Why is it that what most churches call “outreach” isn’t really a matter of reaching out at all?
Some churches’ outreach events consist of simply handing stuff out to neighbors: brochures, books, candy, tracts, etc. without any sort of personal connection. Other churches encourage their members to “witness” to people by sending them out in public and striking up awkward conversations with unwilling strangers. Still others spend money to rent out a booth at the local fair asking questions like, “Will you go to heaven?” And last but not least, are those churches whose “outreach” events all take place at the church – so instead of reaching out and going to those people who won’t come to church, they settle for those who will…and miss out on reaching the folks who need Jesus the most.
I did a Google search about outreach and I found an advertisement with this caption, “Looking for a powerful outreach event? Get this guy to come speak at your church!”
Our outreach system is broken.
Of course, there are some churches out there getting it right. But I’d like to offer what I think I’ve learned about how we need to be thinking about and doing outreach differently:
Outreach Needs to Be More Than a Program
This is the first mistake that many churches make – they treat outreach like a program that needs a budget. While there is nothing inherently wrong with programs or budgets, this mindset causes problems. For one, it communicates, whether explicitly or not, that outreach is a matter of the church organizing events for the members to participate in. The result is that members never realize their personal potential for outreach in their everyday lives…you know, that other 166 hours each week when they are not at church. Second, the programmatic nature of it limits the amount of outreach that can be done. After all, once the budget runs out, what is left to run the program on? Finally, outreach programs often mistake their purpose leading to all kinds of confusion. If you are going to have an outreach program, budget and all, use it to equip your members to reach out. In doing so, not only will you be communicating the truth about outreach (that it is not the job of the paid professionals alone), you’ll be making a wise investment – people appreciate over time in a way that events and programs do not.
The Goal of Outreach is Not to Grow Your Church
It is to grow the Kingdom of God…and that may or may not involve your church growing.
There is a fine line between serving people in your community and advertising your church. That line is cards, brochures or signs that constantly tie your Jesus-inspired service back to your church. Churches cross it all the time and, in doing so, shoot their friend Jesus in the foot. The problem with everything you do being tied to your church is that nobody knows whether you actually care about them or whether you just care about getting them through your doors. And when they don’t know, when it is not explicit, they will assume the latter because that is what everyone else does. To them, you are just like any other business, any other commercial, any other marketing scheme and you only care about them because of your ability to benefit from them. But if we’re taking our cues from Jesus, we should be serving because that’s who we are, not because that’s how we fill the pews.
The question that you have to wrestle with as you reach out is this: do you trust God to take care of you and your church even when you give up your advertisements? If you can say yes to that, then you are free to serve selflessly. If you can’t say yes to that…well, that’s another issue.
Outreach Is About Existing for the Benefit of Non-Members
Unfortunately, many church leaders have been taught that outreach is a matter of doing things for those who are already sitting in our pews or, at the very least, getting people to come sit in our pews. But there’s a problem with that: the people who we should be reaching out to are the ones who aren’t already in our church – that’s why it is called OUTreach – we’re supposed to be reaching to those on the outside of our church walls. True outreach – no, true love – is when we serve people without regard to how it makes us look or whether it benefits us at all. Jesus did not come for the healthy, he came for the sick. What about you? When was the last time your outreach event was done with the sole intention of blessing non-members?
What would you add? Have you learned something more or different about how we should (or should not) be approaching outreach?
P.S. Check out our recent press release wherein we identify the upcoming Outreach Convention as the result of failure on the Church’s part to give proper training in outreach.
I couldn’t agree more!!!!
By: Keri Lobdell on November 3, 2009
at 1:30 PM
These statements are so true, but so hard for many churches.
I don’t think it’s because church leadership doesn’t care, or that people in the church community don’t care, or are unbiblical… but because the very model (business) that the typical American church is based on inherently conflicts with these points.
A business will create programs/campaigns to promote something in order to convince enough people that you need their product and that only they can deliver that product. The goal is always to make a profit (grow the company), and you always cater to the investors who are supporting the company.
I don’t think that has to happen, or does always happen. There are a lot of churches based on the typical American model that do a lot of things right. But there should be a variety of creative church models, working in unique ways.
An important tool in helping churches see outside of their walls is networking with other churches in their region (and beyond). Teamwork can inspire creativity and is more conducive to outreach that reaches the neighborhood and community.
By: Nick Love on November 4, 2009
at 10:05 PM
I think you’re right, Nick. The unfortunate thing about it is that even if church leaders were to read this blog and say “amen” when the rubber meets the road, they default to consumeristic mindsets.
By: Ken Eastburn on November 5, 2009
at 7:44 AM
One of the many effects, some overt and some more subtle, of western churches that have buildings and debt is that the pastor has to be a cheerleader for his church and make people feel good about their church. He cannot afford any back door revivals and he consciously and subconsciously limits his preaching.
Controversy is an enemy even if it emanates from God’s Spirit. The pastor would never speak to his flock as does the Spirit to the seven churches in Revelation. And in America, when a church grows and leverages debt to build bigger buildings, they are considered successful.
By: Rick Frueh on November 12, 2009
at 7:20 AM
Good call, Rick. The pastor often HAS to assume a role of cheerleader in order to keep the church happy and ensure that he gets a paycheck.
What a sad, sad truth.
By: Ken Eastburn on November 12, 2009
at 8:19 AM
Most of the body is unsure of who they are in Christ and the authority they walk in. When we know we can lay hands on the sick they will recover we can minister to the community in a tangible way. We can love unconditionally and give generously as the Holy Spirit leads us. We can pray for the person in front or behind us in the store and speak life over them. We have to have a relationship with our Lord and listen to His leading. We have to live our lives constantly talking and walking with Jesus then we can reach out to our community in love and it will be OUTreach.
By: Julie Belcher on November 24, 2009
at 6:16 PM
Amen, Julie. Thanks for the comment!
By: Ken Eastburn on November 25, 2009
at 7:43 AM
Programs such as F.A.I.T.H. and E.E. can be helpful but outreach isn’t a weekly or semester thing. And it’s not about sharing the gospel. Outreach is first and foremost about taking time to care…being willing to be willing…loving someone where they are. So many of these opportunities pass us by…because we’re so focused on our own agendas and plans.
By: Rick Garner on December 5, 2009
at 11:53 PM
I think the term “outreach” is part of the problem. The term use to be community outreach and before that missionary work. The Church is the Church and going out into the world was missionary work. We have tried to combine the two and blured the lines so we could increase the head count. The Church needs to come together for specific purposes; worship and instruction. This should strenghten the Church to go out into the world and preach and live the Gospel. Instead we have turned our “churches” or meeting places of the Church into missions. It helps the head count for the organization, but it doesn’t help the Church or the unchurched.
By: ione on December 18, 2009
at 8:39 AM