100 Ways to Engage Your Neighborhood

Looking for ways to be a change agent in your community or neighborhood?
Community organizer?


 The Lord created each of us individually with different Spiritual Gifts, Passions, Abilities, Strengths and a unique Personality with different Experiences. Discovering our S.H.A.P.E  helps people put the pieces of the puzzle together, so we each can be most effective in our families, church, community and the world.  When we serve according to our SHAPE, we leave a legacy that gives glory to the LORD so when we stand before Him one day, we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 

If you don't know your S.H.A.P.E... Check this post!

Now we will be looking at ways we can use these "gifts" from the Lord more effectively!

We will also be looking at ways to use them in our Families, jobs or careers, communities and out in the world.

This is a CTA!  Call to Action!

What’s your passion?

So, no matter what your S.H.A.P.E is...it should be relatively easy to find something in this list that we are interested in, passionate about and would have fun and joy doing!  

100 Ways to Engage Your Neighborhood

Connect with J.C. Heiden: J.C. Heiden
Pastor of Local Outreach
jheiden@eastbrook.org

J.C. has a group going out into the immediate neighborhood weekly. 

But this is something anyone can do in their own neighborhood! Best doing it with a partner..that has other abilities, gifts, talents or strengths than you do. Remember, there is no "I" in team!

 I have found that it is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around me. Most of the things on this list are normal, everyday things that many people are already doing. The hope is that we would do these things with Gospel intentionality. This means we do them:

• In the normal rhythms of life pursuing to meet and engage new people
• Prayerfully watching and listening to discern where God is working
• Boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed

Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to help you engage your neighbors. Would love to hear stories of how you have lived some of these out or other ways you have engaged your neighbors.

Neighbors – Your Immediate Neighborhood

1. Stay outside in the front yard longer while watering the yard
2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood
3. Sit on the front porch and letting kids play in the front yard
4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.)
5. Invite neighbors over for dinner
6. Attend and participate in HOA functions
7. Attend the parties invited to by neighbors
8. Do a food drive or coat drive in winter and get neighbors involved
9. Host a music share party in your home (everyone brings 5 favorite songs and discusses)
10. Offer to mow someone’s yard who needs it on your street
11. Have a garage sale
12. Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch)
13. Cook Out with gate open, or even in the front yard and let neighbors know they are welcome to join.
14. Have a game night (yard games outside, or board games inside)
15. Art swap night – bring out what you’re tired of and trade with neighbors
16. Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbors
17. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite neighbors use their front yards
18. Start a weekly open meal night in your home
19. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute
20. Create a block/ street email and phone contact list for safety
21. Invite your neighbors to serve along with you for a local cause in your community
22. Organize a backyard movie night for kids on your block
23. Prayer walk and talk to people you come across
24. Jog outside instead of on the treadmill
25. Pull their trash back in when you notice its out
26. Cook an extra casserole and give it to a neighbor
27. Buy an extra dozen donuts and give them to a neighbor
28. Start a compost pile and allow neighbors to dump their compost and take
29. Host a sports game watching party
30. Host a coffee and dessert night
31. Organize and host a ladies craft night
32. Organize an effort for neighbors to help take care of elderly in neighborhood
33. Become a regular at your neighborhood pool/park
34. If you have a skill, let neighbors know that you can use it to help them for free
35. Host a movie night and discussion afterwards
36. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood
37. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents
38. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas
39. Collect good will store items and offer to take them to goodwill
40. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer
41. Start a sowing group
42. Go Christmas caroling in your neighborhood (invite neighbors in on it)
43. Throw a July 4th block party
44. Start a neighborhood Facebook/Twitter/Google + group
45. Ask longtime residents to help you learn about the neighborhood
46. Offer to babysit neighbors kids so they can have a date night
47. Find out your neighbors birthdays and take them a card and baked goods on it
48. Setup a meet your neighbors night with drinks in your driveway/front yard
49. Ask your HOA or apartment complex if they need help with anything
50. Host a regular Saturday morning breakfast potluck

