Joining God in Our Community

God is moving right around us. In our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and city centers. If we believe this is true, then an amazing invitation is extended to us: To join God and participate in God’s mission in these spaces!

We define neighbors as the ordinary people in ordinary spaces in which you spend most of your time where others are present with you consistently. Loving our neighbor is less about grand gestures and more about consistent compassion in everyday life. This is Family ON Mission.

  • Get some new names of people you haven’t met yet. Perhaps this is someone near where you live or work!

  • Make a point to ask someone how they are and take time to listen. See if you can hear some of a neighbor’s story! In a noisy world, listening to others is a gift!

  • Now that you know some names and stories, take time to pray for your neighbors. Perhaps you’ll have an opportunity to pray for them in person. But you can pray with your family or roommates as well.

  • Sometimes we focus on offering something to others, that is a great idea, but what would it look like to ask for a cup of sugar? Or to borrow some lawn care equipment instead of buying something.

  • Try to spend time in your front yard, or a nearby park in order to engage with someone who you might not see if you were behind a fence. Bring a book you enjoy to a local coffee shop, but be on the lookout for neighbors who you may meet!

  • You eat three meals a day, 21 a week, 252 this summer! What if ONE or TWO meals were with a neighbor or a group of neighbors!?

  • What celebrations are already going on in your neighborhood or community that you can join in? Could you host a celebration for even a couple neighbors to celebrate a holiday, birthday, or other event? What events are going on around your city/town?

  • God has done a lot in our lives. There are seasons where we more easily see what God is doing. Take courage and ask God for opportunities to share the stories of what Jesus has done in your life and then go for it! And we would love to hear your story, too!

25 Ideas for Living Family ON Mission

It is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around us. 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 the Holy Spirit to discern where God is working.
– Looking to boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.

Below is a list of 25 simple ways to engage your neighbors. 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:

  1. Cook an extra casserole and give it to a neighbor

  2. Buy an extra dozen donuts and give them to a neighbor

  3. Start a compost pile and allow neighbors to dump their compost

  4. Host a coffee and dessert night

  5. Organize and host a ladies craft night

  6. Organize an effort for neighbors to help take care of elderly in neighborhood

  7. Become a regular at your neighborhood pool/park

  8. If you have a skill, let neighbors know that you can use it to help them for free

  9. Host a movie night and discussion afterwards

  10. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood

  11. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents

  12. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas

  13. Collect good will store items and offer to take them to goodwill

  14. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer

  15. Start a sewing group

  16. Attend an event already being hosted in your neighborhood and invite neighbors to join

  17. Throw a July 4th or National Night Out block party

  18. Start a neighborhood social media group/page

  19. Ask longtime residents to help you learn about the neighborhood

  20. Offer to babysit neighbors kids so they can have a date night

  21. Find out your neighbors birthdays and take them a card and baked goods on it

  22. Setup a meet your neighbors night with drinks in your driveway/front yard

  23. Ask your HOA or apartment complex if they need help with anything

  24. Host a regular Saturday morning breakfast potluck

  25. Host a sports game watching party