In late June of 2014, members of Messiah, Carrollton and Bethlehem, Saginaw met to discuss how the two churches could partner in community outreach activities. In the middle of the previous decade, when Messiah was promoting Michigan District’s Ablaze!, they had made a total commitment to the idea that the Lord had placed them there for the purpose of reaching neighbors with the knowledge of their Savior. At the end of the June meeting, the two congregations decided to host an event that would commit or re-commit other churches in the region to the task of reaching out in their communities.
The objective of this event was to energize laypeople to become involved in community outreach. Speakers for the first event were A2E Missionary-at-Large Rev. Christopher R. Bodley, Michigan District Ablaze! Coordinator and third Vice President Rev. David A. Davis, and Rev. Edward F. Doerner, senior pastor of Messiah, Midland. Eight congregations provided displays of their outreach efforts for participants to browse and glean ideas and information. The half-day workshop exceeded the planners’ expectations, bringing 14 different churches together, so they began planning the second event.
Practical Ideas for Community Outreach II will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Bethlehem, Saginaw. The upcoming event has a slightly different focus to help churches put together teams to make their own neighborhood outreach flourish. Each congregation is encouraged to send a pastor, lay leader, and three or more members who are committed to evangelism and outreach in their community.
Early registration is strongly encouraged to allow planners the opportunity to prepare sufficient handout folders of supplemental information. The cost is $25 per team (ideally five). For more information, please call 989.753.7281. To register, download registration form here.