Extended Neighborhood – The Regular Spots In Your City

1. Frequent a local gym or recreation center
2. Find a park that you consistently spend time with your community at
3. Pick a few restaurants to frequent getting to know the staff and regulars there
4. Go to the same coffee shop when you can
5. Start a regular ultimate Frisbee game in your city
6. Take the kids to story time at your local library
7. Let your kids play in the city sports leagues
8. Attend your city council meetings and get to know what’s going on in your city
9. Attend your local school board meetings to know what is going on in the schools
10. Participate in the local festivals, parades and celebrations of your city
11. Invite a neighbor to a local sporting event
12. Start a guys night at your local pub/eatery
13. Get involved in your kids school PTA
14. Connect with other home school kids through local coop events
15. Be a part of your local genealogical society
16. Tip generously at your regular restaurant spots
17. Participate in local film viewings and discussions
18. Attend your local High Schools sporting events
19. Coach a local little league sports team
20. Offer to teach free computer training sessions at your local library/public venue
21. Start a Study Group at a local place that needs business
22. Be a regular with your kids at the same playscape/restaurant during the day
23. Ask your local college how you can help serve international students
24. Get involved with your local lions or rotary club to learn about the community.
25. Find a local tweet-up group to meet with regularly
26. Frequent a live music night at your local coffee shop or bar
27. Make a routine of taking the family to a evening recreation spot (pool, jump zone, etc.)
28. Find a local philosophy/theology discussion group and become a regular participant
29. Find a baking meet up group and be a part of their activities
30. Go to the same hair stylist/barber and get to know them
31. Find your local bank representative and get to know them
32. Be a regular at your local farmers market
33. Take a regular stroll at your local park
34. Take your dog to the dog park in your city
35. Start a local art collective blog and organize around different themes
36. Have gospel discussions in public places where others can listen in
37. Check your areas craig’s list for community service needs
38. Ask a local restaurant owner how you could bless their employees
39. Frequent the same gas station and make an effort to get to know the workers there
40. Watch sporting events at the same local sports bar/restaurant in your city
41. When you can, support local businesses and get to know the people in that business.
42. Visit your cities visitors center to learn about the it’s history
43. Start a storytelling group at your local coffee shop
44. Organize a kids fun day at your city park
45. Offer free computer/technology help for elderly citizens in your area
46. Start a bike repair co-op
47. Cook out at your local park and invite the people there to eat with you
48. Start a sowing class at your local community center
49. Organize a co-working time at your local coffee shop for people who work at home

50. Join a city softball, soccer, football, basketball league.

____________________________________________________________________

If you have read this far...maybe you might want to research how you could use your "gifts' in a national organization...that might  have a local chapter. 

http://northshorefinishingwellgroup.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-volunteering-and-my-financial-giving.html 

 

What Are You Putting First?

Copied from Lysa TerKeust email to my wife

I’m the kind of girl who likes to get her day started bright and early. I want to answer emails, text messages, and be totally caught up on social media hours before the first alarm goes off in my house. And as long as everything I read and see is positive and encouraging and completely wonderful, I can say with enthusiasm, Yes! I can take on this day!
But in reality there’s usually something I click on that is less than awesome. And when I choose to give the first moments of my day to those things… those shouts of the world… instead of spending them with God, I sense my soul getting a bit parched. Small things annoy me. The Lord seems a little farther away from my life that day. And I just can’t shake that nagging feeling that I’m not measuring up.
Even if you’re not an early riser, I have a sneaking suspicion that you know what I’m talking about. I want to start giving my first thoughts of the day to the Lord. So, here are 3 reasons that we should reach for God’s Word in the morning instead of social media, email, and other distractions:

