Last week, I shared how I had "too many goats on ropes" during a Christmas outreach and came home utterly exhausted. This week, I want to tell you about a church that avoided that problem by focusing their efforts.
A Church’s Deepavali Outreach
When the local council closed the street near their church for a Deepavali celebration, the church saw an opportunity to connect with the community. Deepavali, one of the most important holidays for Hindus, celebrates the victory of light over darkness.
The church initially applied for a stall on the street but was turned down by the council. Undeterred, they decided to host an event on their own property, knowing many festivalgoers would pass by on the footpath.
The pastor cast a vision for reaching out to the Indian community and invited the church to an evening training session to learn how to share Bible stories in a way that would connect with Hindus and Sikhs.
From there, they designed a simple and effective outreach plan that encouraged participation while avoiding burnout. Church members signed up for manageable roles:
- A balloon artist delighted children with balloon animals.
- A prize wheel offered candy to children, with Gospel tracts given to adults.
- Volunteers served chai (tea) to passersby.
- An artist displayed beautiful pieces for people to admire.
- A jumping castle kept kids entertained.
- A creative board with the words “Dark” and “Light” invited people to share their thoughts, sparking deeper conversations.
Together, these activities created a welcoming space where Hindus and Sikhs felt safe engaging in spiritual conversations about Jesus.
That evening, many meaningful conversations took place—and unlike my Christmas outreach, I didn’t come home exhausted.
Planning Your Outreach
The church’s success stemmed from careful planning, vision, and teamwork. This diagram (below) may help you as you plan your next outreach:
- Vision: It all begins with listening to God. What does He want to accomplish through your event? Clearly communicate this vision to others.
- Teamwork: A shared vision inspires a team. Recruit enough people to divide the responsibilities effectively.
- Focus: Encourage each person to specialize in their strengths.
- Creativity: Give people freedom to innovate. One child, for example, spent the entire evening making balloon dogs—using his own method, which worked far better than mine!
What if It Doesn’t Work?
If creativity isn’t flowing or your team feels stuck, work your way back down the chart:
- Does everyone have a clear role?
- Is the team large enough?
- Have you shared the vision effectively?
If you’re still facing challenges, pause and pray. Seek clarity from God about your motives, timing, and vision. Sometimes, we need to wait on His guidance before moving forward.
A Prayer for This Holiday Season
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the many opportunities to share about you during this holiday season. Help us avoid burnout or trying to handle "too many goats on ropes." Give us your vision for this season—whether it’s a family dinner, a gathering with relatives, or a church outreach. Show us how to recruit and equip a team. Help us recognize each person’s strengths and be open to learning from them as we work together. Amen.
Next week, I’ll share one of my favorite tools for planning evangelistic events. Until then, have fun talking with people about Jesus and how He can transform their lives!