October 2020 Southeastern District, LCMS 6315 Grovedale Drive + Alexandria VA + 22310 www.se.lcms.org + 1.703.971.9371 + [email protected]connecting people with Jesus Neighborhood Missionaries in Action You are a Neighborhood Missionary. Jesus calls us to share the Good News of Salvation with all people (Matthew 28:19), to be ready to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15), to seek open doors to declare Him (Colossians 4: 3). Where to begin? Start a 5:17 Prayer Movement: “pray without ceasing” At 5:17 each day (choose your am or pm preference) stop and pray that the Lord will open your eyes and heart to those people around you who need to hear a word of encouragement, hope, and Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Luther on Prayer: “No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effct, except those who have learned it by experience. Whenever I have prayed earnestly, I have been heard and have obtained more than I prayed for. God sometimes delays, but He always comes, helps, and never fails.” Praying for your neighbors Tic-Tac-Toe Board a) Write down the names of the people who live in the house represented by the block. b) Write down some relevant information about each person, something you wouldn’t know just by standing in your driveway. c) Write down some in-depth information you would know after connecting with people. Note:
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Southeastern District, LCMS6315 Grovedale Drive + Alexandria VA + 22310
You are a Neighborhood Missionary. Jesus calls us to share the Good News of Salvation with all people (Matthew 28:19), to be ready to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15), to seek open doors to declare Him (Colossians 4: 3).
Where to begin? Start a 5:17 Prayer Movement: “pray without ceasing”At 5:17 each day (choose your am or pm preference) stop and pray that the Lord will open your eyes and heart to those people around you who need to hear a word of encouragement, hope, and Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Luther on Prayer: “No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effct, except those who have learned it by experience. Whenever I have prayed earnestly, I have been heard and have obtained more than I prayed for. God sometimes delays, but He always comes, helps, and never fails.”
Praying for your neighborsTic-Tac-Toe Board
a) Write down the names of the people who live in the house represented by the block.
b) Write down some relevant information about each person, something you wouldn’t know just by standing in your driveway.
c) Write down some in-depth information you would know after connecting with people.
Note: About 10% of people can fill out names of all eight of
their neighbors (line a). About 3% can fill out line b for every home. Less than 1% can fill out line c for every home.
Resource: The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak & Dave RunyonWeb: The Art of Neighboring: resources and great stories: http://www.artofneighboring.com
B.L.E.S.S. Every HomeProvides you with the names of 100 of your neighbors. You can choose to change that number or draw the lines of your neighborhood. Daily reminders to pray and for whom to pray are sent to you.
Great congregational application – provides the picture of the neighborhood mission field.
Wonderful additional training and other resources available.Web: Bless Every Home: https://blesseveryhome.com/
Prayer Outreach CardsLutheran Hour Ministry
I’m praying for you cards to hand to a neighbor or leave at door, car, mailbox, with cookies, veggies…..Encouragement cards:
a) Start every day in God’s Word.b) Be equipped to share-style note that says “I’m
praying for youc) Talk with others about life, faith, and Jesus.d) Share Christ around the globe. ( In my life…that
is my neighborhood.)Make up your own “business” cards to leave.Note special family moments and leave a message.Prepare a post card or thank you. Carry a notecard, notebook and pencil and engage with your neighbors. If you see a neighbor, simply share what you are doing and ask if there is a specific need that you can being praying for in their lives.Web: Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Prayer is the Beginning, Building Relationships is Next Step
Prayer is just the beginning of the Neighborhood Missionary Journey. The key is to get to know your neighbors and to build relationships. It is out of relationship that you get to share Jesus. There are several resources to recommend to help you build those relationships. Of course in the Southeastern District, we speak of the B.L.E.S.S. model, which was developed by Bruce Yaeger, a former member at Prince of Peace, Springfield. He helps us to see the journey of relationship building through a series of concentric circles with each step showing the opportunities for sharing Jesus.
Art of Neighboring (Jay Pathak & Dave Runyon)Stranger -> Acquaintance -> Relationship
Connect to Disciple (LCMS Everyone His Witness)Create Connections -> Build Relationships -> Make Disciples
It is important to not give up in your neighborhood witness. This is not a one-time effort. Make a commitment to be present, to be visible. As the opportunities to interact with your neighbors grow, so will the conversations and events that lead to learning about their faith life and to sharing yours.
Lutheran Hour Ministries published a wonderful resource entitled: Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age. The collaborated with the Barna Group to study how evangelism is being impacted in the 21st Century. Some interesting tidbits from the study:
In 1993: 89% of the surveyed agreed that “Every Christian has a responsibility to share their faith.In 2017: 64% of the survey agreed that “Every Christian has a responsibility to share their faith.”
One thing continues to remain true. More people come to know Jesus through relationships. In each category: Practicing Christians, Non-practicing Christians, and non-Christians, more than 50% indicated that they preferred to have spiritual conversations with friends. (interesting note: about 25% of practicing Christians indicated that clergy or church worker was their preference, about 12% non-practicing Christians, and less than 10% of non-Christians.)
Neighborhood Missionaries in Action
Throughout the SED, Neighborhood Missionaries are working in their neighborhoods, with family, friends, and with their congregations. Here are some of the ways that they are sharing Jesus.
Individuals and Families:1. Prayer Walking2. Fire Pit in the drive way3. Front Porch Sitting4. Table of Hope5. Front Yard VBS-style event6. Little Free Library7. Prayer Bench and Path8. Book Club9. “Game Night”10.Free Vegetables11.Food Events in the Home12.Driveway Movie Night13.Yard Sale
14.Community Walking Days15.Block Parties16.Host a Coffee and Dessert evening17.Pinterest Party18.Studio Night (Sharing a Hobby or
Craft Time)19.Nextdoor (social media)20.Snow Day opportunities21.Fall Leaf Raking22.Front Yard Ice Cream Party23.Get involved with your HOA24.Yard Game Party25.Mow lawn(s)
Congregations1. Community Garden2. Community Blessing Box3. Disaster Response Preparedness4. Walking Path with Story Board at Church5. 2-Minute On-line Devotional6. Adopt a School (tutor and read)7. Backpack Ministry (Food for students over the weekend)8. Grief Share Groups9. Outdoor Movine Night (at church)10.Free Yard Sale11.Food Pantry for Community12.Care Kits for the Homeless13.Adopt a School’s Staff (Care Kits for Teachers)14.Provide a thank you meal for First Responders15.Help with Home Construction Projects16.Sponsor a Comfort Dog Ministry17.Adopt a Park or Public Playground18.Provide Focus Group Settings for Community Leaders19.Pop-Up Market to provide needed items for Nieghborhood20.Collecting School Supplies for Local Schools21.Schedule Community Concerts22.Serving Weekly Lunches to Downtown Workers23.Hosting Block Parties24.Sponsoring Blood Drive25.Being a site for: Flu shots, Voting, Various community groups seeking meeting