1) What feeds us, affects us. When I wake up, my mind is like a dry sponge. What I soak up first will saturate me most deeply. If I don’t want to be consumed with the stresses of my day, I must soak up what will renew my mind instead: God’s Word. Even if it’s only for 5 minutes, I’ve got to put the world on hold until I’ve checked in with God.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

2) There are scientifically-proven benefits. I read some research by Dr. Caroline Leaf recently that revealed something so fascinating. When we sleep our brains produce baby neurons. How we use those new neurons first thing in the morning determines so much about our patterns of thought for that day. And that process is called… neuroGENESIS! How cool is that?! Giving the Lord our first thoughts – our genesis thoughts – each day can really help us process life in healthier ways. So from a spiritual and scientific standpoint our first 5 minutes really matter!
“ …We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5b (NIV)

3) God desires to help us. He wants to give us the exact instruction and comfort we need to handle all He sees coming our way—how to act and, even more challenging, how to react in every situation. But we can’t experience that if we aren’t spending time with Him. Giving Him our first thoughts each day is the perfect way from the start to receive His protection and direction for that day.
“In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you…” Proverbs 3:6 (TLB)
At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we think it’s so important to give the first moments of our day to God. And our brand new app, First 5, is designed to help you do just that! You can set your morning alarm in the app and when you turn it off, the first thing you’ll read is a 5-minute teaching from the Bible.
We’re excited to announce that First 5 is ready for download and our very first in-app study of the book of John begins TODAY!

All you need to do is download the free app to get started. Find out more at www.First5.org.

See my latest BLOG Post 

You are God's Workmanship!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10 NIV

"There are things only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely. Play on!"

 Quote is from Max Lucado's book: The Applause of Heaven

God's Call: Just a few questions that may help.

Read a good book recently:

 Answering the Call: The Doctor Who Made Africa His Life.

From “The One-Talent People.” Christian Herald. Sept 1949. P. 64  

 

“Always keep your eyes open for the little task, because it is the little task that is important to Jesus Christ.  The future of the Kingdom of God does not depend on the enthusiasm of this or that powerful person; those great ones are necessary too, but it is equally necessary to have a great number of little people who will do a little thing in the service of Christ.” 

            “The great flowing rivers represent only a small part of all the water that is necessary to nourish and sustain the earth. Beside the flowing river there is the water in the earth-the subterranean water-and there are the little streams which continually enter the river and feed it and prevent it from sinking into the earth. Without these other waters-the silent hidden subterranean waters and the trickling streams-the great river could no longer flow. Thus it is with the little tasks to be fulfilled by us all.” 

 

Just a few questions you may want to ask yourself

What is God calling me to do?  Have I asked Him?

What is my passion?  My Spouse’s

Where do the world’s needs and my passion intersect?

Have I taken the ONLINE SHAPE Assessment at Eastbrook Church?

http://www.pointsnorthsys.com/SHAPE_Eastbrook/Logon/Logon.aspx

Have I taken the FREE Strengths Test?

http://freestrengthstest.workuno.com/

Have I taken the Strengthsfinder 2.0 Assessment to see what my “strengths” are?

http://amzn.to/1GolKdD

What are my dreams?

What can we do?  (Add spouse’s name if married)

How am I spending my time?

What is important to me? What are my interests?

What can I do that will outlive me?

What experiences have I had that may give me a clue to the above?

Am I a good steward of my Spiritual gifts, talents, time, abilities, etc.?

   Am I using them in my church? Why not?

What would I do if I had a million dollars or more?

Do I have enough information or do I have info overload?

Who do I need to contact, email, call?

Do I need some more training in some area?

Have I prayed about this?

Are these the correct questions to ask myself? And my spouse if married?

Some excerpts from:  God’s Best for My Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie 

“What are we daring to attempt which could not be accomplished without His strength and intervention? So often we plan our lives around what we could do without Him on our own.  A sure sign that we are in communion with the Lord is that we are attempting what only He can do? Can you identify that in your life?”