Associational Missionary

Home » Associational Missionary

How May We Serve You?

 

          MY HEART AS YOUR

ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONARY

I’m Looking forward to seeing you at the One Day TBA Annual Meeting on October 17 at Rocky Hill Baptist Church beginning at 3:30 pm with registration!

We are living in a spiritually dark time and place. There are between 17,000 and 20,000 unsaved people living in Transylvania County according to information shared by the NC Baptist Convention. Let’s continue to touch our county with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the preaching and teaching of God’s Word that we will see “disciples made” for the Glory of God and lostness pushed back in Transylvania County. Let’s join hearts and hands to pray and serve to see God TO REACH OUT for the sake of the Gospel.

 Drawing from “Fresh Ideas – 1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church” by Diana Davis, I share the share the following menu of ideas for a Fall Festival. “Let the little children come to Me.”

“Mark 10:14 Many churches seek to provide a safe alternative at Halloween by having a fall festival for kids.

Costume Parade – Plan a costume parade in your church parking lot for the whole community. Rent a huge balloon animal to place outside your church to invite the community to participate. Rope off the parade route safely and designate a staging area. The pastor could lead the parade on a go-cart, carrying a sign that says, “Jesus Loves the Little Children” on one side, and “So does our church!” on the back. In the staging area children can practice waving and walking in a unique way to match their costumes. Space children individually or in twos so viewers can see them. Friendly church members could distribute witnessing tracts designed for the occasion, and children’s Sunday school teachers could pass out invitations for Sunday. The last costumed person in the parade could carry this sign: “If you think this was exciting, wait ’til you come to church on Sunday!” Use lots of balloons and confetti, and distribute free hot chocolate.

Festival Photos – Turn your fall festival into an outreach. Display a large “free photo!” sign at the entrance next to a beautiful photo spot you’ve prepared using colorful leaves, mums, pumpkins, and hay. Recruit photo buffs in your church to bring tripods and 35mm or digital cameras (not Polaroid). Recruit a child-loving, friendly church member to assist with cute poses. Working quickly to avoid lines, take one shot of each child who attends the festival. Give parents a printed note to pick up their child’s photo in the church foyer on Sunday. Your entire church will enjoy the photos, and members and guests may pick up photos after worship. Deliver guests’ photos that are not picked up.

Registration – A quick and simple registration process at your church’s Fall Festival can obtain important contact information. When families register, give them free tickets for entrance, tickets for door prizes, or tickets for individual booths.

Pumpkin Fest – Many church festivals offer carnival-type games, clowns, bounce-house, mazes made of boxes for preschoolers, tractor rides, face painting, live Christian music, a cupcake walk, and great food. Some churches charge a nominal fee for snacks. Each adult Bible class in our church planned a game booth to fit our festival theme each year. Annual themes could be Noah’s Ark, Kids in the Bible, Animals in the Bible, or Famous Bible Heroes.

Trunk or Treat – As another alternative to Halloween, church members park their cars all around the church parking lot with trunks facing the center. Church members can decorate their trunks, wear costumes if they want to, and pass out candy to children. Be sure to distribute evangelistic tracts and a written and verbal invitation to church next Sunday.

Nursing Home Parade – Work with a local nursing home director to plan a special treat for their residents. Children from your church meet at the front entrance wearing costumes and parade through the nursing home hallways, waving at residents and distributing candies and evangelistic tracts.

Little Bo Peep on Skates – If your church has a gym or outdoor space, you could plan a costume party on skates. Play kids’ Christian music, and invite the community.

Reverse Trick or Treat – It’s the one night of the year that folks are glad to answer the door. Members of your church go door-to-door to distribute small bags that contain a witnessing tract, a pencil with the church name, a printed magnet that says, “Our church is praying for you,” and an invitation to church.”

 I am your servant in Christ. Jan and I love you with the love of the Lord. Jan and I pray for you daily.  Pray for God to help us redeem the time for the sharing of the Gospel.

Your Servant in Christ, Brother Mike