August 10, 2008
Mega Ministry in Miniature Actions
Mike Cahill shares how a small-town church’s simple hat and glove drive became a meaningful act of kingdom service, community partnership, and faithful outreach.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach helps churches and believers love their neighbors with practical compassion and gospel clarity. Explore Bible-based articles on serving local needs, building relationships, partnering with community organizations, and creating outreach ministries that are sustainable and effective. You’ll find guidance on evangelism, mercy ministry, hospitality, and engaging your city with wisdom—so outreach is more than an event and becomes a way of life. Whether your church is starting new initiatives or strengthening existing ones, these resources equip you to serve your community in Jesus’ name.
August 10, 2008
Thursday Night Pursuits
When hunting season emptied Sunday seats, Libby Christian Church launched a Thursday service for outdoorsmen—and discovered a creative outreach that reached hunters far beyond expectations.
Ministries Offering Help and Hope to Those in Need
Jennifer Taylor profiles eight churches and ministries serving the poor through food, clothing, tutoring, health care, recovery support, housing help, and neighborhood outreach across the country.
May 11, 2008
CHURCHES WITHOUT STEEPLES: Church! Blur the Lines
Brad Canning shares how Church! Of Park Slope used Postmark Café and practical service to blur the lines between church and community in Brooklyn.
Understanding the Externally Focused Movement
Krista Petty talks with Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw about the externally focused church movement, community transformation, and how congregations can serve beyond their walls.
Making an Impact
Michael Brown shares how soccer, Jesus Pizza, and Total Athlete helped him build real relationships outside the church and connect with unchurched people in his community.
The Biblical Basis for Externally Focused Ministry
By Eric Swanson If you look long enough, you can find a “biblical basis” for almost anything. That”s what my friends and I discovered years ago when I was in college. We entertained ourselves by finding obscure passages to justify a wide and wild set of behaviors. (All of these are from the New American Standard Bible, my version of choice back then): “¢ Not wearing sweatshirts: “They shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat” (Ezekiel 44:18). “¢ Sleeping in church: “I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of
April 30, 2008
External Focus, Careful Balance
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the challenge of balancing evangelism and social action, urging externally focused churches to bring together good deeds and good news.
February 27, 2008
Interview with Tom Ellsworth
Tom Ellsworth discusses how Beyond Your Backyard calls believers and churches to move beyond comfort zones through relationships and unselfish service, balancing outward community impact with inward discipleship and equipping.
September 16, 2007
Shining Light by Serving Schools
Colorado churches joined together through Sharefest to serve schools and community organizations with hands-on projects, saving significant labor costs and strengthening local partnerships—then concluded the weekend with a combined worship service and barbeque.
September 9, 2007
Feeding the Hungry
Pat Magness reflects on feeding hungry people at home and around the world, and how Jesus’ meals and miracles reveal that ordinary acts of provision can be holy obedience: “You give them something to eat.”
September 5, 2007
Earthly Hurts and an Eternal Perspective
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the church’s renewed commitment to compassion and community outreach—while urging believers not to lose sight of eternity, sin, and salvation as they serve “the least of these.”
August 22, 2007
Can the Church Impact Culture?
Church leaders share how congregations can impact culture by going beyond their walls—serving schools, shelters, and neighborhoods—while keeping disciple-making central, not merely counting how many newcomers were never part of a church.
August 12, 2007
We Turned Vision into Action
Mount Pleasant Christian Church built a six-week “Imagine” series on Matthew 25 and paired each message with action—food and clothing drives, orphan support, AIDS caregiver kits for Zimbabwe, and focused prayer for the persecuted church.
August 12, 2007
Ministering to the Least of These: Southland Christian Church, Lexington, KY
Southland Christian Church shares how it addresses HIV/AIDS and world hunger through global partnerships and local outreach. Learn how ministries in Africa and initiatives in Lexington aim to break cycles of need through care, support, and discipleship.
June 17, 2007
Just the Beginning
After “A Day in the Park,” a small group listens to a Somali family’s story, then takes practical steps to help them find a safer home—discovering deeper friendship and lessons about God’s love along the way.
June 17, 2007
A Day in the Park
A teaching series sparked Manchester Christian Church’s “A Day in the Park,” mobilizing small groups and hundreds of volunteers to give away clothing, furniture, and household goods—an ordinary weekend turned extraordinary through community outreach.
Will Work for Food
By Mike Faust Jagged hair framed the haggard face of a 30-year-old woman. She wore no cosmetics. Her bulky pants matched her XXL gray sweatshirt. I stopped to take a second look. In front of her she held a cardboard sign with four words scrawled on it: “Will work for food.” As I hurried into McDonald”s for lunch, my heart pounded as if I had just witnessed a car wreck. Who can think of food at a time like this? I spoke in chopped sentences: “There”s a woman . . . and a sign . . . she”s in trouble.”
May 20, 2007
Professor Jack
A “love feast” in Detroit’s Cass Park becomes a holy classroom as Joshua Graves learns from “Professor Jack” what it means to see the poor with authenticity, dignity, and true solidarity.
Gifts from the Heart
By Ruth Herron and Anita Smelser The young mother hesitated as she and her toddler stepped quietly into the foyer. She sat down quickly on the closest pew, shushing him and pulling him near her. She smiled tentatively as a worker greeted her and asked a few questions for record keeping. “Yes, it”s just me and my son. . . . Yes, we have transportation. . . . I got a job and someone to watch my little boy. . . . I start tomorrow.” The young mother answered each of our questions, but we knew from experience the most
