Idea Starter: Home-Based Small Groups Reach Out to Neighbors and Friends

EastLake Church in Chula Vista, Calif., encourages its members to form small groups based on common interests, like fitness, gardening, crafting, sports or games. Then it asks group leaders to open up the groups to people who live in the next house over, or people whose kids go to school with a group member’s kids or play Little League with them. Once they’re connected, the church encourages them to stay connected by getting involved in a ministry as well as off-campus missional work.

ONLINE: EastLakeChurch.com. Adapted from an article that appeared in the March/April 2012 issue of Outreach magazine.

James P. Long
James P. Longhttp://JamesPLong.com

James P. Long was formerly the editor of Outreach magazine and the author of a number of books, including Why Is God Silent When We Need Him the Most?

The Comeback Church: Seizing the Cultural Moment

Take another look at what Jesus said: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Addicted to More

Around half of evangelicals say they find their own measure of success and worth in obtaining more things.

Who’s Up Next?

“A leader’s legacy doesn’t matter more than the legacy of Jesus Christ, so I am going to take the time it takes to pour into the next people who are going to come do what I am [doing].” —Hayden Gregory