Now that your church has decided to start an outreach program, it is important that the outreach is a positive addition to the church. Church members should not be confused about what types of programs the church offers, when they occur, or how to volunteer for the various projects. Most importantly, if you’re requesting that your church members volunteer their free time, that time should be well spent.
Enter the Outreach Committee. Outreach committees are responsible for planning and organizing outreach events and keeping the congregation informed and involved. Outreach committee members should be active church members that share the vision of the church and have a vested interest in the community.
It will be the duty of the outreach committee to find outreach opportunities and create an action plan for implementation. Outreach members will serve as the contact persons for both the community and the congregation. They will outline the steps necessary to get the program started and operating. For example, if your church decides to partner with Habitat for Humanity as a reoccurring outreach program, the outreach committee would be responsible for contacting Habitat, selecting the dates and time (i.e. every other Saturday at 10:00am), informing the congregation of the location, and meeting volunteers and the agency at the location.
Outreach committees also serve to increase outreach opportunities. Instead of one person being charged with finding and/or designing every outreach program (which can get pretty hectic!), a team of 5-7 members, will easily handle this task. Like the popular phrase, ″Two heads are better than one″, an outreach committee is better than a lone outreach soldier. The duties will be distributed so that the steps mentioned above will be carried out efficiently and effectively.
Outreach members will also keep the congregation informed and involved in the outreach activities. They keep everyone excited about the positive efforts that the church is making through mediums like an outreach bulletin board, website updates, announcements, etc. They also actively recruit volunteers for the various programs that the church is conducting. Outreach programs only work when the church is involved; the committee is responsible for fostering that involvement.
Starting an outreach committee can be a simple process that brings great benefits. Remember to pick hard-working and positive people and your committee will build an outreach program that strengthens your church and the surrounding community.