I have been writing recently about the increasing need and value of simply making ourselves available. If there is a quiet revival of any sort going on, and people are checking out the church again, making sure we are accessible and available is going to be key to taking hold of whatever opportunities it affords. The question is, how can we make ourselves available? In no particular order, here are some ways.
Drop ins
A simple, low-cost way to make yourself available and accessible is to run a drop in. If you don’t know what a drop in is, think old fashioned coffee morning where the emphasis is less on the coffee and more on the chat. Drop ins can work well if you have particular areas of need you are seeking to address. But you can effectively advertise almost anything, making sure it is publicised that you are open and available with coffee, tea and whatever else on offer for whoever comes, and you might be surprised by just who comes. Once they’re there, they expect something churchy to happen in a church, so reading the Bible or doing a seekers course or just prompting questions about faith will not come as a surprised to anyone.
Run services
By services, I don’t mean like your church meetings on a Sunday. I mean, provide services like English Classes or food provision or something of that sort. The aim in these things, whilst doing some good for the community, is really to welcome people, get to know them and find opportunities to talk with them about meaningful things. But providing services from your building (if you have one) is a great way to help people know you are there, see what happens behind the doors and opens up the possibility of worthwhile conversations.
Volunteer in the community
Another way to build relationships and make your church visible is when the members are involved in things locally. Kids very often pave the way for these sorts of things. My children’s school has provided opportunities to increasingly get to know parents that I see every day on the school run. As my children have become friends with their children, it creates more points of discussions. Where my children have joined extra-curricular clubs, these have all created similar opportunities. In all these things, just being up front I am a pastor of a local church opens up many conversations.
On top of that, being known in the community is key. These things take a long time, but as I’ve gone to the same barber, over the years they have got to know me and my family. They know I’m a pastor and we frequently talk about the church, the Lord and the differences between what we do and their Catholicism. I have similar opportunities using the same local shops, being in the town centre and being involved in sports. These are slow burn, long term things but if you think in terms of getting opportunities of increasing value over 3-5 years, these things can and do produce some fruit over time.
Make use of online tools
It’s basic stuff, but having a functional website that is findable is significant when people are looking to find you and what you do. having even a basic presence on social media platforms, minimally with sermons going up regularly or something, shows people something is happening and you are open. Ensuring you are utilising these basic tools will also help build visibility.