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 15, 2020

Christian Standard

Wandering through the Coronavirus Wilderness

How the Church Can Serve the Most Vulnerable in Our Spiritual Families By Tom Ellsworth Thirty-five years ago, Indiana issued a license plate with the slogan, “Wander Indiana.” I understood the invitation to casually tour the state for all it has to offer, but the wording felt more like an invitation to lazy futility. Can you fathom what it was like for the Israelites to spend 40 years plodding through a barren land on a journey that could have been accomplished in a matter of weeks? And many of them knew they would never set foot in Canaan, which only

May 17, 2020

Laura McKillip Wood

Laura-McKillip-Wood

Churches and Businesses Partner to Reach Out

By Laura McKillip Wood Revo’s family had nothing when they arrived in the United States. They pinned their hopes on a new life in the West after fleeing dangerous political unrest in Southeast Asia. After a long and difficult process, they settled in Omaha, Nebraska,. Their apartment had only the bare minimum Revo, his wife, and their children needed for survival. Not only did they have few furnishings, their children had no beds. An organization named Sleep in Heavenly Peace heard about their situation—and the situation of many of their refugee neighbors—and sprang into action. Reaching Out Sleep in Heavenly

May 1, 2020

Christian Standard

The Opportunities Right Before Us

How We’ve Made an Impact in Our City in Ways We Never Envisioned By Chris Philbeck Several years ago at a megachurch pastors conference, I heard Ben Merold say something I’ll never forget: “Sometimes our opportunities become our vision.” Vision is a powerful thing, but vision in the local church can sometimes be more about advancing the plans of man than following the leading of God . . . and sometimes it is nothing more than trying to replicate existing models of success. There should be a level of uniqueness about our vision for the church God has called us

March 30, 2020

Michael C. Mack

A Global Pandemic—We Were Made for This!

By Michael C. Mack During times of crisis, the church has typically responded sacrificially for the good of society. Over the last several weeks we’ve seen ample evidence of that happening today. Christians are serving their communities, loving their neighbors, and caring for the needs of others. In the midst of a global pandemic, the church is taking action and God is being glorified. This is who we are! As one minister said, “We never would have prayed for this, but we were made for this!” We love others because God first loved us. We serve others because our Master

March 19, 2020

Christian Standard

Ohio Church’s Effort to Feed Schoolchildren Exceeds Expectations

By Chris Moon This past weekend, Christ’s Church in Mason, Ohio, gathered enough food to pack 6,400 meals for students in the local school district who are on free and reduced-price lunches. Schools are closed in the community for three weeks because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Starting Monday, families were welcomed at the church to pick up bags containing a five-day supply of food. The church collected much more food than anticipated, so it was able to pack several thousand more meals for others in need. “I think people are inherently good people,” said Trevor DeVage, the church’s lead pastor.

February 11, 2020

Christian Standard

Several Churches Host 'Night to Shine' Proms

Several Restoration Movement churches held “Night to Shine” proms for people with special needs this past weekend. The proms are sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. More than 700 events were held this year. Here are some of the ones we heard about. In California, Real Life Church in Valencia partnered with the Tim Tebow Foundation for the first time this year—although this was the fifth consecutive year the church has held a prom for people with special needs. “When they walk off the bus, and their eyes light up and their parents burst into tears, that’s coming close to

January 29, 2020

Christian Standard

The Thrift Store Ministry

This Church’s Outreach Approach Recycles Much More than Clothing and Furniture _ _ _ “I needed clothes and you clothed me.” By L. Mackenzie On December 15, 2008, leaders of The Crossing in Quincy, Illinois, were discussing possible changes to their benevolence strategy. Several of them had just visited a church in Post Falls, Idaho, where they sought out ideas for growth. Elder Bruce Freeman was among those who listened as an idea for a thrift store ministry was discussed. Freeman was head of benevolence, a man passionate about helping others. He also had 25 years of experience working in

November 13, 2019

Christian Standard

Barbara Rendel Continuing to Scatter JOY after Many Years in Ministry

By Chris Moon Barbara Rendel shows few signs of slowing down. She served many years in ministry alongside her husband, Wally—former pastor of Southern Acres Christian Church and Jessamine Christian Church in Kentucky—and since 2012 has been leading a multifaceted ministry program that serves families in need in central Kentucky. ScatterJOY Inc. partners with the public school system in Jessamine County, Ky., to provide food, clothing, and shelter for students and their families. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the organization. The group also holds events to support people coming out of addictions. It does work in

November 2, 2019

Christian Standard

Dying Mall Becoming Marketplace for Church to Serve Community

By Mel McGowan Grand Cities Mall was nearly dead. It’s a typical story in a small city. Online retail has caused local stores to shut down. Even big retailers have left the mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota. But the owner of the mall, Land of Hope—the managing group serving Hope Church in relationship to the Grand Cities Mall—wants to change that story. Hope Church originally rented a storefront space in the mall in 1996. It was supposed to be only temporary because the church owned seven acres on the south side of town where it planned to construct a

October 9, 2019

Christian Standard

Rural Church Sees a-Maze-ing Opportunity in Cornfield

By Chris Moon Rinehart Christian Church in Missouri is surrounded by cornfields . . . and that’s a good reason to celebrate during October. “This is a very rural area,” senior minister Kevin Moyers told Christian Standard. But the church of about 200 people has a heart for families. It wants to see them come to know Christ and to spend quality time together. And so RCC created a corn maze on a 10-acre patch of land adjacent to the church property and is hosting a fall festival for people in the surrounding communities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

