Ministry-Based Outreach builds a bond between members and non-members—based on their mutual interests. In churches around the country, members are developing intentional friendships with non-members (and vice-versa) around common interests, such as people who:
- ride motorcycles
- are scheduled for open-heart surgery
- have children with a learning disability
- own RVs
- are widowers
- are newlyweds
- enjoy reading books
- are unemployed
- suffer from chronic pain
- are senior adults
- have husbands in jail
- are nominal Jews
- have spouses who are not believers
- are fishermen
- are single mothers
- want to get in better physical condition
- wish to help homeless families
- play softball
- are interested in end-times
- have a bed-ridden parent
- are raising grandchildren
- are moms with teenage daughters
- need help managing their finances
- want to learn scrapbooking
- are children in blended families
- have husbands who travel frequently
- enjoy radio controlled airplanes
- are agnostics
- have ADHD
- are pregnant
- are affected by homosexuality
- struggle with chemical dependency
- are empty-nesters
- enjoy camping
- are divorced with no children
- have a family member diagnosed with cancer
- are single dads
- enjoy scuba diving
- are hearing-impaired
- …and that’s just a start!
One of the best things about Ministry-Based Outreach is that any church—of any size—can do it! It’s a common process of outreach among mega-churches, but it can be easily implemented in small churches, new churches, even house-churches. Because it requires only a few people with an interest in something—anything—in which they are willing to turn their interest into outreach.
