Donate to Charity for Every Connection Card Turned In

For every connection card turned in by a first-time visitor at the end of a service, offer to donate a predetermined amount of money to a local charity. Consider adopting a charity for a season as a church, choosing a new charity each month, or giving your congregation a handful of charities to vote on. This emphasis on outreach will show newcomers immediately that your church is outward-focused and concerned with and involved in its community. It will also encourage immediate interaction with newcomers and a better way to gauge first-time attandance.

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?

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Jesus seems to have an unhurried pace. That is to say, he always seems to have time to stop for people, even when doing so was annoying to those around him.

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“Here was a people group that wasn’t being served by any form of chaplaincy like many major sports have,” says Pastor Joshua Boyd, of the local MMA community. “And they needed care just like anyone else.”

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Most of the great breakthroughs and innovative ideas are a result of problems being viewed not as a problem to solve, but an opportunity to make things better.