September 25, 2019

Christian Standard

Church Vans Serving Community throughout Week (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Calvary Christian Church is among several organizations in Winchester, Ky., that have created a pilot program to help people in need of transportation, especially those individuals in recovery programs. “There were all these churches around town that have vans, and there’s all these people who need transportation,” Calvary pastor Mike McCormick told the Winchester Sun. “Could those vans be repurposed beyond Sunday morning . . . to be used for the benefit of the community? . . . At Calvary, we’re very intentional about wanting to serve the community and break down whatever

September 4, 2019

Christian Standard

Small Tennessee Church Oversees Big Laundry Ministry

By Jim Nieman A women’s group at a church of about 35 in Rogersville, Tenn., started a ministry in 2016 that has grown like, well . . . a pile of laundry. The Rogersville Laundry Ministry began as a once-a-month outreach to people at a local laundromat and has developed into a weekly endeavor that relies on dozens of volunteers from several churches to serve hundreds of people at two laundromats. “Our church’s mission is ‘Loving People to Jesus,’” said Dawnel Newhouse of First Christian Church of Rogersville. “Basically, it’s what we’re trying to do” with the laundry ministry. But

August 7, 2019

Christian Standard

Church Shows Ongoing Love for Seniors at Mobile Home Park

By Jim Nieman For at least a decade, a California church has been investing in the lives of a group of folks that many tend to overlook. The Christian Church of Thousand Oaks’ ministry to senior residents of the Ranch Mobile Home Park started as an outgrowth of a local “Action” day when Christians are encouraged to get out and serve their neighbors and communities. CCTO started by working on the grounds at a local mobile home park managed by a church member. The manager later recommended the church focus efforts at Ranch, an affiliated, but smaller, mobile home park

August 7, 2019

Christian Standard

Churches Help in Various Ways as School Year Set to Start (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Classes are starting this month, and Christian churches across the country are trying to help children, parents, and schools begin the year successfully. Here are just a few examples: * * * LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than 2,000 members of Northeast Christian Church helped spruce-up the exteriors of 32 schools on Sunday. “Volunteers laid mulch, raked leaves, and pulled weeds at schools throughout Louisville and Oldham County,” WDRB reported. The church focuses on the campus and grounds of schools because principals say that is where help is most needed, said David McKinley, marketing

July 22, 2019

Christian Standard

Changing Lives and Communities By Loving Our Neighbors (BLOC Ministries, Cincinnati)

By Russ Howard Of the countless strategies we have to reach and restore people to Christ, none are as simple, profound, or powerful as Jesus’ simple command to “love your neighbor” (Mark 12:31). For more than 20 years BLOC Ministries, an inner-city ministry on the west side of Cincinnati, has done just that. The people live where they serve. BLOC’s roots reach to the hollers of Kentucky where Dwight Young was born and raised. Dwight met his wife, Stephanie, at Johnson Bible College. Together they served churches by working with teenagers in Louisville, Knoxville, and eventually Cincinnati. Early on, Michael,

July 22, 2019

Christian Standard

How We Partnered with Our Community to Reach Our City (First Christian Church, Decatur, Ill.)

By BJ Leonard In 2004, First Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois, was at a crossroads. Attendance was growing and programs were working, but something was missing. A poll of the congregation and leadership revealed a common burden to reach out and make a difference by serving in our community. The state of our city and public schools had become similar to many urban settings across America. Due to rising crime rates and falling property values, many people with financial means had left for surrounding towns. The stability of their family relationships and positive community engagement left with them. As the

June 26, 2019

Christian Standard

‘Church Anywhere’ Initiative Gains Momentum (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman First Capital Christian Church’s micro-campus initiative called “Church Anywhere” is featured in an article in the Christian Post. The church in Corydon, Ind., launched the program three years ago to help bring the church to people who couldn’t physically attend a formal church service—and for those who don’t like doing so. The church sends members into isolated parts of its community to launch micro-campuses. Today, First Capital has campuses in 15 locations, including prisons, foster care centers, schools, homeless shelters, and in church members’ homes. The services consist of two worship songs, a

April 17, 2019

Christian Standard

Gardenside Helping the Homeless in Lexington

By Jim Nieman Volunteers at Gardenside Christian Church recently finished their sixth winter of helping the homeless population in Lexington, Ky. Gardenside is one of about two dozen churches in the city that participates in the Room in the Inn ministry, says church member Karl VanDyke Jr. Gardenside houses a dozen homeless men on Tuesday nights, twice monthly, during the winter. “We provide everything they need,” VanDyke says. This past winter, 130 Gardenside volunteers were at work seven separate nights. The final tally showed the church provided 84 beds, along with 84 dinners, breakfasts, and brown-bag lunches. VanDyke says volunteers

April 3, 2019

Christian Standard

‘We’re Not Going to Lose You, Brother!’

Redemption Christian Church in Jasper, Ind., played a crucial role in setting a young man on a path toward Christ—and toward a productive ministry to people in need called L4G (Living for God). “Our mission statement is trust God, be humble and show love,” Mo Peraza told the DuBois County Free Press. Peraza was born in El Salvador and grew up in South Central Los Angeles before moving to small-town Indiana. As a teen, he started selling drugs, which was the “beginning of a downward struggle.” He hung out with the wrong crowd, bounced from job to job, was arrested

March 25, 2019

Christian Standard

Restoring the Least, the Last, and the Lost

By Mel McGowan Who are the least, the last, or the lost in our society? Most people would say the poor, homeless, or prisoners. Some might even say the sick, elderly, or children. Let me ask another question: What do you think about cafeterias at homeless shelters, prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools? I think most people envision cold, stark, institutional-type places, bad smells, monotonous rows of benchlike seats, and people being herded in an orderly fashion. Given the choice, most probably would avoid eating at that kind of cafeteria on a daily basis. How about you? Restoring Hearts and

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link