neighborhood way! Offer missional projects in the neighborhoods, and enlist the entire neighborhood Do offsite events in preference to at church events Use local businesses and spaces Don t do VBS the old fashioned way. Do it the neighborhood way! Offer missional projects in the neighborhoods, and enlist the entire neighborhood Do offsite events in preference to at church events Use local businesses and spaces Page 14 of 17

Your Turn! How will you personally develop an intentional plan to meet and get to know your neighbors? How will the church help the congregation develop plans to be good neighbors? Develop your Plan using the Action Plan Breakdown Handout What I learned from listening to the ideas of other groups: Page 15 of 17

Appendix 1: Prayer Walking another way to know the neighbors 1. Get a map of the neighborhoods around the church & mark them into walk-sized areas; have people sign up for set times of walks, or regular walks in those areas. 2. If you can get congregation members who live in that neighborhood that helps, but folks who live outside the area can walk the neighborhoods as well! 3. As you walk, listen, notice, and occasionally stop and pray for what you see; for families you see, for those who are struggling, for homeless, for the over-busy, for the children, for the seniors. 4. If you have children or young-at-heart folks, bring along some chalk and chalk hearts or pictures where you stop and pray. 5. If you see neighbors ask if you can pray for anything for them! 6. Get together with all the neighborhood walking teams at set times and share with each other: 1. Who lives in each neighborhood? Do they seem to be part of one or more of the Mosaic Groups we learned about? 2. What do our neighbors have to offer the world? 3. What does the church have to offer the neighbors? Page 16 of 17

Appendix 2 Resources o The Bi-District Office, and your District team of Sarah, Cynthia and Melissa: o SarahCalvert@vaumc.org o MelissaDunalap@vaumc.org o CynthiaLopynski@vaumc.org o Shift and Connect by Phil Maynard, available at http://emc3coaching.com/store/ and Amazon o See, Know & Serve: The People Within Your Reach, and Worship Ways for People Within Your Reach both by Thomas Bandy o Get Their Name by Bob Farr and Doug Anderson o The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door by Jay Pathak & David Runyon o Joining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World by Alan Roxburgh o Asset Based Community Development Institute (http://www.abcdinstitute.org) o The Lewis Center at Wesley Seminary, Taking Church to the Community (DVD/CD) http://www.churchleadership.com/newdisciples/takingchurchtothecommuni ty.asp o MissionInsite.com (password: QQBRM) Other resources you learned about today: Page 17 of 17