Posts Tagged ‘Outreach Startup’

What Type of Outreach Program fit your Organization?

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Just as all churches are not the same, outreach programs also vary. Some outreach programs take place on the church′s premises while others are in conjunction with another community agency. When thinking about the type of outreach program that your church will take part in, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

Size of your church. The physical size of your church as well as the number of members, are important factors in determining what type of program to implement. Smaller churches may want to work with outside agencies to provide outreach services if their facility or available bodies do not allow for hosting a project of their own. Instead of starting their own program, smaller churches may want to help the local American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, or Boys and Girls Club. Larger churches, on the other hand, might have the staff, size and resources to host an outreach program on its premises. Larger churches may be able to host a reading program, afterschool program, or senior day activities.

Time commitment. Starting an outreach program requires additional time of your outreach committee and congregation. When considering an outreach program think about the time that it requires. Does your congregation have time to devote four hours per week to an activity or should it occur once per month? Only take-on what your congregation can handle.

Expertise. If your church decides to host an outreach program (i.e. implement your own program), make sure that someone in the congregation has experience in the program area. If you′re considering an afterschool program, for example, do you have any teachers in the congregation? While the community will be grateful for the extra services, you should only provide services that can be administered appropriately.

Cost.  Each outreach program will come with various expenses. Outline the projected expenses for the different outreach programs that you′re considering and choose the option that best fits the budget of the church. By only taking on what your church can handle, you will be able to sustain the program over the long-haul.

Outreach programs should be approached honestly. The outreach committee should be honest about the capabilities of the church before starting a program. An evaluation of the church′s human, financial, and structural resources will reveal what type of outreach program it can handle.

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The Importance of an Outreach Committee

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

 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.

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